Tyre size?

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Tyre size?

Postby johno » Tue Mar 21, 2017 10:03 pm

The tyres on my newly purchased Coupe need replacing because of age. The 165 60's seem quite rare, is anyone running 175 60's? I don't particularly want to go to a 50 series tyre. It's an early car with the Revolution RFX alloys.
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Re: Tyre size?

Postby ACourtney » Wed Mar 22, 2017 10:32 am

I fitted Toyo Proxes CF1 175/60s to a customer's Coupe a couple of years ago - which reminds me that I must finish the write up: viewtopic.php?f=91&t=2602
These tyres are slightly bigger than diameter than the originals, but the closest available. If you do the maths based on the nominal sizes a 165/60- 13 tyre should have a diameter of 528mm. In reality unworn Goodyear NCTs are more like 535mm. 175/60-13 tyres should in theory be 12mm bigger (10mm wider profile x 60%, top and bottom), but in reality the Toyos were more like 542mm, so only 8mm bigger than the NCTs.

Initially the tyres touched at the back of the wheel arch on the near side and the front of the wheel arch on both sides. A check with a tape measure showed that the wheelbase was around 3mm shorter on the near side and that appeared to be in the front subframe mounting. Conveniently a 3mm thick M16 stainless washer was found and used as a packer to square up the subframe and even up the wheelbase. Then the front inner arch lip was modified, by a simple cut and shut, to create the clearance required at the front.

On the road I was very impressed by the CF1s and much preferred them to the 175/50 Yokos on my own Mk3. The lower profile tyres may fit easier, but they reduce the gearing slightly, give a harsher ride and the turn in feels overly sharp (probably due to having a tread width of nearly 190mm). On the whole they were worth the effort of creating the clearance and I will probably get around to fitting them to my own car. They were also good value at just about £50 each from Mytyres: www.mytyres.co.uk
I see that they are now doing the CF2s at a similar low price
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Re: Tyre size?

Postby Stuart » Wed Mar 22, 2017 11:54 am

They were CF2's weren't they Alistair ?

Image2015-06-05 15.53.31 by Alistair Courtney, on Flickr
As I've said in John's other thread they'd be my choice after good experience with the CF1's

https://www.tyreleader.co.uk/car-tyres/ ... 77h-101112
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Re: Tyre size?

Postby benofbrum » Wed Mar 22, 2017 12:41 pm

I fitted Toyo Nanoenergy 165/65 on my Excelsior. Big improvement on the well treaded but aged tyres which were on. No issues with fouling. They cost me £212 for 5, fitted
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Re: Tyre size?

Postby ACourtney » Wed Mar 22, 2017 5:13 pm

benofbrum wrote:I fitted Toyo Nanoenergy 165/65 on my Excelsior. Big improvement on the well treaded but aged tyres which were on. No issues with fouling. They cost me £212 for 5, fitted


The arches of the Excelsior and Cortez have bigger clearances, since they were designed to take the 185/55 tyres of the Metro GTi. I have seen problems with 165/65s fouling on the top of the arch of a couple of Gold Convertibles, so I wouldn't recommend them for a Gold Coupe. I consider that much more of a safety issue as the fouling occurs when you are cornering at speed!
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Re: Tyre size?

Postby johno » Sat Mar 25, 2017 5:57 pm

Ordered some 165 60 Nankang's. They seem to get a good report. I'll use these and then look at changing profiles in the future. Thanks for the suggestions.
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