I am looking to replace my aging Vredestein classics with something more readily available and since I only put about 10K miles in 10 years on the car, I don’t need expensive tires that will exceed their lifespan. I find this calculator that shows I can go with 215 60 15 rather than the normal 185 70 15.
There are an enormous number of companies who make this size in prices that are almost a third less.
I have absolutely no affiliation with Discount tire, just showing some samples of equivelant tires.
Taking a trip to upper Wyoming in September and we need new tires even though mine have 10K on them they are way past the DOT manufactures safety date. Five years it recommended and the tire store will NOT work on tires over 10 years old.
All comments welcome. I once ran 205 70 which were way to close to the spats.so I will have to make sure these fit properly.
It looks like you are being steered down the wrong track.
Can i suggest that we speak to people understand about what they are selling. Why not talk to a specialist tyre dealer that unnderstands what they are selling and the cars they are being sold for.
They are the wrong size completely. unless you asked Jaguar fitted 640X15 crossply tyres. If you asked for radial tyres they fitted 185R15 tyres (not 185/70R15 they are much too small) and one of the tyres they fitted was the 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato that is still being made today. The other best tyre would be a 180HR15.
I sympathize with The Jag Man in his search for proper size tires for the Mark II, 3.8S, 420 that do not cost a fortune. The correct size is 185R 15 but only the costly specialists such as Vredestein, Pirelli, or Michelin make such a size. Does any one make such a tire size that is reasonably priced. I find that many tire brands may label their tire with a particular size but the actual measurements can vary quite a bit between brands.
I’m sorry, but these are not costly. They are very reasonably priced for what they are. I would suggest the Vredestein is a budget tyre. I think the best tyre for a Mk2 is the 180HR15 XAS which i think is an absolute bargain.
Just curious about the tyre size link. He talks of 180/15 and I don’t think this is made. At the end the site says185/15 which is a real size. Maybe it’s the accent. In Australia a Federal tyre in a 185/80 R15 is available for around $100.
I must say having had a Daimler version and been able to have so much conviction behind my recommendations for this car it has helped me sell lots, and people love them. i mean really love them they make a big difference. (price is good too)
Finally made the plunge after finishing some other projects and bought tires. I purchased Yokohama 195-65-15’s. I am running adjustable spax shocks which are too stiff for me, so that will be another change in the future. I have been asking Angela to turn them down more and more until last month we hit the zero mark and they were a bit bouncy.
I kept a close eye on the tire jockeys to insure they placed their floor jacks on the intersection of the frame rail and the side metal jacking points. We torqued the steel wheels to 60 foot lbs and when they lowered the car I had a moment of panic. There was a huge gap between the top of the tire and the fender well in both front fenders. I am not sure if it was the opening up of the shock or the one step tighter adjustment to the shocks that pressurized them. Before the change over I was running Vredesteins and I had a solid “fist” of a gap. Afterwards I had about almost two fists of a gap. Thinking that the tire could not have been so much smaller to cause this, I vigorously bounced the car and it magically went down to normal levels. I also believe the leaf springs in the rear settled after the ride home.
So… if you change wheels and tires give the car a short road trip for everything to settle to the right height.
I only got 10,000 miles out of those in ten years…they were expired and unsafe, yet had plenty of tread left. Looks like I will need to start driving more.
The new tires are sticky and give the car a tiny bit of a squirrely sensation that I can easily get accustomed with, by this I mean it grabs very well and responds extremely quickly to the slightest input from the steering wheel. I am going to take it up the canyon Tomorrow for a session.
I think £1000 to boot a Jag is far too much , like most things , the more they sale the lower the price , tyre firms are cashing in , on the little they sale ,
Like to see a picture of the 195/65/15 on a car !
Found this , may help some people decide https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc?tires=185-75r15-195-65r15
Here is a video of how the 195/65-15’s Yokohama’s look on my 1966 MK2. They handle nicely and fit correctly. Total cost with all the add on’s was about $550 USD.
