Pics with modern tires?

[Ahealey12]

On the look out for some cheap tires. Looking at it i currently have some white wall classics 205/70/14 and really don’t see many people running more modern tires, does anyone have any pics with more modern? Is there a reason people use the classic tread design?

Also is 195/70/14 that bad for the speedo reading? Seeing they are much cheaper

[DavidAPease]

How cheap?  I have a set of Hankook Kinergy ST in size 195/75 R14.  (Mine are blackwalls, which I prefer the look of on my Euro 230SL.)  They are $85 per tire at America's Tire (where I bought mine). 

An early (very knowledgeable) member of our online group, Arthur J. Dalton, once did the calculations for which modern standard tire size most closely matched the original aspect ratio of our cars, and came up with 195/75; I have used that size ever since, and believe my speedometer is pretty accurate.

There's a photo of my car with these tires here (you can click on the photo and get a pretty good look at the tires):

https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=37189.msg272238#msg272238

           -David

[WRe]

Hi,
Last year I decided on the Falken tires in size 195/70 R14 91H (for aluminum rims) and I haven't regretted it to this day because the tire rides a lot better than the original Vredestein in size 185/80 R14. The price back then was <80€/piece, half of Vredestein. The speedometer now shows 3.5% more.
...WRe

[zoegrlh]

Ahealey12, lots of members want to keep the classic look, and not the look of a muscle car.

[mdsalemi]

On the look out for some cheap tires.

Plenty of cheap tires around, if that's what you want. If you want cheap, don't pay too much attention to the exact size, as you may not find it.

My own opinion is that with just four small contact patches between you and the road, the last thing I want is cheap tires. It seems much of my Pagoda driving has been motorway/interstate/highway at 4000 rpm, 60-75 MPH. I want a good tire not a cheap one.

I had the Coker's for years, and two years ago changed to the Blockleys. They may still offer a discount for our members here, ask for it...but they are not cheap tires by any means.

[Ahealey12]

I guess I’m not meaning desperately cheap still name brand but more so a modern tread pattern. They are cheaper than the classic pattern ones.

[Ahealey12]

Thank you! Definitely shows what I’m looking for. I would much rather be safer on new design and yes they are cheaper but only could find photos with older design.

[thelews]

I've been happy with General Altimax RT43 205/70-14

[mdsalemi]

I've been happy with General Altimax RT43 205/70-14

Discontinued and replaced with the RT45. "Program of continual improvement..." 

[WRe]

Hi,
here you can find a test of summer tires and find good and bad ones:
https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/ausstattung-technik-zubehoer/reifen/reifentest/sommerreifen/205-55-r16/
...WRe

[mdsalemi]

Hi,
here you can find a test of summer tires and find good and bad ones:
https://www.adac.de/rund-ums-fahrzeug/ausstattung-technik-zubehoer/reifen/reifentest/sommerreifen/205-55-r16/
...WRe

Thanks for posting however probably not much help for the American who asked the question (unless he can read German). Further I don’t think all the tires tested are available in USA, nor available in an appropriate size for a Pagoda. The tires tested were all 205/55 R16.

One may, for example, find it difficult to get Minerva or Tomket tires in the USA.

[Benz280]

Recently installed the VREDESTEIN  QUATRAC 5.
Very impressed with ride, look and price.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Vredestein&tireModel=Quatrac+5&partnum=97TR4QT5&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

[WRe]

Hi Benz280,
Your tire choice wouldn't be allowed on our cars here in Germany because of a too low speed rating (T=190km). H=210km would be obligatory.
...WRe

[zak]

Then there is always the question of tire size. John's red beauty looks great with the 205/70/14s.
I bought 195/70s 6 years ago. When I buy new tires I will go to 207/70s. More rubber underneath and a larger circumference that will lower RPM's a bit too.

jz

[john.mancini]

Hankook white walls. I’ve had them for 4 years. Very good tires and they look period correct.

[Lenosa]

I recently swapped out my old white walls for some modern tires and the difference in handling was noticeable. The classic tread design definitely has a vintage appeal, but newer tires usually offer better grip and safety. As for the speedo, switching from 205/70/14 to 195/70/14 doesn’t make a huge difference, but it might slightly throw off the reading. I went with the cheaper 195s and haven’t had any major issues.