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pdplot

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The redlines on my 71 TR6 still have tread but are probably 30 years old & I've been told in no uncertain terms to replace them. If you will, please answer the following:
1. 205/70/15s vs. 205/60/15s. Which is better and why?
2. Performance vs. regular? OK brands?
3. All-weather or summer? OK brands?
I only drive my car in good weather and never in winter. I'm looking for handling above all with ride comfort second. I have tube shocks so 215s don't seem to be a viable option. (I'm also in the middle of rebushing my trailing arms).

PD
 
My preference is the 205/70's. They fill up the wheel well a little more. For your type of driving a regular tire will work just fine. Khumo's are good for the money.

Marv
 
Bound to be lots of opinions on this -- but everyone will agree that 30 year old tires are for display purposes only, I wouldn't back the car out to wash it on something that old.

On my TR4 for the wide rims I went with Bridgestone Potenzas (based on comments here on BCF) and have been quite pleased with them.
 
Geo Hahn said:
Bound to be lots of opinions on this -- but everyone will agree that 30 year old tires are for display purposes only, I wouldn't back the car out to wash it on something that old.

On my TR4 for the wide rims I went with Bridgestone Potenzas (based on comments here on BCF) and have been quite pleased with them.
Click to expand...

What tire size did you use. I have wider wheels, 6", on my 4 also. The 195/65-15 are aging out so I need to replace them. Thinking of a little taller tire.
 
The original tires on a TR6 from factory were 185/80-R15 tires, the closest that you can get to that size today (without ordering specialty tires) is 205/70-R15 which is what I use on mine. 205/70-R15 is also, incidentally, the 'largest tire' you can safely run on 5 inch wide 15 inch rims. (5.5 inch rims can go to 215/70-15)
 
TRMark said:
...What tire size did you use. I have wider wheels, 6", on my 4 also. The 195/65-15 are aging out so I need to replace them. Thinking of a little taller tire.
Click to expand...

195/65-15s are what I used in the Potenzas.
 
Michelin - HydroEdge 205/70's on a stock rim are the way I went. (note, the tire guys tell me they are not always easy to get, although that may have changed)
 
I am running Falken Ziex 912s on my TR250, 205/65/15, they fit well, look pretty agressive and seem to be a decent compromise type tire, not too radical but a more high performance type than the stock size.
 
+1 on Potenzas for best handling at a modest price (although the price has doubled since I bought my last set). I'm running 205/55 on TR6 rims (which are 5.5" wide).
 
Interesting stuff. Thanks, guys. I would guess that the 60s would give you a little better acceleration at the expense of a harder ride. One thing for sure - life was simpler back in the '50s. Ever try to buy toothpaste today?

PD
 
pdplot said:
Interesting stuff. Thanks, guys. I would guess that the 60s would give you a little better acceleration at the expense of a harder ride.
Click to expand...

My experience has been that sidewall height has little to do with harsher ride. Tire construction is far more important. Some tall tires are very harsh, most of the low profiles I have tried actually ride better than some 80 series Michelins I used to have.

I run the 55s for two reasons: Lowering the car helps improve handling; and it is impossible to buy tall high performance tires. They just don't exist.

For example, if you look up size 205/70-15 on Tire Rack
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearch...amp;diameter=15
there are 0 tires listed in any of the high performance categories.

Drop to 205/55 (which is not a particularly popular size), and the only tires available are "Ultra High Performance" and "High Performance".
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearch...amp;diameter=15

I'm actually in the middle of building a 3.45 rear axle, which will just about compensate for the change in gear ratio due to tire height (for my TR3, obviously a TR6 isn't quite the same).
 
pdplot said:
...One thing for sure - life was simpler back in the '50s. Ever try to buy toothpaste today?
Click to expand...

Brings to mind a story told about an Englishman on his first visit to the States. He forgot to bring toothpaste and went into a drugstore (chemists) to get a small tube. Couldn't find one and was told by the clerk "We sell three sizes: Large, Family & Giant. Large is the smallest we've got."

He said that was the phrase that stuck in his mind as he toured the U.S. "Large is the smallest we've got".
 
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