Requesting tire advice

Joel- A 165R-15 has an aspect ratio of 78 or 80 (not 65) and is a fairly tall tire (almost 25 1/2") so you're right; the 185/60's will lower the car 3/4-1". A lot of guys would be digging that! Kirk's comment that they will have a better footprint is correct; they are about 3/4" wider, and with the shorter sidewall (which won't flex quite as much) will feel more positive.

If you actually had 165/65's (about 23 1/2" tall) on the car, then the 185/60's will lift the car 1/8", so you have no worries. Even though they're ever so slightly taller, being wider they'll still handle better. Enjoy! Al

I'm not a fan of Pirellis, always found them to be too hard and not long wearing either.

I got Bridgestone Re960 on my Spyder but they are no longer made, now they have the Re970 but not in Joel's recommended size. Tire Rack has a Bridgestone that may be suitable, they also have many others in 185/60R15. Make sure you have 5.5" wheels, 4.5" will be a little narrow for 185. I'm running 185/65/15 on the front on 4.5" rims.

I also would not recommend the P4s.

If this is your tire  http://www.ityre.com/en/tyres/...og/kelly/size/18295/

then it isn't a 165/65.  It's as Al mentioned.

If you go from a 165/78 to a 185/60 you will decrease your wheel size by 1.65 inches.  That's quite a bit.

When your speedo reads 60 mph you'll actually be doing 56 mph.

With a 185/65 tire your diameter will decrease by 0.93 inches and your speedo will be out just over 3 mph at 60. 

There will also be a slight increase in rpm at any given speed.  Probably a couple of hundred at 60.

It's getting harder and harder to purchase a set of performance 65 series tires.

I've done some searching for a 185/65 tire and came up with one surprise.  1010 Tire, up in Canada, sells a Falken ZE 914 Eco run tire in the 185/65 tire and it has a summer only rating.  I haven't come across a summer only tire in 185/65 for a long time. 

An interesting tire, but the eco run label probably means it sacrifices handling ability for better fuel economy.

Personally, I'll take the better handling every time.

Note that Tire Rack doesn't sell this brand.

http://1010tires.com/Tires/Fal...E914+EcoRun/28941542

Ron- I'm going to talk to my tire guy tomorrow (he's pretty knowledgable) and I'll let you know what he says about the eco run tires (and the Falken ZE 914 specifically). I don't know anything about them, and if anybody does it will be Tom. Al

At the rate I'm going my tires will rot out before they even get close to wearing out.

What about Veredestein Classics? Coker has them.

Bob---I got a set of Verdesteins 2 years ago and really like them.  They seem very well made and are actually round---what a concept--right?  Took a perfect balance and ride better than others I've tried--mostly oriental brands. I'v done 2 Carlisle trips for 4,500 miles plus another 350 cruising around home and the tires show no wear at all. I'm sure if I measured I'd see some thousands gone but you can't tell by just looking.  

The other thing about these tires is that they seem to have a deeper tread than others to start. 

These are Dutch tires and to me, their quality is right up there with Michelin.   Not cheap but i'd buy them again. 165-15s are tough to find except in oriental brands but Verdestein makes them in that size.  As mentioned they offer a classic tread as well as a "regular" and I took the classic.  Truthfully, I don't know what makes a tread "classic" but I got that style for a classic car, I guess.

Thanks to Lane for recommending them.  

I'm running the Veredestein Classics as well. I would like to claim that it was my idea but the P/O of my car, Michael Beaucage, put them on, replacing one of the asian brands that he was really unhappy with.

I've not put nearly the same mileage on my car as you have, Jack, but my experience with them has been comparable. 

Classic Motorsports Magazine did a comparison of 3 brands of 165/15 classic car tires in the most recent issue. They used identical wheels and inflation on a 1956 MGA which they thought was a middle of the road, widely owned classic car.

They rated the tires on: road noise, handling feel, braking, comfort, appearance, price, prestige, and autocross.

results: #1 Vredestein Sprint Classic   165 HR15   $119

          #2 Firestone F560   165 R15   $80

          #3 Michelin XZX   165 SR15  $208

Surprisingly, (to me) the only category where Michelin placed #1 was prestige.

Firestone was #1 in Handling feel, appearance and price.

Vredestein was #1 in road noise, braking, comfort, and...autocross. It was also the lightest tire at 16.75 lbs. Firestone was heaviest at 18lbs.

They had the Firestones at Carlisle last year and they looked pretty good. If I thought Heidi could hold 4 tires on her lap in the speedster, I might have grabbed them.   Looks like you guys made some good choices with the Vredesteins.

I was going to question anyone's experience with the Vredestein Sprint Classic 1656HR 15 and then I read the last three favorable reports-thank you guys. Other forums seem to like them -the 356 and the MGA. They are tall-25.4 inches-which I have now and what I want to keep.I will get them in warmer weather but before Carlisle.

Joel