HELP!! 185-70-14 Tires

[indy_84maxima]

Please Help. I have been very happy with Yokohama Avid H4 87H tires. However, H-Rated tires are NO longer available in my size -- P185/70R14.

The tire outlets want me to purchase T-Rated Avid T4 88T tires.

I know that I am not the only 185-70-14 guy left in this world. What brand/model tires are the rest of you using?

I have found that Sumitomo has H-rated tires in my size...

...And they probably won't work out either. I wanted the HTR+, but they are only available in 50-, 45-, and 40-series. The SRIXON4 are only available in 65- and 60-series. The HTR200 is available in 70-, 65-, 60- and 50-series.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Sumitomo&tireModel=HTR+200

However, this is a high-performance SUMMER radial -- not all-season. There are times that I drive in the ice and snow.

So far, my only options are:

1) H-Rated

a) Firestone Affinity LH30

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Affinity+LH30

ContiEcoContact 3

Probably not available in the U.S.

c) General Exclaim UHP

Probably not available in 185-70-14

2) Downgrade to T-Rated

a) BF Goodrich Traction/TA T-series

Yokohama AVID TRZ

Probably not available in 185-70-14

c) Yokohama AVID T4

d) Dunlop

3) Go low-profile with P195/65/R14

So what is everyone else doing?

[Pennyman]

You want H-rated tires because you're going to be running 130mph, right?

Just because the speed rating is higher, doesn't mean it's a better tire. I was running H-rated Hercules 195/70/14 and I'd say they...sucked. Wore away in a little over a year. Now I'm running T-rated Kumhos in the same size. I asked my friend the same question (He works at America's Tire CO.), and he said that even if it's built to withstand higher speed, it doesn't mean the treadwear or grip of the tire is any good, so he recommended the Kumhos.

I recommend the best QUALITY tire. I doubt you'll be runing over 118mph (T-rating) very often.

[Walter Moore]

I tend to agree that the speed rating is only one of many factors in the overall quality of a tire. All that the speed rating tells you is how fast you can drive for an extended period of time before the tire fails due to the internal heat generated by the rolling resistance.

I have had V rated tires on various cars that were hard as a rock, while other brands of H rated tires stuck like glue. I have even had some non-speed rated tires that I really believe stuck to the road as well or better than some speed rated tires.

Generally, the higher the speed rating, the thinner the tread, which results in shorter tire life. That isn't always true, but certainly thin tread generates less heat, and traps less of the heat generated. I know that none of the V rated tires I ever owned lasted as many miles as the H, or lower rated tires.

Besides, where are you going to be able to run above 118MPH around here? Unless that is you are running from the law? ;-)

There is just WAY too much traffic in central Indiana anymore to worry about needing high speed tires...

[indy_84maxima]

I tend to agree that the speed rating is only one of many factors in the overall quality of a tire...

Besides, where are you going to be able to run above 118MPH around here? Unless that is you are running from the law? ;-)

There is just WAY too much traffic in central Indiana anymore to worry about needing high speed tires...

Yes, generally speaking, H-rated tires tend to be a better quality than T-rated tires, for example stiffer sidewalls. I don't plan to be driving 125mph too often. But, I do a lot of sustained long distance driving in 90F degree weather.

In the past, I have been happy with Yohohama Avid H4, BFG Comp/TA HR, and General XP2000 HR in a 70-series tire. Alas, all of these companies no longer make an H-rated tire in P185/70R14.

My research shows that...

Sumitomo HTR200 is classified as High-Performance, not High-Performance & All-Season like most other H-rated tires.

Firestone Affinity LH30 is classified as All-Season, not High-Performance & All-Season like most other H-rated tires.

Alas, even the new highly acclaimed T-rated Performance & All-Season Yokohama TRZ is not available in P185/70R14.

[xray]

Can you fit 205/60s on your rims? Yokohama AVS E100 may be a good alternative...or the Yoko AVID H4S in 195/65?

check tirerack.com, they may have some other options.

0.02,

Steve

[Arne]

Yes, generally speaking, H-rated tires tend to be a better quality than T-rated tires, for example stiffer sidewalls. I don't plan to be driving 125mph too often. But, I do a lot of sustained long distance driving in 90F degree weather.

I spent more than 20 years in the tire industry, and I don't quite agree with some of the above statements.

1.) H-rated tires are not all better quality than lesser rated tires. Far from it. There are plenty of very high quality S and T-rated tires, and plenty of H-rated that are not so great. In fact the compromises that are brought on by the desire to achieve a particular speed rating may actually reduce some aspect of the tire's performance when compared to a similar tire designed as a complete package, rather than to artificially meet one particular test. An H-rating by itself is not a good indicator of quality.

2.) Neither are stiffer sidewalls any kind of quality indicator. That is just one of many design features that may be spec'd by the committee designing the tire. In fact, stiff sidewalls can be counter productive for a high-speed tire. They may retain more heat at speed than a similar rated tire with a different sidewall design. Or not, depending on the rest of the tire's design. But again, by itself it is not a reliable indicator of quality, or even handling capability.

3.) But personal experiences of tires that you have been pleased with in the past are VERY valid. If you liked a particular H-rated tire in the past, there's really no real reason not to use the same make and model in a T-rated version, if such a tire exists. I suspect you'll find very little - if any - difference.

[indy_84maxima]

3.) But personal experiences of tires that you have been pleased with in the past are VERY valid. If you liked a particular H-rated tire in the past, there's really no real reason not to use the same make and model in a T-rated version, if such a tire exists. I suspect you'll find very little - if any - difference.

Thanks for your thoughts...

In the past, I have been happy with Yohohama Avid H4 and BFG Comp/TA HR (Now called Traction/TA). Their T-rated versions are available in the size that I am looking for.

I have never installed a set of T-rated tires before. I have no experience with them. Since everyone has posted postive comments on T-rated tires and noone has chimed in anything positive about either Sumitomo HTR200 or Firestone Affinity LH30, I am leaning towards Yohohama Avid T4's.

[Carl Beck]

I put a set of Dunlop SP SPORT A2's on my White 72 a couple years ago. This was a 195HR70x14. This was also the least expensive tire I've ever put on any Z. As I recall Tire Rack had them for $49.95 and Sears had them on sale for $46.95... so I went to Sears.

I just wanted a "good" tire for pleasure trips - but I wanted it to handle well (if not great). I also really didn't care what it cost - so much as I wanted to keep my 14" Libre's. and a more or less stock look.

I have to report that I was amazed at the quality of the Service at my local Sears Auto Center. They mounted/balanced 4 tires on my American Racing Equipment Libre's.. and no tire took more than an ounce to balance.

I've driven 240-Z's since 1970 - and had the ARE Libre's on them since about 71. They have always been difficult to mount - and the 240-Z's are so sensitive to tire balance that I usually wind up having them re-balanced a few times before getting it right. Sears put them on the car - I drove out to the freeway and the balance was perfect first time.

I've been very happy with the ride and handling of these tires. They do tend to want to go straight.. even when you might want to drift from one lane to another... so you have to steer them to the other lane.. (hard to explain in writing, but easy to feel when you are driving. They also might have a slight bit of noise at speed, that might bother someone - doesn't bother me.

I do not know at this point how long they well last, nor what total mileage to expect from them - but for a car intended mostly for longer road trips and pure pleasure driving - I'd recommend them to anyone.

Matter of fact I took my Blue 72 Z back to Sears a few months later and had a set put on it as well.

Considering the price - and performance I'd think anyone would be happy with them.

FWIW,

Carl B.

Clearwater, FL USA

http://ZHome.com

[a7dz]

I have never had as many flat tires as with Firestone Affinity on my Crown Vic. to the point that they will be replaced next week. The guys at the tire shop agreed that they see more flats in those also. They do not know I am going to replace these.

[wa5ngp]

Firestone, why would anyone expect anything different than trouble? These were the same guys that jacklegged existing tooling to make their first radials back ~72. Its been bad ever since. Never. If they are on a crown vic I assume it came that way so I suppose you didn't have a choice. I'm probably over reacting but then I'll never own another Ford either. Why take the chance when there are so many good alternatives.

Don