Recommended tyre size
- Thread starter Bernd
- Start date
Those 185/65 R14s you have on there are tiny compared with the original 185/80R14 (or thereabouts). 195/70R14s will be around 4% less circumference than original which is ok. It will put your speedo out by around 4% but will be slightly more perky 
195/75R14 if you can get them will be pretty much as standard, or 205/70R14 but just watch the clearance on the back.
195/75R14 if you can get them will be pretty much as standard, or 205/70R14 but just watch the clearance on the back.
jp928
Well-Known Member
Good luck getting wheel nuts that fit properly. The P6 wheels are centered by the domed nuts, where SD1 wheels are centered on the hub at the front, by a cup fixed to the axle end at the rear. To get the rims to clear the dust cap at the front I thinned the flange of the dust cap down in a lathe. At the rear I made sure the nuts were a very good fit in the bolt holes of the rim as there is nothing else to centre them - so far no vibrations up to 120kph/75mph. Bought nuts from USA listed for Lexus (correct thread, with washers), but the OD of the shank needed turning down slightly to fit through the wheel. On 8 out of the 20 the shank was not concentric with the thread.....sent the bad ones back, asked for inspection of the replacements before shipping. Barely managed to get 10 concentric thread nuts for the rear out of the lot.. Front is a good fit on the hub, so no issues there.
eggbert68b
Active Member
I looked at 215/65/14 tyres but had clearance problems with swivel pillar, if you use the same rolling circumference. Even with my current 205/14 this gap is close (15mm), using the same rolling radius as OEM tyres. You need to reduce the tyre height to permit the good looking larger width tyres. eg 215/55/14.. (tbc)
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ghce
Well-Known Member
I had no problem with mine but it is tight, one side was over 5mm in gap and the other just under. It has presented no problems though I know others have had issues which required a bit of judicious metal bending.
My understanding is that there may be slight tolerance differences between individual cars that and differences between tyre manufacturers tyre shoulder sidewall differences.
Jack Shotton
New Member
It goes like this to calculate the diameter of the wheel + tire combination:
The first number (three digits) is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number (two digits) is the ratio of the height to the width. The third number is the wheel diameter in inches. 25.4 mm = 1 inch. Also, if the second number isn't stated, then assume 80 which used to be most standard.
So for example, the original 185 HR 14 is the same as 185 80 14. Diameter is 185 X .8 = 148. Multiply times 2 for top and bottom of the tire 148 X 2 = 296 mm. 14" X 25.4 = 356 mm. 356 + 296 = 652 mm (25.7")
For 195 75 14: (195 X .75 X 2) + 356 = 648 mm (25.5")
For 195 70 14 (195 X .70 X 2) + 356 = 629 mm (24.8")
The first number (three digits) is the width of the tire in millimeters. The second number (two digits) is the ratio of the height to the width. The third number is the wheel diameter in inches. 25.4 mm = 1 inch. Also, if the second number isn't stated, then assume 80 which used to be most standard.
So for example, the original 185 HR 14 is the same as 185 80 14. Diameter is 185 X .8 = 148. Multiply times 2 for top and bottom of the tire 148 X 2 = 296 mm. 14" X 25.4 = 356 mm. 356 + 296 = 652 mm (25.7")
For 195 75 14: (195 X .75 X 2) + 356 = 648 mm (25.5")
For 195 70 14 (195 X .70 X 2) + 356 = 629 mm (24.8")
colnerov
Well-Known Member
Yes that's right, but that's the width of the tread not the tyre wall width which is more. However, the problem on the P6 rear is the width of the tyre and manufacturing tolerances of the wheel arch, tyres and wheels. Sometimes they are in your favour, sometimes there are not, which is where the application of force comes in.
Marc
New Member
Marc
New Member
What tyre size in these?
MrC
New Member
Not sure 205/75/14 are available (in the UK at least) in the correct speed rating for a p6b - Hankook only offer an "R" rated van tyre in that size now. Plus a quick search onliine shows most if not all tyres of that size are van tyres so may not ride well (although they'd probably last for ever).
LS-1
Member
Bit late reply to this thread but...
I had managed to get a set of replacement tyres for my P6 as the ones fitted were indeed van tyres. The OE spec tyres are supposed to be H-rated - up to 130mph. My spare tyre is the correct 185/14 H, but the ones fitted to it were 185/80/14 C - van tyres.
You can get the OE spec tyres here in the UK, but at vast expense. I compromised and got a set of so-called seasonal tyres online called Maxxis. They are 195/75/14 S which are specced for up to 112 mph. The look is much improved and is more in line with the P6. They also have a white stripe option which I quite like.
LS-1
Member
In addition to the new tyres, I fitted a set of bolt-through wheel trims which are so much easier to remove and replace wheels with. The original plain wheel trims were becoming very tedious indeed. As a bonus I think the overall look is much improved and wheel removal and replacement is a piece of cake.
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They look good. I have been using Maxxis MAP 3 tyres for quite some years in size 205/70 R14 95H.
I used S rated tyes only once during the 1980s. The tyres delaminated even though I was not driving any where near their rated maximum. I was told that it is illegal to use S rated tyes on a car that is specified to use H rated tyres. The car is deemed unroadworthy on top of which it voids your insurance. You may find that your car will now fail its MOT (pink slip here in NSW, Australia). Mind you, the law may be quite different in this regard in the UK compared to NSW.
Ron.
I used S rated tyes only once during the 1980s. The tyres delaminated even though I was not driving any where near their rated maximum. I was told that it is illegal to use S rated tyes on a car that is specified to use H rated tyres. The car is deemed unroadworthy on top of which it voids your insurance. You may find that your car will now fail its MOT (pink slip here in NSW, Australia). Mind you, the law may be quite different in this regard in the UK compared to NSW.
Ron.
LS-1
Member
Hello Ron,
Thanks. I think they suit the P6 too.
I did try and opt for an H-rated tyre, but the options online were limited to M+S tyres for seasonal use. Presumably meaning they're not recommended for year round driving. Of course from a legal point they're not the correct H-rated tyre, so could be a contention in an insurance investigation after an accident perhaps?
Interesting about the delamination. One would presume that the S-rated tyres are of a more softer rubber compound than the H'? Your current tyre choice would seem to be the ones to go for. I did see some of those 205's but was concerned about clearance on the P6. I may try those next time.
Cheers