Morris Minor Owners Club

Posted: **Mon Mar 12, 2007 10:32 am**

Hi everybody

I own a 1958 (1956 version) Morris Minor 'sidevalve', located in Portugal.
It has been stopped for several years but now it is working well and almost renewed. I need to change the tires.
It is originaly equiped with 500x14 tires.
Or should I say 5.00x14 ?
I cannot find such tires here in Portugal and I don't know very much about tire's mesures.
I believe that most Morris Minor owners now use modern 145 R14 tires to replace the 5.20x14 tires from the not so old Morris Minor 1000 (1959-...).
If this is correct, I should be able to replace my 5.00x14 tires with any thing like 125 R14. Will it fit?
Should I look for 125R14, 125/100R14, 125/70R14 or any other mesure?

Please, can someone point me about any shop in Europe (UK included) that sell 500x14, 5.00x14 or 125R14 tires?

regards

JML

Posted: **Mon Mar 12, 2007 7:03 pm**

JML, Your car will take 145X14 tyres which,of course, are Radial ply as opposed to the original cross plies. If you fit a set of four you will be amazed at the improvement in road holding, and at how much quieter the car will be. You should inflate them to 25 lbs to start with and then adjust to suit. BULL MOTIF Spares sell several different makes of tyre
and you can reach them on www.morrisminorspares.net or phone
01386 831755

Posted: **Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:29 pm**

I think 125 x 14 tyres will be far too skinny! Can you buy a tyre that size ? Go for the 145 x 14 - but i suggest 28 /30 psi for the pressure (sorry no idea what that is in metric units!).

Posted: **Fri Mar 16, 2007 2:55 pm**

125x14? Waaaaaaaaaay too skinny. 145s are the way to go!

Posted: **Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:51 pm**

125 is probably close to what it 'Should' be but I doubt you can find them. Most people here are stuck with 145 sr 14" or using wider tyres that are too big.

Posted: **Thu Mar 22, 2007 11:29 pm**

As far as I know, no one makes a 5.00x14 tyre anymore. 5.20x14s are still available if you prefer the crossply look. Vintage Tyre Co, at Beaulieu can supply original spec Dunlop Gold seal 5.20.x14s which are as authentic looking as you could possibly want. Very little visual difference between a 5.00 and a 5.20 anyway.
If you're after radials 145s are the thing to go for. Better roadholding but looks a bit out of place on an early Minor, but thats entirely personal preferance...

I'm in both camps, I have 145 R 14s on the '53 convertible, 5.20x14 crossplys on the van (Town and Country on the back for when it snows) and am slowly collecting a set of new old stock 5.00x14s for the lowlight - 3 so far!

Iain