New tyres for Gormley

[Gormley]

Have just had a set of wheels shot blasted and coated and now need some tyres. Bear with me here, because it's 30 years since I last had a Minor and suddenly things aren't immediately available. My Minor van is only going to have light use (no trashing around on the trunk routes), so don't really want to pay exotic prices, but do want the car to be safe. I've phoned round some of the local tyre dealers and prices and attitudes vary from £50+ per tyre to "why don't you try Beaulieu?" I understand the tyre size should be 145 14 and have looked on Bull Motif (they have budget Toyo tyres), but they are 155 14s. What have other members done? Sorry if this sounds a basic idiot's question, but want to get it right and you guys seem to know the answers.[frame][/frame]

[alex_holden]

The Bridgestone 145R14 tyres are very good. I have them on both of my Minors. ESM claim to have them in stock:
http://morrisminorspares.co.uk/shop/pro ... ts_id=2839

[sgray]

I've used the Toyo 155/14s

btw - that wheel looks fantastic - is that powder coating??

[jollyroger]

I recently bought 2 Toyo tyres from

http://www.tyretraders.com/Tyres_Home.aspx

very good price and fast delivery. Cheaper than the usual suppliers.

[charlie_morris_minor]

i have gone with 4 toyo tyres and am very happy. the bridgestone tyres I had which were 145 R 14 had soft side walls ( I got them from bullmotifs and this was the big selling point) it destroyed the handling of my moggy.. any bump would have me bouncing down the road for the next mile or so..

[billlobban]

I think my Toyo's are much better than the Nankings they replaced - Try Black Circles http://www.blackcircles.com/ £37.47 each sometimes they are really cheap. 155's work really well on the standard rim and since you have a van those really nice wheels could have the much sought after wide rims so you could even go to 165's

[aupickup]

i have marshall tyres and they seem pretty good

also have wide van rims that i may be persuaded to part with

[Gormley]

Thanks to all. Aupickup - where do you buy Marshall tyres? KwikFit, ATS? Thanks for the offer of wheels, but I have just spent a fortune having mine sorted out! Yes, they were powder coated and the blue is more the shade which shows in the darker part of the wheel on the photo. I was told by one tyre company not to fit 155s to standard car wheels and I have car wheels, not van wheels. It was so much simpler 30 years ago ...

[bmcecosse]

155s are fine - I find them much better than the skinny 145s, but they need 30 psi at least.

[aupickup]

I got mine from a guy selling them on ebay brand new, he had 10 but have looked and he has sold the lot

when i had vans i used 145 and they were fine and mine went fully loaded with work tools

but also 155 are fine on skinny rims, do look a bit big but will be ok

bridgstones as charlie says the side walls are very soft

firestones have a pretty stiff side wall but come at a price

i have had nankangs 155 and they did 20000 miles are were still ok when i sold the van they were on

[alex_holden]

I don't see the soft side walls of the Bridgestones as a problem - they handle very well IME. I've certainly not encountered Charlie's 'bouncing down the road' effect! I've found the right pressure to use is about 30PSI all round on the saloon; 32 on the back of the Traveller or 34 if heavily loaded.

I've also driven a van with 155s on it and the steering is noticeably heavier than either of my cars.