Tire life in years not miles.

[Paul & Dolly]

I use Michelin 185 HR 14 MXV-P, they are expensive, but have the outside rubbing strip, and the speedometer is totally accurate with respect to the sat nav, so I assume they must be a good match for the originals.

I would concider  the Vredestein option in future at half the price, but are they an equal match ?

Keep well

Paul

[rmmchl]

It's what I have had on my car for the 30 years I have owned it, and it is the size that most recommend. There are 4 different tire sizes that will fit our cars, but this size seems to be what most have.

[rmmchl]

I believe the size 185 70  R14 to be correct for my vehicle

[rmmchl]

I have no idea where the chart you showed came from. I do know the whitewall tires on the US version were a different size than the European cars. All of the information I have read says the tires should be 185-14.  As far as 185-70r 14 or 185 85-14,  I have no idea. Buds Benz uses 185 70R14, and that seems fine with me. I would not want my tires any larger. They fit my car well, and with the whitewalls, they look great. My car "pops" with the whitewalls.  whitewalls have limited sizes, that are being manufactured today.  You can buy a blackwall in almost any size. To each is own, but I do not think my tire size is incorrect.

[Cees Klumper]

This from the technical manual:

The standard Pagoda Tire Size is a 185x14 tire. When these tires were originally made there were no variations on the Aspect Ratio (see Tires for an explanation). In those days all tires had the same sidewall height to tread width ratio, 80 for European tires and 78 for US sourced tires. Someone measured an original Continental 185SR14 and measured its rolling circumference as 2040mm or an aspect ratio of 79 3/4". Choosing a correct tire size will ensure that the speedometer and odometer on the car are accurate.

So now I need to see what my Vredestein Clasics have as aspect ratio. Hope it's close to 80.

[Cees Klumper]

It took some searching, but the one reference I was able to find on aspect ratio of the Vredestein Classic Sprint 185 hr 14 was that it does have an 80 aspect ratio.

[stickandrudderman]

The Vredesteins are indeed 80 aspect and 185/14 is the only correct tyre size for 113.
It is true that many are shod with 70 aspect tyres but this is largely due to price and availability.

[batman]

I recently went to whitewalls and wanted 195's rather than 185's.

I was able to get 195/14/75, which I think look quite OK.

I looked at the 195/14/80 and I thought they looked a little "too big", so 75 was a nice comprise.

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hello Oz,

I like the tire size that is now on my car it is 185/70 14R they are Michelin White Walls and look just right on my car. When I inittially went to one of the largest tire dealers here in town the manager confirmed the year made and told me the tires are no longer made (I knew this only was shocked that my tires are 15 years old).

I gave him the size that Bud's Benz put on a 280 SL a short while ago Hancock 195/75 14R and he ordered them for me. When they arrived we compared them against the ones now on my car. They looked much too big to us so we send them back. When you compare them un-infladed and not mounted they do look big. Perhaps they would have been okay once mounted, however, I decided to get the 185/70 14R since I like the look of my car with that size of tire. 4 of my 5 Uniroyal tiger tires are in town, just waiting for the 5th one to arrive then I will have them mounted.

I cannot believe I drove to Williamsburg, Virginia two years ago on the then 13 year old tires on US Interstate Highways trying to follow Alex and sometimes the Red Rocket at speeds over 70 MPH. I know I will feel safer traveling to PUB 2015

Oz, I think the choice of type and tire size is basically a personal choice, I know my speedometer is slightly off and that is okay, then I have a good GPS that tells me posted speed limits and gives me the exact MPH or Km/PH I am driving. After a while one knows what speed one goes by just keeping an eye on the RPM readout

[Paul & Dolly]

A Question ?

Surely if one fits a 70 or 75 Aspect ratio tyre, as opposed to the 80,
then not only will the Speedometer become inaccurate, but also the odometer, and hence any fuel mileage calculations.

Could this be why there are often very different mpg figures calculated by different members.

just a thought

Paul

[66andBlue]

Paul,
as described in the Technical Manual (http://www.sl113.org/wiki/WheelsTires/TireSize) the spped difference between the original 185R14 with its aspect ratio of 80 and the 195-75-14 tire is negligible, less than the accuracy of the speedometer!
Here are the calculations:

[m300cab]

I put new tires on my car 4 years ago, soon they won't be new!
but very few miles on them...

[Paul & Dolly]

Alfred,

I like the chart,
is it available for the 185/70/14 , 195/80/14  mention in this thread.

Thanks

Paul

[66andBlue]

Paul,
did you miss reply #24 posted by Kampala?
Also you can make your own here: http://tire-size-conversion.com/tire-size-comparison/

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Thanks for the chart link Alfred! Great information.

[Paul & Dolly]

Thanks ,Alfred for the chart,
very useful for any future choices

Keep well
paul

[nirmal]

In Dubai it is mandatory to change tires after 5 years due to the extreme weather conditions and high road speed. Good safety measure.

Nirmal
Dubai

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Yesterday I had my new Uniroyal white wall tiger paw tires installed, including the spare. The side is 185 / 70R 14 (same size I had on the car). I never I'm my life removed tires from a car that still looked like new tires (my former Michelin All Season white wall), however, they had to go after a 15 year life they have done there duty

The drive home was fantastic and nice and smooth. I even got two (2) thumbs up during my short 12 KM drive home, not sure if it was for the tires or the car ~grin~

I will feel a lot safer driving to PUB 2015

5 tires, mounting and balancing I paid $620.09 Canadian ($474.51 US) or $124.02 CDN / $94.90 US for each

EDIT; added my cost …. Mike how does it compare what you paid for it?

[Jonny B]

Bet it might even have been cheaper if they did not have to install the tires upside down.....!

[thelews]

why bother with the spare?

[rmmchl]

rolf, mine run smooth also. What a difference. mine came in at $460.00 for all 5  balanced and mounted

[rmmchl]

thelews              good idea for the spare in case in a few years you blow out a tire and they stop making that tire, you will have another

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Bet it might even have been cheaper if they did not have to install the tires upside down.....!

Jonny, I did not mind paying extra for that the mechanic was quite talented he did a super job cleaning the white walls (in the past .... Years ago all you had to do is whipe the blue stuff off, now you have to soack it for 20 minutes or so and still it is a hell of a job to clean up. He got a nice tip for his upsidedown talents and cleaning effort.

thelews, I prefer to know that I have a line of defense ... The spare serves that purpose, my car is driven and not a garage queen as they say. Even my Golden Retriever gets to ride in it and she loves it.

Mike, yes the drive is like night and day if you compare it before and after ...

[rmmchl]

Rolf, my Uniroyal tire shop didn't have a brush that could get that blue stuff off. It was like paint. I scrubbed an hour on those tires, trying to get that stuff off. I wanted to call Uniroyal to complain, but spent the effort scrubbing more.