My 68 needs some new skins the ones on the car are 165 R 15 .
What sizes are available now a days?
Should I serch for retro originals?
what tires is everyone else on?
Thanks

Sorry I'm late on this reply, but I dont check the 1800 board too often.

I was thinking about some new tires for my Morgan just the other day, as the current Avons are rather old (but not too worn). There had been some talk about replacing old tires on one of the Morgan discussion boards. I know about the difficulty in finding 165x15s these days. Last time I changed tires on my Volvo P210, I had difficulty finding something in 185x15, and a local supplier found me a set of Vredesteins, a Dutch tire. The 210 isnt known for its handling, but the Vredesteins always had a good reputation when they were more popular. I have had no problems with the tires.

Anyway a web search the other day found a US mail order tire dealer offering Vredesteins in 165x15, 185/70x15 and 185x15. These arent $35 tires, but the price didnt seem unreasonable either, in the $60s.

Here's the web address: http://www.tiresunlimited.com/default.htm

I have no ties with these folks--just offering another alternative to the $35 no name tires.

Bob Tescione

I wound up at pep boys. manny mo and jack had some tires that weren't special
but were better than expected for tread pattern and were rating

The 165/SR/15 happens to be the same size as used on the original VW Beetle.
PepBoys around here sells a EuroMetric for about $30-35. I have them on my 145. Call around, you might be surprised.

Also, I prefer narrow tires for these cars, since they're tons better in the snow, and in heavy rain also, I've found. They have less rolling resistance, I think also.

Only if I had put 5-8 grand in the car would I think about putting $6-800 in tires.

--
MPergiel, Elmhurst, IL '74 145e T-5 'Orange Alert'

I have Firestone F560's on the 1800E and on the PV's steel wheels. Nice enough tire - 165R15 (I think that means a 'classic' 72 sidewall aspect?), about $35 installed. They act a bit unevenly at the limit - I think they tend to fold before they slide unless kept at really high pressures.
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I'm JohnMc, and I approved this message.

I have 15"x5.5" wheels. I recently purchased a set of Pirelli P6000 Sport Veloces from Big O (they sold them to me for a better price than Tirerack). Anyway, I got 195 60 15 tires. My car loves them. They are more grippy than the ones I had (tire design is superior) and in Vegas, the rain (seldom) brings out all of the oil in the road. These tires were rgeat the last month (4th rainiest month recorded).
--
'66 1800S

Just in case someone might be interested....I just mounted some
Falken ZE-512 215/60R-15
($55 ea from http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/initTireSizes.do )
on 15 X 6 Motor Wheel Spyders on my '67.
They fit great and handle OK for a skinny 60.

I guess I'm only looking for a tire that will be safe at 65 miles per hour
thanks

Find a Firestone dealer.

Firestone has a sub-brand called Dayton.

The Dayton Daytona Metric Radial is available in 165R15.

Should be around $30/ea.

--
'73 142, '75 242, '75 245, '80 245, '86 244, '87 745T

Yeah, there is Cooper as well, and I think they still do Euro Metric tires. I got a couple of 165-15s from a Tire Factory place for like $34 each or so. But then again, I'd still recommend upping to a 185/70-15 tire because of the increased grip available for emergency situations and just everything in general. Your choice
--
Kyle - VP of OVT Membership - www.OVTuners.org Portland/Corvallis, OR - 1968 142 - current setup: 71b20b SUs, m40, bigger list available upon request... ;)

John from V-Performance answered this question a few weeks ago. Here is his reply, I'm sure he won't mind me repeating it for you (I saved it for reference).

Bob1800ES

We use 225/50/15 on 7 inch wheels, zero offset, on the racecars.
> These cars are substantially lowered and there are sometimes fender inner
> lip problems. I have had the same size on a street 1800 - whether they
> clear depends on how much it is lowered,how stiff the springs are, and on
> the particular brand of tire, as not all tires with the same numerical
> sizes are actually the same size.
>
> John
> V-performance.com

185-65s are available from several manufacturers in quite a few styles.

Depends what you're after. Pep Boys still sells 165R15, but all you can say about them is they are round and hold air. Last I checked, you could still get 165s from Cooper and Firestone as well.

Depending on the year, some wore 185/70R15 stock, but these are hen's teeth.

You can't go much wider than 185 on stock rims.

If you have a P1800 or 1800S, you have a bolt pattern common to tons of Fords and Dodges. All manner of wheels for you.

If you have an 1800E/ES, you can use wheels from a 240 or 740. Several interesting OE alloys, not much aftermarket support.
--
'73 142, '75 242, '75 245, '80 245, '86 244, '87 745T

a word to all - PepBoys has discontinued the EuroMetric 165R15 with no immediate plans to replace... if your local shop has 'em, buy 'em. Found a rather expensive alternative at Discount Tires by Kelly..
--
1966 1800S in sunny Sandy Eggo