Greetings all,
I had the good fortune the other day to purchase a 1966/67 Minor two door that has had an amateur restoration. It's shiny up top and the welding down below was competent if not pretty. The problem is the owner put a set of 5.60X14 bias ply tyres on it. There will be more problems I'm sure, but this one is top of mind right now. Here's my question:
Bull Motif are offering either 145X14 Bridgestone or 155X14 Toyo and for some reason the Toyo tires are cheaper. Does anyone have information or an informed opinion on which would be the better tire to fit? I have also looked at EMS where they also offer a 155X14 "Budget" tyre, I don't know what this is.
Well - Budget = cheap and cheerful! I don't see a great problem with your bias-ply tyres - I quite liked my old Rally Minor on it's crossply tyres - could be thrown around nicely! I would go for the 155 X 14 tyres if buying new - I used them for years, and now have them on the wider 4.5" wheels which is better, but they were 'ok' on the narrow rims when blown up to 30 psi.
Brigestone are good tyres, I used them in 155 size, I don't think that the are easily available here any more.
Never tried Toyo but I have heard good reports.
155 tyres will give you slightly higher gearing and a slightly less optimistic speedo
Your car looks very low at the front fussy - is this intentional ? Just make sure the front bump stops are present - and the car is not riding on them!
I found the bridgestones terrible, they have "a lovely soft wall" to quote mark at bull motif and to me that destoryed the handling of my moggy.. I am now running the toyo tyres and finding them lovely, they have restored the handling of my car..
I know others on here disagree and like the bridgestones may be it was a bad batch a few years back but..
155/14 toyo everytime for me! Good ride and handling
Have tried the bridgestones after being convinced of their benefits by bull motif, but had to take them off after 5000 as the handling was terrible. Much improved with the toyos
Well, I thought I had said thank you to those who have answered but the post seems to have disappeared into the ether.
So ... thanks again to those who have given very helpful replies. There seems to be some doubt about the Bridgestones which are available only in the 145 size while I have seen only positive remarks about the Toyo tires and general approval of 155 over 145. I bought 145s for my 1950 Tourer and put them on with tubes in them. So far they are doing fine although it took pounds of lead to balance them. For the 1967 Saloon you have convinced me to go with the 155s and since the tires on the car are tubeless and holding air I will try them without tubes.
If the existing tires are in good shape, why change them? Save your $$$. A lot of people just get so used to radials that they think bias ply are NG, but there is nothing wrong w/bias ply tires. They were used for many, many years w/out too many problems.
my nankangs are half worn on the rear and done around 5000 miles on the front they are just under half worn and they are a good tyre they just wooble a bit on the side wall
freshly painted 1275cc anda very loud big bore exhaust
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