Morris Minor Owners Club

Tubeless tyres should not be used with tubes. When I worked in the tyre industry - if a tyre was to be 'downgraded' - the Tubeless wording was ground off the sidewall - and some holes were drilled through the tread from the inside to ensure bubbles of air were not trapped when tubes were fitted. The inner walls of tubeless tyres are indeed 'ribbed' from the bladder inside the tyre mould - but these should not damage the tube. Tubeless tyres are fine on Minor rims - but being narrow rims they certainly don't have the same safety margins that modern wide wheels have for retaining flat tyres. If you have a blow-out, there is just as much chance of the tyre coming off with a tube fitted , as there is without.

so to get back to tyres can 165 x14 be fitted to 1950 mm side valve (radials non tubed } ?

I would say they are much too wide for standard rims the sidewalls, ergo the bead, would not be at a suitable angle and you would run the risk of damage or worse, unseating, when the tyre is under high lateral load.

155 tyres are slightly too wide - but many (including myself) 'get away' with it. So - 165 are really going to be too wide!
After all - 165mm = 6.5". Balanced on 3.5" wide rims, doesn't seem right does it!

I have fitted by the previous owner to my 2 door saloon 165/80x14 which are Nankings. Reading previous comments are they ok to use the car does about 3000 miles a year and what air pressure would be best to use. Thanking in advance Steve.

Not ideal, and I would inspect the sidewalls carefully for cracking - but if it's just gentle motoring it should be fine . Pressure just a guess - but I would go for ~ 30 psi.

Thanks BMC I am only using her for high days and holidays so I will try 30psi and keep an eye on them.

Don't start me on Nankangs, had a pair on the front of the Series MM and they wandered all over the road.
I have never used tubes on the MM in the 30 years I've been driving it and I have never had a problem, and I corner on the door handles!
155x14s look a little wide but they are the nearest rolling radius to the original 520x14 cross plies so won't affect the overall gearing.

145s seem to hard to get at the moment i have been going on about this for a couple of months.is there any news when the tyres are going to be availiable,camacs and bridgestone.

ani wrote:My plan is to buy 5 new 155 x 14 for the pick-up sometime soon. Bull Motif are advertising them for £26.25 each which I think is probably the best I'll find. My local garage has quoted £46 each!! (although that is fitted)
Just wondered if there is any advice out there or does anyone have any to sell?

Thanks Ani

If they are Toyo tyres, as seems likely, I have a pair on the front of Molly, beautiful pieces of rubber.
Nankang on the back-yuk!! Reading comments about the soft Nankang tyre walls would explain a lot though-It definitely gives the impression of swaying on the rear tyres!

The whole 165 debate has been thrashed around before, with, as in most debates, no obvious answers!! I remember an American poster getting a bit hot under the collar as he uses 165's "enthusiastically" and has no problem with them, also I don't think anyone (living) could assert to having had one pop off the rim at the time. I don't agree that tubed tyres would pop off as easily as tubeless though- a momentary break in the seal on a tubeless tyre could be catastrophic, not so if you used a tube.
That is not to say I would use tubes, OR expect my tubeless tyres to pop off, although it is FAR easier to break the bead/seal on a minor rim than on a modern rim.[/i]

I agree with that! Its much easier to break the bead on a minor rim than modern ones from my experiences with a manual tyre changer

Looking to replace 165/80x14 the previous owner fitted. Been offered Nangkang 155x14's at £30 each including fitting, balanceing and VAT. They tried to source Toyos but was told by their supplier no stock expected for 3 months. What views have other members on running their cars on Nangkangs.

I just had a pair put on the front of my Merc as the price was right.
The place that fitted them described them as "taxi tyres" which I hope means cheap and long lasting
They hold the front up OK and as I only commute, not race I'm sue they'll be fine.

They just lack directional stability, you can feel the front wheels wandering around on the road. When I have run out of Firestones, a much better tyre, I will fit them to the back wheels and hope they are not so bad

ive got bridgestones on the back and camacs on tne frount,so im ok for a few years.does anyone know when there is going to be some new stock comming into the country.

Have found someone doing Bridgestone 145x14 at £57 includes vat and delivery, would I be better waiting for 155x14 Toyos to arrive at £33 fitted. Would I notice much difference in handling and roadholding between them.

Would I notice much difference in handling and roadholding between them.

If you drive hard you'll find better cornering stability from good 145's than 155's.
When driving moderately, you're unlikely to notice the difference between 145's and the more podgey 155's.
There is a lot more to tyres than just branding, and good tyres make more difference than you'd expect. Like most things in life, price gives an indication but no direct correlation to quality.

never skrimp on anything that seperates you from the ground, shoes, tyres or parachutes.......

The worst thing about Minor tyres is usually that they are OLD! The tread rubber goes hard and loses it's grip very easily in the wet. New tyres of any make will be far better than old tyres. But with low annual mileage - it's inevitable that the tyres last many years. I try to give mine a good scrubbing when the roads are dry - to remove the top layers of hard rubber - well that's my excuse anyway!

Greetings from Canada,
We just bought a 1961 Morris Minor 1000 2 door, it has Bridgestones 165/65R14 tires on it, which I don't think are proper.
The workshop manual that came with the car says 500-520X14, which is the old numbering system.
I read on the technical tips section to use 145s or 155s. Thats all fine and good, but what aspect ratio should go along with them?
BTW, the car needs LOTS of TLC
TIA, Ken<br><br>