Morris Minor Owners Club

I'd go for 155/80 R13's as been closest / safest match to original spec

Would be much better to chase up correct 14" wheels - same as the rears.

i would go along with bmc on this one.. I think the fact that the wheels front / rear are different colours is "masking" the visual difference in size.. ok by upping the side wall size of the tyre you will maintain the overall size and therefore reduce the visual change from 13 to 14 inch.

Allow me to clarify. We have 4 13" wheels and only 2 14s. Appropriately-sized 13" tires are more common, thus a LOT cheaper. 13" rims in a 4x4 PCD are a lot easier to find.

Just as a point of reference, it will cost me more money just to buy the tires for the 14" rims than to buy, mount, and balance all 4 tires for the 13" rims.

Sooooooo, we're going with 13s all around. I just need to figure out which ones will work best.

According to the tyre size link that Charlie graciously provided, comparing the stock 155/80-14 tyre to the a 155/80-13 tyre, we would see a -4.3% changes, whereas a 165/80-13 would be a -1.66% change in size. The 165/65-13 would be almost 10% different.

So, it sounds like 165/80 would be the way to go, right?

Depends what rim width the 13" wheels are ? If 4.5J - then 155 or 165 will be ok. If only 3.5J - then 145 or 155 max - and keep the section height up to minimise the 'small wheel lost on wheel-arch' look!

the standard moggy wheel were crossply 520 something the closest radial so as not to upset the speedo is 145/80 R14.. if you go to 155/80 R13 there is a dif of -1.7% and should fill the wheel nicely..

If it was 145/80, then 165/80 13 is only -1% different. Even better! right?

It's all here:

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg2.html

Just type in your details and it works it out.
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with 13's on a Minor - I've used them for years. However, don't go too wide for the rim.

Pete

Ugh. It looks like I can't make the aluminum wheels work safely (or quickly), so my wife has decided to go with the stock Morris rims in the rear and the 13s we have in front. Her car; her choice.

So, I can get 155-14s for the rear, and either 165/80-13 or 155/80-13 for the front. The difference between the 165 and stock is less than the 155, but some of you seem concerned about the 165s fitting the rims.

FWIW, the old dry-rotted tires on the car now are 5.60/13 in front and 5.60/14 on one rear and 5.0/5.60/14 on the other rear.

The tyre width depends on the rim section! As I said before - if they are 4.5J then 165 will be ok, but if they are only 3.5J then 155 should be your max.

How can I tell with a tire still mounted on them? I'll have to order these tires in advance, so it's easier to take care of everything all at once.

Pop the old tyres off! Or at least - let the pressure out and squeeze them in - then stick a tape across. But 155 section will be fine for either 3.5 or 4.5 rim - and plenty wide enough, without making the steering too heavy.

I think I'm going to stick with the 155s. They'll match the rears and will fit on whatever rims she changes to, if she changes them.

Good plan!

The look good! Of course, the tire guy referred to them as "clown car tires"...

'm glad I read through before posting... since it seems an answer has been found.

As a side point, it does seem to be a perennial question, that of, tubes or no tubes. The BMC manual actually has a guide to fitting tubeless tyres to the standard minor wheel, so it's pretty certain to be safe

(It's in section O)