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Tire Size Recommendations

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Greg

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I know this has been discussed in this forum previously but it seems our tire choices become fewer every day. I am having Hendrix balance my wire wheels and I need new tires.

I have two choices for my BJ8 from Hendrix, a Vredestein 185/70x15 or a Kumho 165/80x15 (made in China). I think that Hendrix also has the Vrede in 185/80x15. The Vrede is $100 per tire more than the Kumho which may cause me to overcome my fear of Chinese tires. I will qualify my use as some 70MPH Florida interstate service.

Does anyone have experience with either the Vrede or Kumho?
I assume that all of the sizes above will fit in a BJ8? (except the spare)

Thanks for the input.
 
I have the Vredestein 185/70/15 Sprint ST 70 on my BJ8. They are about 3 1/2 years old and the tire was cheaper then. One of the tires was out of round and was replaced with the later, more expensive Sprint Classic 89H. Seems to me that the tire price just about doubled with this later version. The Vredestein tires fit the BJ8 and seem to wear well.
On my 2000 S type Jag, I have a set of Kumho tires that were reasonably priced when I replaced the Perellis at 30K miles. They seem alright too and have lasted longer than the originals.
If it were me, I would buy the set of tires that gave my BJ8 the highest ground clearance, but then mine is a phase one that has trouble getting over pea gravel. I don't know just exactly what the difference in size will do between your two choices, but certainly Hendrix does.
 
Hi Greg, I run the 185 X 70 X 15 Verde tyres too on my BJ8 cars. IMOP they are now overpriced but one of the few remaining manufacturers producing this tire size. I have experience with the Kumo tyres on my regular cars with no problems what so ever. ---Fwiw---Keoke
 
Greg,
I purchased a set of tires from Hendrix and have had excellent service from them.
I shipped my used wire wheels to Hendrix first to be checked for tolerances and they were still in good shape. Hendrix cleaned them and painted them for me and installed tires with the following markings on them: "Widetrack' 165R15 86T.
I didn't see any brand on the tires but I'm sure Hendrix folks will know which ones. They also put new inner belts on the wheels to protect the new innertubes from the spokes and valve stem grommets. The tire truing and balancing really helped a lot. My car runs down the highway really smooth. I later sent them my brake drums to be trued and balanced and the car was even better than before.
Patrick
 
I have Kumhos on my 100/4 and am very happy with them. I think the 185/70 will be slightly shorter than the 165/15 which I believe is an 80 series, which is the aspect ratio of the tire in percentage, pput a decimal in front of the aspect ratio, take it time the width and you should get the height of the tire. A 60 series is 60% as tall as it is wide.
 
Patrick67BJ8 said:
Greg,
Hendrix cleaned them and painted them for me and installed tires with the following markings on them: "Widetrack' 165R15 86T.
I didn't see any brand on the tires but I'm sure Hendrix folks will know which ones.
Patrick
Click to expand...
Hi Patrick,
I also have the "WideTrack 165's". Hendrix provided new wheels, mounted, trued, & balanced the tires about three years ago. The tires are quit a soft compound & thus grip really well, wet or dry. The brand is Gillette, a well known brand name from the old days. I have no idea who makes them now, or where.
D
 
I have the Gilettes on my BN1... love them! I think they are an old southern brand.
 
Greg said:
I know this has been discussed in this forum previously but it seems our tire choices become fewer every day. I am having Hendrix balance my wire wheels and I need new tires.

I have two choices for my BJ8 from Hendrix, a Vredestein 185/70x15 or a Kumho 165/80x15 (made in China). I think that Hendrix also has the Vrede in 185/80x15. The Vrede is $100 per tire more than the Kumho which may cause me to overcome my fear of Chinese tires. I will qualify my use as some 70MPH Florida interstate service.

Does anyone have experience with either the Vrede or Kumho?
I assume that all of the sizes above will fit in a BJ8? (except the spare)

Thanks for the input.
Click to expand...

Greg - Kumhos are made in Korea, not China. Big difference in quality.
 
I had the Vredestein on my 62 BN7 and liked it, however, there was a real issue with ground clearance. I now have the 185R15 V, Michelin XVS (see image)
radial_140.jpg
and love it. It gives at least half an inch additional ground clearance (feels more like one inch) and drives nicely. It has a very benign behavior when you are getting the car into a slide. It is pricey, however ...
 
The 185R15 tyre is known as the standard Jaguar tyre. It has an aspect ratio of 80 and even on the BJ8 is too large a tyre.--Fwiw--Keoke-?
 
Keoke said:
The 185R15 tyre is known as the standard Jaguar tyre. It has an aspect ratio of 80 and even on the BJ8 is too large a tyre.--Fwiw--Keoke-?
Click to expand...

I rechecked on my car in the meantime: The accurate name is "185HR15 XVS - P"; I guess still a ratio 80 tire, but I can't agree it is too large. They look right in the fenders, there are no collisions or grinding and the speedo is accurate after checking it!? Any thoughts on this?
 
Don't know but here is what my tire size calculator shows compared to the 185 X 70 X 15 tyre.

Jag tire:
Diam = + 1.5"
Speedo change = 5.8 MPH too slow

Fwiw---Keoke-?
 
Nope !! they were born and raised in Wisconsin.
 
GregW said:
The original tire diameter was 26" if that helps at all.
Click to expand...

Actually the original diameter of a 590-15 tire is ~ 25.5". This is the same diameter of the 185/70R15 (on the 5.5" rim) or the 165R15 on a factory rim.
 
Shame. Nice tires. I'd go for either the Vredesteins (look good) or the Kumhos from Korea.

I've also heard Fulda makes tires that work, but I have been unable to find anyone that carries them.
 
Here is a tire size calculator for reference;
https://ejelta.com/tiresize/index.html?ws15=1&

From the chart,

185/70-15
d=25.20
w=5.10

185/75-15
d=25.93
w=5.46

The chart doesn't show 185/80-15 but if you follow the progression, the diameter of 185/80-15 would be 26.66 inches.
I have noticed a couple of tire shops that now post a Gillet tire sign along with the other popular brands. I will stop in and ask about the availability of our sized widetrack tire. The last time I checked, I could not find anything about them online but I think they may be made or sold by Firestone/Bridgestone.
I'll post something here once I talk to them.
Ed
 
Be careful ED, that chart's disclaimer, states the data is not official and it does not agree with tire manufacturers specifications---Keoke.
 
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