Which tyres?

[LanceNZ]

Hi all
Just after a bit of advice regarding my Traveller I'm restoring. I've been looking for tyres for some time and have recently purchased a set of 165-14 Hankook tyres (slightly used but at a very good price) and have now found a set of unused 145-14 Michelins which are also very well priced. I have a full set of 4 1/2 inch van rims and also a set of std 3 inch rims.
Which should I go for? Hankook 165s or Michelin 145s? wide or skinny?
My only concern is that the 145 Michelins may look a bit small!

All opinions welcome

Cheers
Lance

[charlie_morris_minor]

165-14 are a bit too wide for standard wheel rims with 145-14 being the best. However in the uk Michelins 145-14 have not been available for many years and the tyres being offered might be too old to be safe, this link will help you determine the age assumming you have the same markings in NZ..
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... ?techid=11

[WHOOSH!]

Set of 145 Michies on mine when I bought it. If I had spares I would post them to New Zealand

But I find that the 145's sit well at all speeds but this has been widely debated before.

[liammonty]

I would go for the 165 Hankooks on the wider rims, just because (assuming they're 80 profile) they fill the arches so much better, as they're closer to the rolling radius of the original crossplies. 145 tyres on the standard rims would be fine, but they will lower the gearing and make the arches look a little empty.

[bmcecosse]

The 165 are really too wide for the 4.5J rims - ideally should be on 5.5 rims. The 145 are a bit too narrow for the 4.5J rims - but are the better fit really - although 155 tyres would be ideal. This all assumes 80 profile in both cases. If it was me -I would put the 165s on the wide wheels and the 145s on the narraow - and live with it!