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What radials do you use?

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61frogeye

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I have a 61 BE and I have bias ply tires on stock rims, I am interested in getting a set of radials. What brand/model/size of tire works well on these 4" rims. What works on 5" rims if I get a set of Minilites. I would prefer A European tire or American, but if an Asian tire is best then that will be fine too.
Thanks
 
I am running 175/70 r13 on 5" rims. General Altimax RT's.
 

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Lee, the black chrome looks great.
 
I have been running Kumho Powerstar 758's in 155/80-13 on stock wheels for the past 5 years and love them. Unfortunately, they have since been discontinued. I just bought a new set and am not sure what I will do when they wear out (of course, I guess I could install my new set of VTO wheels!).

I got the Kumho's at Discount Tire and if you have one local to you they should be able to get you a set. My local store found some for me in Atlanta and through their distribution system got them shipped up to me for no additional fee. There are a lot of stores out there with 1-2 in their inventory.

I guess another slight downside is since they are discontinued, the tires that are available are 1-2 years old. Mine were built about 2 years ago. Since I burn through tires pretty fast (12-18 months) that doesn't bother me too much, but YMMV.
 
Thanks for your help everyone. I am sure that one of these suggestions (not sure which yet) I will go with. I will write here when I figure it all out. I will at least be putting radials on the stock rims, possibly on Minilites.
 
I have Goodyear, Club 155/80 13's on 5 inch rims on mine. Very nice tire, but I haven't seen them for a couple of years so, like the Kumho's, I think they might have been discontinued.
 

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61frogeye said:
Leecreek,
Any clearance/interference problems with the 175's on the 5" rims?
Click to expand...

I have not noticed any problems so far. They fill the wheel well compared to the 165/65 13 Bridgestones they replaced. Mistral rims.

Pic is of the 'removing the rear flares' stage.
 

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jlaird said:
Lee, the black chrome looks great.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jack. Grill was powder coated years ago and I hit the budget limit so I figured why not paint it and see how I like it. All the chrome was pitted and peeling and the paint comes off so easy.
 
leecreek said:
61frogeye said:
Leecreek,
Any clearance/interference problems with the 175's on the 5" rims?
Click to expand...

I have not noticed any problems so far. They fill the wheel well compared to the 165/65 13 Bridgestones they replaced. Mistral rims.

Pic is of the 'removing the rear flares' stage.
Click to expand...

Removing the rear flares? I am not sure what you mean by that. You didn't have to do anything to the be to get them to fit did you? I am considering a set of 5" wide actual Minilites.

Your Bug looks very nice!
 
61frogeye said:
Any clearance/interference problems with the 175's on the 5" rims?
Click to expand...


I've run 175/70 13's on stock rims and on 5.5" with an SWA '66 without interference. They're close, really close, but they clear with the 5.5s.
 
tried the 175's on the stocks once..seemed to pancake out to much. rubbed on the rear spring and late model support bracket when cornering hard. also caused a yawing in a sudden turning motion. (not a good thing )
 
Pic is of the 'removing the rear flares' stage. [/quote]

Removing the rear flares? I am not sure what you mean by that. You didn't have to do anything to the be to get them to fit did you? I am considering a set of 5" wide actual Minilites.

Your Bug looks very nice! [/quote]


Thanks. The flares were added in 1974 when it was last painted. It had Custom made rims on it then. This pic is from '74 just before leaving on the trip to Limestone, Maine.
 

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leecreek-I see about the flares now. I have decided to go with a set of Minilites so I will order up a set of the same tire you run. Of course I will post photos when all of this is done.
 
Sumitomo makes a nice tire HTR200 (I think is the model) in a 175-70-13. Oops, just checked tirerack, doesn't look like they're carrying them anymore..
Dang.
 
Lot of 13 inch tires gone away. Miss Agatha is going to have to wear hers quite a while longer.
 
You can still find the Sumitomo HTR T4's in this size.
Are they any good?

64rocksprite said:
Sumitomo makes a nice tire HTR200 (I think is the model) in a 175-70-13. Oops, just checked tirerack, doesn't look like they're carrying them anymore..
Dang.
Click to expand...
 
As I understand it the HTR 200 was the last performance tire being offered in the 175/70-13 size. I picked up a set last summer but if no one can locate them, then I got one of the last sets. Everything else is all season for Minivans and Econocars.
 
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