Tyres for Vixen wheels?
Discussion
I'm currently looking for a replacement set of tyres for my Vixen S3 running standard Vixen alloy wheels. Current tyres are 185/70 although the manual says should be 165's. I think the wheels are 5 1/2 J but it's difficult to measure accurately with the tyres still on.
Can anyone confirm the wheel width and suggest tyres from experience on a Vixen. I'm considering Yokohama A Drive 195/65 H 15's as they seem to be a quality tyre with good reviews and are on special offer at £36 each, which seems very fair.
Thx... Moto
Can anyone confirm the wheel width and suggest tyres from experience on a Vixen. I'm considering Yokohama A Drive 195/65 H 15's as they seem to be a quality tyre with good reviews and are on special offer at £36 each, which seems very fair.
Thx... Moto
We're running 195/65/15 Yokohama C Drives on our 1600M with vixen wheels.
Been excellent, we've done a few trackdays and they've gripped amazingly and they've not been wearing that much.
We only had a slight issues with the tyre rubbing on the arch at full lock, we just turned the suspension up a little and it solved it.
Been excellent, we've done a few trackdays and they've gripped amazingly and they've not been wearing that much.
We only had a slight issues with the tyre rubbing on the arch at full lock, we just turned the suspension up a little and it solved it.
a 195 / 65 is a tad too wide for an original vixen wheel. that said I have seen people running 205's on an original wheel which is far too wide and rolls around on the sidewall. the wheels are a 5.5j but I have heard of 5J in that pattern though I haven't seen any.
Original tyre was a 165 X 15 which were approx 80 profile. A lower profile gives less room for the sidewall to deal with the rim width with an excessively wide tyre.
I ran 195 / 65 /15's on 6 J rims, I wouldn't personally go any wider than a 185 / 65 / 15 on an original rim.
Doubtless though other people will have more experience of using different tyre sizes!
An M has much better rear arch clearance than a vixen, but that wouldn't be my primary concern when using big tyres on skinny rims.
N
Original tyre was a 165 X 15 which were approx 80 profile. A lower profile gives less room for the sidewall to deal with the rim width with an excessively wide tyre.
I ran 195 / 65 /15's on 6 J rims, I wouldn't personally go any wider than a 185 / 65 / 15 on an original rim.
Doubtless though other people will have more experience of using different tyre sizes!
An M has much better rear arch clearance than a vixen, but that wouldn't be my primary concern when using big tyres on skinny rims.
N
Edited by heightswitch on Saturday 21st August 12:07
Thx for the feedback.
My current thinking is that I believe the OE 165 tyres would have had a rolling radius of 646mm. As these are no longer available and 65 profiles are about the max available, I would need to go to 205/65 15's to get the closest RR of 647mm. However as you've pointed out, this would be to wide for a 5.5J wheel and I do want to stay with the original rims.
A 195/65 15 has an RR of 634mm where as the 185/65 15 comes in at 621mm.
I'm therefore assuming that hitting the arches won't be an issue as they're both smaller than OE, but I need to consider the inside tyre wall hitting any part of the suspension on full lock. If this is OK then the effect on gearing & speedo is approx -1.85% for the 195 which would seem to me to be small enough to cause no significant difference.
Hence the logic of going for 195's. However as you say this tyre is a 'tad too wide for the 5.5J wheel', I guess that's a bit of a dilema.
Am I missing anything out in the logic or is there another option I'm not seeing?
Thx Moto
My current thinking is that I believe the OE 165 tyres would have had a rolling radius of 646mm. As these are no longer available and 65 profiles are about the max available, I would need to go to 205/65 15's to get the closest RR of 647mm. However as you've pointed out, this would be to wide for a 5.5J wheel and I do want to stay with the original rims.
A 195/65 15 has an RR of 634mm where as the 185/65 15 comes in at 621mm.
I'm therefore assuming that hitting the arches won't be an issue as they're both smaller than OE, but I need to consider the inside tyre wall hitting any part of the suspension on full lock. If this is OK then the effect on gearing & speedo is approx -1.85% for the 195 which would seem to me to be small enough to cause no significant difference.
Hence the logic of going for 195's. However as you say this tyre is a 'tad too wide for the 5.5J wheel', I guess that's a bit of a dilema.
Am I missing anything out in the logic or is there another option I'm not seeing?
Thx Moto
Goodyear, Vredestein and Fulda still do 185/70 x 15. Goodyears need a lottery win @ about £250 each. The others are in the £70-£80 range. I have 185/65 x15 Yoko C drives on my car. fantastic tyre, reduce ground clearance by about 1/2 inch and CHEAP.I previously ran 185/70 BF Goodrich Comp TA2,s which were ok but I wore the backs out and fronts still had 5mm tread but no grip.I will wear the Yokos out before they go hard but at the price I would rather have the grip. They are cheap because thet are a standard fitment size on most entry level Mercs, BMW,s etc so mass market price.Avon do a very soft compound tyre which lots of the historic racers use for wets but I think they are a tad too soft for road mileage in the dry. You pays your money!!!
From the research my dad did on tyres for our M, 195 is the top limit for 5.5 wheels, they look perfectly fine on the rim, they don't look over-bulged/stretched or anything. They were also recommended by Jeff Fowkes wheels.
We've also seen a few cars with 195/65 Yoko C drives with the vixen finned alloys.
We've also seen a few cars with 195/65 Yoko C drives with the vixen finned alloys.
Just ordered a set of 5 x Yoko Cdrive2 195/65 R 15 V (91)'s. At £35 each you have to say it's excellent value.
Thx for all the feedback to the original post. I did um & ah about going 195 vs 185 but decided in the end that although 195 is max for 5.5J, the manufacturers say it's OK and hopefully they'll have a bit of tolerance within their figures. This way I'm much closer to the original tyre radius.
If anyone's interested I did come across this site which has an excellent little app. for comparing tyre sizes both visually & data wise. http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-...
Moto
Thx for all the feedback to the original post. I did um & ah about going 195 vs 185 but decided in the end that although 195 is max for 5.5J, the manufacturers say it's OK and hopefully they'll have a bit of tolerance within their figures. This way I'm much closer to the original tyre radius.
If anyone's interested I did come across this site which has an excellent little app. for comparing tyre sizes both visually & data wise. http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/visual-tyre-size-...
Moto
TVRVixenV8 said:
please don't forget to fit tubes! The original Vixen finned alloys aren't made for use without!
We've not got inner tubes on ours.If its a good set of wheels they should be fine, apparently the finned alloys weren't very well made and could become porous, and tyres would then not seal.
Apparently, the vixen spoked wheels needed tubes.
vicankim said:
Hi Moto
Let us know your first impressions of these 195/65/15s? I currently have 20 year old 50p piece tyres and desperately need to change them but I also need to maintain decent ground clearance to get up my drive.
Can you say where you bought them at that price?
Regards
Vicankim
As I mentioned previously, the yokohoma c drives that we've got, which is what moto has ordered, have been excellent.Let us know your first impressions of these 195/65/15s? I currently have 20 year old 50p piece tyres and desperately need to change them but I also need to maintain decent ground clearance to get up my drive.
Can you say where you bought them at that price?
Regards
Vicankim
We've done three trackdays with them, and they just grip and grip. I've not managed to get the car to let go at the back yet, I got a little wobble at oulton when going round a corner at 60mph, but that's pretty much it.
There doesn't seem to much roll/flex in the sidewall, and the handling becomes very predictive when pumped up for use on track. I can't comment on what they're like to drive on on the road as my dad drives the car there and back and I drive it on track.
I've seen a number of other classics running finned alloys with Yoko C drives and A drives 195/65/15.
Just catching up on this thread....as I need some new boots for my 1972 1600M. It has the 5/5.5J T-Slots fitted.
Been looking at either 185's or 195's - would prefer the later if possible, but consideration has to be given that the tyres don#t rub when on full lock.... also, apparently my car was originally ordered as a Vixen, so may have a bit of a mix of M an Vixen chasis?
There seems to be a lot of clearance in the arches, but changing the tyres and this may soon disappear and cause issue. Im fine with the car becoming 1/2" lower (although the exhaust may take a few more knocks on the winding and dipping roads).
I have Yokohama C.Drive 2 - 195/65 R15 V (91) sitting in my Blackcircles basket.... before i hit the GO button and hand over just shy of £200.00 for all four corners i'd like to hear from those that have replaced their rubber in the past.
Been looking at either 185's or 195's - would prefer the later if possible, but consideration has to be given that the tyres don#t rub when on full lock.... also, apparently my car was originally ordered as a Vixen, so may have a bit of a mix of M an Vixen chasis?
There seems to be a lot of clearance in the arches, but changing the tyres and this may soon disappear and cause issue. Im fine with the car becoming 1/2" lower (although the exhaust may take a few more knocks on the winding and dipping roads).
I have Yokohama C.Drive 2 - 195/65 R15 V (91) sitting in my Blackcircles basket.... before i hit the GO button and hand over just shy of £200.00 for all four corners i'd like to hear from those that have replaced their rubber in the past.
RWX3L said:
Just catching up on this thread....as I need some new boots for my 1972 1600M. It has the 5/5.5J T-Slots fitted.
Been looking at either 185's or 195's - would prefer the later if possible, but consideration has to be given that the tyres don#t rub when on full lock.... also, apparently my car was originally ordered as a Vixen, so may have a bit of a mix of M an Vixen chasis?
There seems to be a lot of clearance in the arches, but changing the tyres and this may soon disappear and cause issue. Im fine with the car becoming 1/2" lower (although the exhaust may take a few more knocks on the winding and dipping roads).
I have Yokohama C.Drive 2 - 195/65 R15 V (91) sitting in my Blackcircles basket.... before i hit the GO button and hand over just shy of £200.00 for all four corners i'd like to hear from those that have replaced their rubber in the past.
Surely the T slot alloys are only 14", so these Yokohama 195/65R15 tyres won't fit very well?! As an 1972 M it would originally have had 15" wheels, so presumably if it now has 14" there will be "a lot of clearance in the arches".Been looking at either 185's or 195's - would prefer the later if possible, but consideration has to be given that the tyres don#t rub when on full lock.... also, apparently my car was originally ordered as a Vixen, so may have a bit of a mix of M an Vixen chasis?
There seems to be a lot of clearance in the arches, but changing the tyres and this may soon disappear and cause issue. Im fine with the car becoming 1/2" lower (although the exhaust may take a few more knocks on the winding and dipping roads).
I have Yokohama C.Drive 2 - 195/65 R15 V (91) sitting in my Blackcircles basket.... before i hit the GO button and hand over just shy of £200.00 for all four corners i'd like to hear from those that have replaced their rubber in the past.
Oliver.
Trying to get as close as possible to OE sizes i have the following and i do find that i get comments that the ride height and the arch gaps seem to work well also ground clearance compared to other cars with different height tyres
Taimar and 3000s Fulda Carrot Assuro 195/70/14
Vixen S2 185/70/15 Vredestein with tvr fins
Tuscan Period Blockley 205/70/15 on 6in wires
The Fulda are great value for what they are and work well although not as close to OE as the others so speedo is a bit out about £300 for 5
The others are by no means cheap but IMOP Correct for a Road use car £600 for 5 for the Vixen and £1000 for 5 for the Tuscan
A
Taimar and 3000s Fulda Carrot Assuro 195/70/14
Vixen S2 185/70/15 Vredestein with tvr fins
Tuscan Period Blockley 205/70/15 on 6in wires
The Fulda are great value for what they are and work well although not as close to OE as the others so speedo is a bit out about £300 for 5
The others are by no means cheap but IMOP Correct for a Road use car £600 for 5 for the Vixen and £1000 for 5 for the Tuscan
A
prideaux said:
Trying to get as close as possible to OE sizes i have the following and i do find that i get comments that the ride height and the arch gaps seem to work well also ground clearance compared to other cars with different height tyres
Taimar and 3000s Fulda Carrot Assuro 195/70/14
Vixen S2 185/70/15 Vredestein with tvr fins
Tuscan Period Blockley 205/70/15 on 6in wires
The Fulda are great value for what they are and work well although not as close to OE as the others so speedo is a bit out about £300 for 5
The others are by no means cheap but IMOP Correct for a Road use car £600 for 5 for the Vixen and £1000 for 5 for the Tuscan
A
Andrew, Taimar and 3000s Fulda Carrot Assuro 195/70/14
Vixen S2 185/70/15 Vredestein with tvr fins
Tuscan Period Blockley 205/70/15 on 6in wires
The Fulda are great value for what they are and work well although not as close to OE as the others so speedo is a bit out about £300 for 5
The others are by no means cheap but IMOP Correct for a Road use car £600 for 5 for the Vixen and £1000 for 5 for the Tuscan
A
What happened to the Wolfies, you know, the ones that didn't make the trip to Ireland?
Best,
B.
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