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Tires Again

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dougsmarkIII

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I'm thinking of installing 205/75R15 size tires on my '66 BJ8. I know lots of you owners are using 165/80R15 size tires. The original 600/15 tires that came on our cars were 26-inches in diameter. The 165/80R15 tires are about 25.4-inches in diameter. The 205/75R15 tires are about 27.11-inches in diameter. Most of us have the 390.1 rear axle ratio. I really don't care to use a smaller tire. Is anyone using the 205/75R15 size tire and how are they working out and do you like them? Big O tires have both sizes. The 165 is a Big O Classic and the 205 is a Cooper brand. I like the looks of either one.

Doug
 
Hello Doug -

I've been running on Dunlops 205's for over 5 year.......love them. The purist will tell you they don't look right, just let them get behind the wheel and they'll be a believer. The larger size tire make a huge improvement in handling. I'll never go back to the "pizza cutters". My wife loves them too. Just go for it.

Dougie
 
Hi Doug,

Before committing to a bigger/wider tire, check to make sure the width is ok. You don't want the inside sidewall to rub against the wheel well when pushing your car thru a turn.

Unless you're the original owner, one does not know what damage was done to the car and how well it was put back together if it had been in an accident. I had to add a spacer to my left rear hub, because my tire was rubbing against the wheel well when I pushed the car in a turn. And I'm not running as wide a tire as your considering, 205's.

A modern tire will certainly improve the handling and the ride, but it also changes the look. Like the tire may not sit inside the wing but come out to the edge or past it. If the tire goes out past the wing, you now risk hitting the edge of the wing in up and down travel and in aggressive turns.

Going to a wider tire, may require getting wider rims too.
Lot of things change when you put on a bigger tire. Just a heads up.

Let us know what you decide and how it works out.
Best of luck.
Roger
 
I appreciate Roger’s comments and have kept to the 165s since my car was new because of the concerns he has presented. However, the forum has given me the opportunity to investigate something I think about every time I am ready to re-shad my Healey.

Dougie, along with concerns for inner fender rub, the added width and weight of the larger tire presents added stress on the suspension and steering mechanicals of the car. How often and aggressive do you drive your car and have you experienced or noticed any issues in these areas? How difficult has parking lot speed turning gotten? How much, if any, have you had to increase your turning radius to stop inner-fender rub?

I have a BJ8 Phase 1 so I would welcome the extra clearance for my resonators. I appreciate that both of you have Phase 2s and have far greater rear fender height to maintain clearance for the larger tires. Do the 205s fit within all fenders of the Healey and clear the fender edge on a hard bottoming?

All the best,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
For comparison, these are 195/65 X 15 tires on a 6" wide rim:

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IMG_7614.sized.jpg


IMG_7615.sized.jpg


IMG_7616.sized.jpg


IMG_7617.sized.jpg


IMG_7618.sized.jpg


IMG_7619.sized.jpg


IMG_7620.sized.jpg


The ride and handling is pretty good (by Healey standards...) though I do drag the muffler EVERY time I pull out/in the garage (with only me in the car!).

So far, I have managed to not drive the car in the rain, but I'm sure the side of the front fenders would be a mess if I did, as the tire's edge is outboard of the fender lip.

The only clearance issue I have, is when backing out; the RF tire rubs the baffle panel (between hdlt & inner fender) on full-lock. No other problems during spirited driving.
 
I run Vredestein 185/70HR15s on 6-inch Daytons. I also installed a stiffer sway bar (front only). Handling feels great to me. The car sticks like glue (until it doesn't). Turn-in seems just right. If I could dial in some negative camber like Randy has it would handle even better I presume.

With the larger tires and rims steering was always a bit of effort (I also have a slightly smaller diameter Derrington steering wheel and that has to have some effect). When I changed the sway bar the car stayed flatter in turns, but the steering effort got very high so I installed Torrington bearings on the king pins, which reduced the effort.

The only negative is I get a slight bit of rubbing against a bump stop bolt head on one of the rear wheels on tight, hard turns (although that may have been mitigated when I installed the stiffer sway bar).
 
I just received my Vredestein 165/15s from Hendrix (with wheel truing)and have not mounted them yet. However, they seem to be only a small fraction smaller in height than the Michelin 175s I took off. I have a phase 1 so it is lower than the phase 2 and the 175's looked perfect, filling the well arches just fine. They have the classic look o;f the 60's. Remember that wide tires are great for dry roads but slip in rain and snow. Yeah, we don't drive in those conditions (except when we do). I'll let you all know how I like them when the roads aren't covered with snow.
Thanks, Allen (Hendrix), I am very please with the quality of your business and your knowledge of tires when there are so many different opinions on the subject. Give them a call before you make any decisions. They really are helpful.
 
Remember that wide tires are great for dry roads but slip in rain and snow.

Naa TH the more meat you put on the ground the better the traction.

You shoulda got aset of those 185 70 15 instead fo those pizza cutters
 
Although hard to tell in Dougie’s pictures, I was surprised (and the reason for my verification question) that his 205/75 15 seem to reside within his P2 fenders. Dougie also seems to have mounted the larger tires on traditional Dayton 72 spoke wires where Randy’s 195/60 15s look to extend past the fender line on Cobra-style wires that may have a greater offset. Bob’s 185/70 15 wheel rubbing comments point to the fact that tread width and aspect must be considered together when establishing the potential for wheel wells interference.

Based upon reasonable price and beneficial wheel diameter (added clearance for my P1 resonators), I would really appreciate hearing from Dougie on the fender clearance and turning effort issues previously requested. Although I would like to go larger, I am concerned with these and the greater un-sprung weight. After all, we are talking about 45+ year old sports cars.

Ray (64BJ8P1
 
Ray -

My Dunlop's are mount on the 72" Chrome/Stainless wire wheels. The tires extend about 3/8" beyond the front wheel well and there's plenty of travel between fender and the tire. If there where ever enough compression in the suspension to cause contact, I'd have a lot bigger problems somewhere else.
I have added a 3/4" front sway bar and urethane bushings throughout the entire suspension which included the new rear leaf springs replaced before the 205s where added. It does rub slightly under hard cornering with a rear passenger, a spacer would solve that (low on the fix-it list). As for the unsprung weight......yes a larger tire/wheel combination increases the stress load but if you know the history of your car, maintain it correctly and don't plan a full season of autocross you should be find.

That said, I personally maintain and repair both my '65 BJ8 street car and my '57 100-SIX MM vintage racer. I know when they're well sorted and when not. After slugging it out all day with Porsches and Alfas on the track I couldn't stand the way my street Healey drove like a "pig". It's no Lotus now but it's the right improvement for me. In the end it's really just personal preference.

I think Lou Reid said it best, "take a walk on the wild side"...............
 
Okay, just got back from Discount Tire. Tried on a 205/75R-15 Kumho KR21 tire on the rear. It would not clear the front-lower part of the rear fender. It also stuck out a little past the fender. I sure did like the size though. I'm replacing four Michelin ZX 175R-15 tires with about 80% of their tread left and date codes of 1996. The 205's were a little taller. Wound up with four new Kumho 165/80R-15 "Power Star" tires. Price was $65.00 each plus $16.00 each mounting and life-time balancing. I made sure their balancing set-up was compatible with the wire wheels. The new tires made some positive difference with the quality of the steering and ride. Thanks all for the replies and advice. Some of our cars and some tire brands might work with the 205 tires. My combination didn't.

Doug
 
RAC68 said:
... Bob’s 185/70 15 wheel rubbing comments point to the fact that tread width and aspect must be considered together when establishing the potential for wheel wells interference.

...

Ray (64BJ8P1
Click to expand...

Maybe Ray, but I'd guess the width of his wheels (6 inches) has a lot more to do with it.

I just mounted my 185s and I hope to report back on them after all this lousy snow melts. Or at least some of it.
 
Around here, tyres sticking outside of the wheelwell requires mudguards at least.
Last accident in my 49 Willys, the Mustang rear axle housing was bent beyond hope, got another.
All we can think is the one I had was Canadian, as ALL others were 1" wider per side, roughly.
Had to have an edge put on the rear arches (1/2" conduit, welded on and bondoed) to meet state requirements.
 
Hi Legal Bill,

You are correct, however, it is important to note where in the wheel-well the tread resides. That is the reason a 195/80R15 (if they even make that size) would not fit and a 195/65R15 will. Depending upon the uniqueness of each Healey and the tire make chosen, Goughie’s Dunlop 205/75R15s fit his car but Dough’s Kohmo 205/75R15s would not fit his.

I have been having a heck of a time finding a local shop at the central NJ shore that carries any of the tires mentioned that I am interested in (Vredestein 185/80R15, 165/80R15, Kumho 165/80R15 and now 205/75R15). I am looking local to have a place that will mount and balance the tires and maybe try the 205s to see if they fit (as Doug did) before purchasing.

Since I intend to drive this car in a reasonable manor (well past the aggressions of my youth), I am even looking at Nexen or Nankang 165R15s as a moderately priced alternative to match the small amount of yearly driving I expect.

Has anyone tried the Nexen or Nankang? Since Kumhos are no longer manufactured and my present set of Dunlops was purchased in 1991, I expect any tire would be a welcome change.

By the way, I noticed the box containing specific excerpts from previous comments. How is that done?

Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
Call BILL at Euro Tire in NJ. phone # 1-800-631-0080. He will know if there is anyone that knows mounting,truing and balancing wire wheels. He is also the Vredestein distributor. Ask for Bill... P.S. I perfer the Nexans over the Nankangs. The size tire is also tied to the size rim width you have.You can not run a 205 or a 195 on a 4.5 inch 60 spoke rim. You will need a 6 inch wide rim. Wheelguy
 
By the way, I noticed the box containing specific excerpts from previous comments. How is that done? LIKE THIS???--Copy and paste.

However, if you hit the "Quote Tab" on a post It will all move to your reply field.---Keoke
 
Thanks Wheelguy. A name from the past. A while back I purchased tires from them for my 87 Audy Quatro. I'll give them a call.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:]However, if you hit the "Quote Tab" on a post It will all move to your reply field.---Keoke
[/QUOTE] Thanks Keoke.

All the best,
Ray (64BJ8P1)
 
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