Thread: 1955 Series 1 86"

Originally Posted by dearot

How much did you pay for the tyre?

I would love to see your collection one day.

Back in 2008 they cost $160 each fitted with a new tube, then Dunlop stopped making them (or at least they became unavailable here).

A modern tyre will be a radial rather than a crossply and will have an aspect ratio (the missing number). This gives the height as a percentage of the width so '70' is the tyre height is 70% of the width. The old tyres weren't 'low profile' so the aspect ratio is '100'

It depends if you want it to look right or whether you just want to fit some tyres onto it. There are claims that the radials will give better grip on cornering etc. etc. but we are talking about a Series I not something high performance.
Personally I've had no problems in the wet or dry with the crossplys.

If you really want the correct type tyres they are available, just not from your local tyre outlet and they may cost more because of limited sales.

I'll send a PM when there is a Sunday I'm home and I can get the Series I out.


Colin

Originally Posted by dearot

Shouldn't be another number after 205 and before R16?

Nah 205 /16 is the old range rover clasic stock size... mine are Goodyear wrangler tg described as agricultural( not to say u can't drive them on the road)
And still available .. I'm shure there's other brands with ought the aspect ratio

Depending on your rims you may be able to fit 7.5x16s. You can still buy these new- eg Goodyear Wrangler ATs, Dunlop Road Gripper S etc..


Someone will no doubt correct me if im wrong, but if you have LWB rims (will have a number like 272309 on them) they will fit 7.5's, but if you have the SWB rims (231601) they may not fit 'comfortably'..


If you search these forums, there is a fair bit of debate about wheels and tyres..!


*edit*- this thread seems to sum it all up pretty well: Fitting 7.5x16 on 231601 rim, anyone have larger rims? Any Divided Wheels/Split Rims?

The other thing to note is that some tyres in the 'old' size are for trucks and have a heavy construction. 8-ply is about right, 12 ply and above can make the ride a bit harsh depending on the state of your leaf springs.

One of my Road Trek Majors is an original and is 6-ply, the new ones I got in 2008 (made in Malaysia) were 8-ply but otherwise identical.

There are a few suppliers out there but they can be expensive. Antique tyres have bar treads http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/16700

Colin

Might like to have a look here,
16600 | Antique Tyres
16700 | Antique Tyres
16600 | Antique Tyres

Not sure if these are DOT approved, sorry, might have to inquire.

The price will scare you senseless .. and I wouldn't feel real good driving on the road on bar tread...I am fairly certain they are legal ,at least in VIC on club reg

Originally Posted by dearot

Shouldn't be another number after 205 and before R16?

Not necessarily. When radial tyres were relatively new for general use, it became normal, if not an actual standard, to quote their sizes in mm with the rim size in inches, for example 205R16, with an implied 85% profile. The use of mm distinguished them from the inch x inch, for example 7.50x16 of crossplies.

It was not universal though, for example my 1960 Citroen had 145x400 radials that were 100% profile, and 100% profile radials produced as replacements for crossplies are 100% with no profile designator, but use inches for width - e.g. my 110 tyres 7.50R16LT.

The marking of tyres is not, and never has been, as neat and organised as some would like to believe.

John

Is that steel suppose to be there (holding the clutch and brake pedals)?