TYRES

[jfs52e]

Sorry, I know this particular topic has been discussed many times before, but I cant find an answer to my particular question. I'm looking to put new tyres on my unmodified 1956 2 door saloon, 803 split screen. The car currently has crossplys and I want to get radials. From what I understand I can use 145x14 or 155x14 tyres. The car will not be a daily runner and will not be doing many (if any) very long runs, so handling is not of major importance. My question is: would 155x70x14 fit? or what size do I need. Also do you need tubes, or do they fit standard rims as they come?

Thanks

[lambrettalad]

so handling is not of major importance.

It is always important

[jfs52e]

Sorry I didn't quite put that right, I have read that 155 and 145 tyres handle differently and some people don't like the handling characteristics of 155 tyres over the 145 tyres. This in not an issue for me

[dalebrignall]

155 are fine ,but if you can find 145 then all the better but the 145s will be more expensive if you can find them

[IaininTenbury]

If you don't do a lot of hard everyday driving you'll be unlikely to notice the difference between 145 and 155s Visually 155s look a bit better as from the side view the height is more like a 5.20 crossply. Especially noticable on a Series 2 Minor with the high cut back wings where 145s look a bit lost in the large wheel arch.
I've just changed from 145s to 155s on my 53 convertible (mainly because I happened to have a set) and it looks much better. It raises the gearing a little too, but not really a noticable difference but its in the right direction!

[liammonty]

You don't need tubes. The wheels are tubeless type, but a lot have had tubes fitted in the past.
Tyres available now seem to be:

145 80 14 Bridgestone - people say they're great but you won't find them for less than around £70 fitted

145 80 14 Camac - 'old-fashioned' style radial, fairly average I think

155 80 14 Toyo - Increasingly hard to get hold of, some say their sidewalls are too soft but I've run them for 15 years, over a lot of miles, adn have no complaints. Around £50 fitted.

155 80 14 Nankang - New model of tyre in this size from Nankang, and those who've used them seem to think they're similar in quality and feel to the Toyos. Many will say here that they're rubbish, but they are referring to the old-style Nankang. I'll probably be buying a set next week, so I'll let you know how they are if I get them" Around £50 fitted.

I've only found those 4 types available (well, you can get a Bridgestone winter tyre too if you fancy having two sets!!!), so there's not a lot of choice any more, adn you're looking at £200 minimum for a set... Gone are the days of cheap Minor tyres.

[rogerowen]

Anyone got correct pressures for 155 radials?

[Biggles1957]

I run mine (on a daily traveller) at 32 all round. 34 rear if fully loaded

[jagnut66]

155 80 14 Toyo - Increasingly hard to get hold of

Hi,
155 / 14 Toyo's are available, see links below.
I've run mine with these 'tubeless' with standard wheels since I've had the car and I agree with the last post on pressures.
Best wishes,
Mike.

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=4966

http://www.morrisminorspares.net/shop_item.php?ID=3668

[jfs52e]

Thanks everybody. I think I'll try and get my hands on some 155 80 14 Toyo's. Need to start saving my pennies

[liammonty]

Agreed - I've always found around 30 psi to be good on 155s. They're too squaby at lower pressures for my liking.

[customjob]

If you have the original 803 wheels fitted tubeless valves for that size of appeture are difficult to get hold of. Also Minor rims were not designed to be tubeless. Modern tyres and wheel rims are tubeless by design. Modern rims are a one piece construction or a two piece welded construction, however Minor rims aren't they are a two piece construction the outer rim riveted to the inner plate these rivets are prone to leak. Also Minor rims do not have the extra bead ring that modern rims have, which helps to stop tyres being forced off while under lateral cornering forces. I would recommend to fit tubes.

[bmcecosse]

As above - the early wheels may not be air tight with tubeless tyres - so you may need to fit tubes. The 155 tyres are TOO WIDE for standard Minor wheels - you will be far happier with 145 X 80 section tyres. You mention 155 X 70 section tyres and these are NOT what you would want - 155 X 80 are the ones to look for, BUT the handling will be more squishy on these overwide tyres, unless you fit van rims which are 4.5J section, and then the 155 X 80 tyres are perfect. And yes - 30/32/34 psi with these tyres depending on load carried..

[jagnut66]

I've never had any of these problems running with my standard wheels???
Mind you mine is a 1000, as opposed to an earlier car and I know there are differences between the early and later wheels but surely not that much?
Mine are 155 80 14 Toyo's (from Bull, as per the links I put in my last post), I initially fitted them with tubes when I first got my car but I got terrible vibrations from the wheels when driving, I was advised at the time that modern tyres are designed to run tubeless (as already stated by others on here) and don't react well to having tubes used with them, as soon as the tubes were removed everything was fine and has been since......

...... touching wood now......

[gtt1951]

I have a '56 Split-Screen Traveller with the earlier wheels (they have the 3 metal posts to hold the hub cap on) and recently changed the 2 back tyres from Dunlop 145's (sidewall stated "for Tubed Use") to 155x14 (the local TyrePros outlet ordered them in for me). They were going to transfer my tubes - turns out the tyres didn't have any tubes fitted and they were very very slowly losing air. Although the tread depth was still like new, the sidewalls were showing quite a few cracks as these tyres had been on the car since before the end of 2008 (only driven 50 miles and then the car was stored) and that was why I was changing them.
The new tyres are minus tubes and the NSR one does loose a bit more air when driving on Hampshire's pot-holed roads, than the offside one. I'm thinking that the slow loss may be due to the wheel construction. Same goes for the 2 fronts - looks like no tubes and I will change them from 145's to 155's before the trek to Gaydon.
The tyre fitters fitted back my original valve stems, but replaced the cores.

[jfs52e]

Think I'll just stick with my crossply's, seems to be way too complicated for somebody of limited technical knowledge/ability like myself ---Only kidding (about not changing, not the technical bit!!). I'm going to go with 155x80x14, take them to my local friendly tyre fitter or garage and take it from there. If as BMC says the tyres are too big, expect to see them advertised shortly thereafter.

Thanks everybody

[gtt1951]

I've just got home after my 2nd ever trip to work in my Traveller and looked up the invoice for the rear tyres.
155/80R14 Nankang CX668 81T, unit price £37.98 (ex VAT). Wheel balance, off car was £5.63 (ex VAT) for each wheel and, cheekily, was charged for environmental disposal of 2 tyres, even though I took one home (at £1.45 ex VAT each)!
Total bill came to £108.14 inc. VAT.
If you take your own tyres to a tyre fitter you will be charged a fee for fitting "customer's own cover", unless you have a very friendly local fitter.
All the best with whichever route you decide to take,
George.

[LaughingBoy]

I've just got home after my 2nd ever trip to work in my Traveller and looked up the invoice for the rear tyres.
155/80R14 Nankang CX668 81T, unit price £37.98 (ex VAT).

How would you rate the Nankang CX668's? I want some 165/70's for my 4.5" wheels and don't want the sidewalls to be too squishy/squermy ...

[bigjim]

i used to run 165/70 all the time at 32 psi no problem

[liammonty]

The Nankang CX668 tyres are very good on a Minor, far better than the Toyos in my experience