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Tire shopping sucks

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bugedd

bugedd

Jedi Knight
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All day I have been shopping for tires for the VTO wheels I got from HAP. The size to go with according to Hap is 175/70/13. All I can find are all season crap tires that are hard as a rock with huge water channels. Thats great for my Mazda, but worthless for the Bugeye. Does anyone know if anything out there I am missing that is somewhat of a sporty tire?
 
Try on line someplace like Coker or Tire Rack maybe
 
Tire rack doesn't offer much other than winter or all season tires.
 
Ugh, I know some members have gotten lucky and found performace tires, but they are getting pretty rare for 13 inch wheels. Unfortunately, I just have cheepos on mine.
 
Hey Bugedd, try calling the performance tire shop at Sears Point(infineon), they can usually find 13 inch performance tires, I know a friend in the city gets tires for his Tiger there.

matt from Sacto, formerly from Paradise!
 
Has anyone tried a 185/60/13? Its a half inch smaller in the sidewall, which may expose too much wheel opening. But how would the width work out?
 
From Tire rack's site. I have these on all 4 Sprites and I love them.

Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer)


* Size: 175/70R13
Sidewall Style: Blackwall

* Price: $51.00 (each)
Estimated Availability: In Stock

Set of 4: $204.00
 
spritenut said:
From Tire rack's site. I have these on all 4 Sprites and I love them.

Sumitomo HTR 200 (High Performance Summer)


* Size: 175/70R13
Sidewall Style: Blackwall

* Price: $51.00 (each)
Estimated Availability: In Stock

Set of 4: $204.00
Click to expand...


I got a set of these for the VTO wheels. One took 1/2 ounce of weight. That's it. That's the total for all four wheels ONE 1/2 ounce weight. They have more grip than I have b@^ls...
 
I was thinking of those, but there is just something weird about a British car with Sumitumo branded tires. Maybe its just me.
 
It's just you Lol
I have Sumitomo HTR T4's on my car.
I think performance wise they are a step down from the HTR 200's, but they are a great all around tire.
 
Sumitomo are probably the #1 choice of tire put on MGBs, it's a good tire, and affordable, I go that route.
 
I need new tires for my midget that has 13" rims. I'll probably try the sumitomos. I took a gamble on my sprite tires and used Fuzion tires (14"). The brand is marketed to "racer boys", but they work well on the sprite.
 
Local shop fitted a set of sumitomo 175/70 htr t4's and I personally don't care for them. They are very squirrely compared to my old dunlop 165/70's. The summer performance tire is probably the correct choice but it seems all tires now days have too flexible side walls for good handling. Suppose that is why newer performance cars have tires without any sidewall.

Kurt.
 
The Sumimotos are the way to go for new tires, but when I purchased my '74 Midget it had <span style="font-weight: bold">175/70 R-13 82S Michelein X Radials </span>. They are excellent tires for this car. Relatively sticky and hold the road nicely, rain or shine.

Not sure if this size will fit the rear wheel wells of a non-RWA car, though. They fit the stock rostyle wheels nicely and look a bit "fat", or racy, too.

FWIW. :thumbsup:

[img:center]
Midgetwheels003.jpg
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[img:center]
Midgetwheels001.jpg
[/img]
 
nomad said:
Local shop fitted a set of sumitomo 175/70 htr t4's and I personally don't care for them. They are very squirrely compared to my old dunlop 165/70's. The summer performance tire is probably the correct choice but it seems all tires now days have too flexible side walls for good handling. Suppose that is why newer performance cars have tires without any sidewall.

Kurt.
Click to expand...

What air presure are running, the reason I ask, is you hear alot of lower pressures being tossed around, which is fine if someoene just tools around in their car, but at autocross you know the first thing a guy does is bump the air presure up to keep the side wall from rolling, the same thing applies to sprited driven street car, I always run about 5 psi more than most folks for spirited handling purposes, the ride is alitle harsher, but it's a compromise, a marshmellow ride that will not corner well, or harsher ride that handles better.
 
Just ordered the Sumitomo's from Tire Rack, thanks for the input!
 
Hap: I run 24-26psi and I agree that I don't like them too hard cause most roads require all the ride softening a guy can muster. What do you suggest for these tires?

Kurt.
 
Well Kurt, I won't recommend a tire pressure, I'll just say try a 3-4 more pounds more if you're going for a sprited curvy road run. Car factories and tire dealers have always recommended lower air pressure based on ride quailty, but anyone trying to go fast with DOT style rubber whether it be autocross spritied street driving, up the air pressure to lessen the sidewall rolling over in the corners of street tires. Every notice at a autocross, guy put chalk marks on their sidewalls, what they are doing is checking to where the chalk rubs off at the union near the sidewall and thread, if it is too high up the sidewall, they up the air pressure. Whay all this does is lessen a car ability to push or understeer.
 
Thanks Hap. Interesting stuff on here after everyone apparently had a snooze over the holidays! Days are getting longer and it won't be long till were out with the "hood" down!!!

Kurt.
 
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