Looking for tyres in NZ?

[Clarkie]

Hi Me Again

Thank you everyone by the way for your help last week re: locating parts in NZ. We managed to get quite a few that we wanted

Now we are looking for tyres - the local garage reckon they haven't made tyres the size to fit my brother's Morrie for years!!! How does everyone else manage??

Clarkie

[fweddy]

I guess you are after radials? or is it crossplys you want?

If you have standard rims you might be wanting 145 radials, they are hard to come by but try michelins ($ i know) - they have always had one and there is now another type too, Firestone me thinks.

If you have wide rims (4½Js) 165s go nicely, should be easier to get. 175s fit ok but not really (I have them on my 4½J rims which are currently on dad's car but we have spaced the front.)

You might find some at wreckers too

[Clarkie]

Thanks for that mate.

We will certainly try there.

Thank you.

Clarkie

[rayofleamington]

Well if you are desperate, you could try 155 14's
Over hear these are also used on Euroboxes (Punto?)
They are wider than the rim and will give reduced handling and a lot of tyre roll but for some reason plenty of people over here use that combination. It is probably not an issue if you drive like a priest but if you drive like a hoon you'll notice it.

[forbesg]

Hi Me Again

Now we are looking for tyres - the local garage reckon they haven't made tyres the size to fit my brother's Morrie for years!!! How does everyone else manage??

I brought some widened rims off a supplier down here in Ch-Ch (Unfortuantely he's recently passed away). But you can get rim specialists to widen standard rims for you (if they are in good condition) and you know what width and offset you need. Hence I brough rims already done.

-Grant Forbes

[Cam]

But you can get rim specialists to widen standard rims for you

I thought 'banding' was illegal??

[Matt]

maybe not in NZ

[Cam]

Maybe not in the UK either. I remember hearing that it was once but I'm not too sure.

[forbesg]

I thought 'banding' was illegal??

In NZ it's Ok if they have been preformed by a certified welder and then the car has been certified. However this is a recent requirement (last 5 years?) and is not retrospective.
In reality most WOF testers won't look for this due to the age of the car, and not being able to determine when the modication occured.

-Grant.

[rayofleamington]

I thought 'banding' was illegal??

me too, but I may have heard it from the same place so can't confirm it. Over here you can get Minor wheels with NEW 5J rims so it's not really an issue.
They are approx £60 each but as our labour rates are high, banding isn't going to be that much cheaper, and I'd rather have a new mass production rim than a cut n shut one.

[fweddy]

a supplier down here in Ch-Ch (Unfortuantely he's recently passed away)

Ian's over ¼ centuary of Minor knowledge will be missed greatly - I already have had questions that would be ideal to pass by him.

Grant - Did you know there is a sale of new and used parts at Ian's premises (Domain Tce) on Sun 20th June in the arvo. If you are a member of the canty club you'll find out soon anyway - I've heard your name before somewhere I think.