tire size options

[Ferrolanoman]

It's time (not miles) to replace all four tires on my 1970 280SL. Does 185/75/14 sound right for new ones? I'd like to keep the diameter as large as possible to maintain the original gearing--which, of course, is way too low for my liking.
Advice based on recent experience would be welcome.
Ricardo

[ljg]

My 71' 280 SL has 14,000 original miles.  I have the original tires including an unused spare.  They are Continental 185 HR 14.  I believe that size implies an 80 or 82 profile.  The diameter of a
185/75/14 would be slightly smaller.
I replaced my tires with Phoenix 185R14 whitewalls from Coker Tire.
ljg

[hank sound]

It's time (not miles) to replace all four tires on my 1970 280SL. Does 185/75/14 sound right for new ones? I'd like to keep the diameter as large as possible to maintain the original gearing--which, of course, is way too low for my liking.
Advice based on recent experience would be welcome.
Ricardo

Hi Ricardo,  Seems as 195/75/14 is the closest to your stock diameter.   And then, there is that beefier rubber, 205/70/14 that so many like.   At that point, tread width of like sized tires, could be an issue since measurements (for a designated size) are not the same for all manufacturers. 

When Ingrid gets here, I'm really going to have fun at the tire shop!!!

Cheers, Hank

[FRITZ68]

I just removed the wheels from my 1968 280SL and the tires are:
P185/75R14 895  M+S Dunlop SP40 A/S (whatever that means). Tires are tubelss radials.
The width of the whitewall is only 5/8"
# on side of tire: DBJ7A26 followed by 406 in a small oval (Is this the date of manufacture?).

I am thinking that even though the tires look fairly good, they are probably older than at first glance and may be unsafe for driving.

I want to keep my car original, and definitely prefer white walls.  Any idea of the correct width of the whitewalls back in 1968 and also any idea of the correct size?

I have a Coker Catalog and see that he stocks Vredestein Tires. I also heard that Michelin tires were good.

Any recommendations as to size and also to whitewll width original to the car?

Thanks,  Fritz

[Alan Smithee]

Depends on what you want to spend.  This is the only option for the exact OEM size with whitewalls, but they expensive:

http://www.cokertire.com/185r14-phoenix-3-4-whitewall-tire.html

For the correct diameter, the only other size is 195/75-14 (slightly wider tread than OEM), but very little selection of whitewalls in that size - Hankook, Uniroyal, and Cooper are about it, none of which are very high in quality, but reasonable prices.  Personally, I am leaning towards the Cooper for its less 'modern' graphics:

http://www.pepboys.com/tires/details/Cooper/Trendsetter+SE/10002373/0/

That said, all of the sudden these seem somewhat hard to come by as well - special order only.

185/75-14 may be the correct width, but they are shorter than the two other sizes - IMO visually less appealing (as are anything with a width of 205, but some like that look), so I have not investigated whitewalls in those sizes.

 

[FRITZ68]

Wow Alan - thanks for the quick reply.  I am ordering a set of these today.  The car is in process of a light restoration and new paint job, so the correct tire look and size will be a big plus.  I am trying to keep it original.  We have a car museum at work - check it out:  www.tipcars.us  or www.tpcarcollection.com

Picture of car attached.

Fritz

[KevinC]

Check out this site for the Cooper WW tires...

http://www.groupbuytires.com/s?searchRank=-price&searchPage=1&field_product_site_launch_date_utc=-1y&field_availability=-1&field_browse=3211746011&searchSize=12&searchNodeID=3211746011&searchKeywords=195+%2F+75+%2F+14&field_keywords=195+%2F+75+%2F+14&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Cprice

Good info here too...

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/WheelsTires/Tires


Nice silver car!

[zoegrlh]

Ricardo,
Do some searches on this Forum, Look for tires, there has been much said about tires over the past five or six years.  I wrote an article back then concerning the Vredestein 185 HR 14 90H tires.  These tires are made in Holland and have a classic tread pattern, only come in black wall, and are the  CLOSEST TIRE TO ORIGINAL specs of the Phoenix tires.  I have had on my SL for 5 years now and can feel a great ride with them.  Side wall size, width, and heigth are perfect and these tires do not make the SL look like a race car as do with the 205s.  The profile is correct.
Bob