Whitewall tyres in the UK

[Markbhai]

Does anyone know where I can get nice white wall types in the UK.

I am looking for about a 20mm white wall as close to the original size as possible.

I have seen the Phoenix which is exactly what I would like but these seem quite expensive at around £150 each.

Thanks

Markbhai

[AGT]

Markbhai

I am also interested in finding whitewall tyres in the UK.

I had the Coker Phoenix tyres put on to a car which I brought over from the USA and they were brilliant. I swapped them on to another Pagoda which I have now sold.

The only place I have seen the right size of whitewall tyres in the UK is Vintage Tyres and they are looking for £250 (inc VAT) for the Phoenix. If you don't mind me asking where have you found them for £150?

Best regards
Andrew

1966 230SL

[Naj ✝︎]

Hi,

Try:

http://www.northhantstyres.com/

I've had 2 calls in the past week. They have just got in 185/80 x 14s.

Naj

[Markbhai]

These are not exactly the correct tyre (195x74SR14), which is why I am still looking for an alternative.

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/195__75SR14%20%20Hercules%20Whitewall.html

The ratio of these tyres is very close to the original, but will show a 0.5% speed descrepancy (i.e the speedo will show 0.5% too fast).

Regards

Mark

[Neil Thompson]

My car is on 185's I thought this was the correct size??, the difference of tyre wall height is less than 2mm between these two sizes I believe and so in theory the speedo will read the same on a brand new set of 185's and a set of 195's with a bit of usage, in my opinion splitting hairs! Especially the way the speedo needles bounce around anyway..

Neil

[Russell]

i know this is old but i have searched about tyres and this was the closest i could find.
was there any out and out verdict about what to use if you wanted to go whitewall.
is whitewall correct or just nicer ?

whats the right thing to do or is there no right. if not whitewall what else would you go and fit to a 64 230SL

[Neil Thompson]

Russell, Michelin MXV with a kerb ring, transform the car

Neil

[Russell]

Russell, Michelin MXV with a kerb ring, transform the car

Neil

thanks neil, i dont have the car with me as over in a garage and it was chucking down at the time but is there a size of those MXV. i do try to search on here but as there isnt a UK section i am not sure if people are talking about different import cars or not. some even are running 18 or 19 inch and all at seemingly different widths.
i do love a fat tyre myself but is there a specific size/model i go and find ? i google that and all i seem to get is USA sites or sites where there seem to be all sorts of flavours to choose from.

are those whitewalls ? or dont go for that ?

russell

[Larry & Norma]

Vredestein tyres are considered to be original fit, not whitewall though.
The company are remanufacturing classic tyres, dutch I think. They are
correct size (185) with the kerbing strip. Not easy to find, but I did get a set
last year, they work very well.
Larry

[Russell]

I just got the garage to go take a look and they say that they are 185/14 but no profile marked on them.
i would like white walls if i could get them.

[KevinC]

Aspect ratios were not considered back then. The tires that came on our cars would be 185/80/R14 in today's terms. "Closest" modern tires would be 195/75/R14. The Tech Manual offers execellent information on this subject ...

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

113's were mostly delivered with blackwall tires with whitewalls being an option (see your data card). My card showed my car was delivered with whitewalls so when it came time to change, that's what I opted for. Personally, I like a whitewall with star hubcaps and a black wall with alloys.

[Russell]

that info is perfect thank you. i am now having second thoughts about whitewalls as it is a cream car with cream hub caps. i think it could look a bit naff. i think whitewalls might suit a dark car.
one of those "you need to see it" jobs

the tyres we found are michelin MXV-P 185/80/14 which look like they will do the job but they are "classic". i dont have a clue what that means in handling terms. is it a euphemism for rubbish or are those the ones to go for ?

[mbzse]

Vredestein tyres are considered to be original fit, not whitewall though.

I bought a set of Vredestein Classic Sprint 185-14 last August, see pic attached. The whitewall can be added/ordered as an option.
Several German (and Dutch?) companies sell these, very likely they ship goods to the UK. Or follow Naj's tip in reply No 2.  I am very pleased with the tires.
BTW, car is an original ZF 5-speed, and for sale  Contact me via pm or e-mail
/Hans in Sweden

.

[Neil Thompson]

The information is correct in that the size is 185 14 with no 'series' which would be 80 if not stated and in this case. This I believe to be the aspect ratio which is the height of the sidewall between the rim and tread as a percentage (ie 80%) of the width of the tyre, in this case 185mm so the height of the sidewall is 148mm.

Very personally I think whitewall tyres suit classics of any kind resident in sunnier climates than the UK.

Neil

[KevinC]

Russell,

I initially held the same opinion ...light cars didn't look good with ww's...but changed my mind after I saw them mounted. It almost suggests: "yes, this is a fine vintage car". (at least to me!). What's the actual color code of your car?

Kevin

[KevinC]

PS: You'll find over time that "Classic" is a eupahmism for "more expensive"

PPS: What's "naff"?

[Russell]

 
the paint code i know is light beige 181 with a brown 408 roof with a brown 437 soft top.
those pictures look great so now has me thinking.....oooh how annoying.

[Russell]

PS: You'll find over time that "Classic" is a eupahmism for "more expensive"

PPS: What's "naff"?

sorry "naff" is a bit not right. its where someone does something that they think is cool but in reality misses the mark. often where it cheapens something that should have been left alone.

[KevinC]

Russell..

Have you seen this car?... sold for $67,500 US. It was MichaelB's pristine 230SL... probably not "naff"!

 http://velocity.discovery.com/videos/whats-my-car-worth-mercedes-benz-230sl-concept-convertible.html

[KevinC]

Naff?...

[Paul & Dolly]

Russel,

If you have the original "2 piece"  hub caps, you really should concider the  tyres with a kerb ring.

Paul

[Russell]

Russell..

Have you seen this car?... sold for $67,500 US. It was MichaelB's pristine 230SL... probably not "naff"!

 http://velocity.discovery.com/videos/whats-my-car-worth-mercedes-benz-230sl-concept-convertible.html

Not at all and that just made my mind up so thank you. i said it might be one of those "you have to see it" things and that looks anything but naff so it is white walls all the way for me.
just have to find them in the UK now

[Russell]

Naff?...

  no i think the interpretation of naff is that you have SLIGHTLY gone off piste to make something look cool and it just doesnt work (in some peoples eye but maybe not yours of course)
i think your pictures opens up a whole new can of worms about what is cool or not. sadly i love custom cars and my daily is a lump of chromed up american muscle so no accounting for taste. my friends when they heard about the pagoda instantly had the same vision in mind and were cringing at what i might do with it. i can see where the guy is coming from. i will get my coat....
russell

PS
most will gladly be pleased i will be keeping my SL as stock

[Markbhai]

Russell

The cheapest whitewalls I have found are these at £73 each.  http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/195-75sr14--hercules-whitewall.html

They are 195s though (not 185s) - I have seen 185s in the UK but they were closer to £200 each and given the difference I don't believe its worth the difference.

If you find any 185s cheaper, let me know as I (the starter of this thread) still have not taken the plunge.

Regards

Mark.

[Russell]

i would have thought you would need to be careful looking at 195 with the profile as that could seriously change the gearing. i have also heard some of the tread copies are horrendous to drive on in that the copy wasnt very good and also taken from a tyre that was less than useless in the first place. i am not competing in the lombard or anything but all the same i dont want to ditch it.
my friend got a set of classics for his and all was fine until it rained and then he couldn't stay on the road.
think i would need to now someone that has them fitted, whatever they were. £200 could look cheap