Which tires to get?

[red_dog007]

Well, I currently have 195/75 and they need to go. I want to upgrade the size to 205. Though to get a performance tire I would have to go 205/70. I really like how the 75's look on the Z, but what about 70's. Would this make it look weird at all? Show more of the wheel well and just make everything look sorta out of place? On my S10 I used to have like 70's on there, got new tires that are 60's, and now the tires look tiny and out of place.

Though what I am looking at right now are

205/75 Standard Touring All-Season from Kumho

205/70 Performance All-Season from Yokohama

205/70 High Performance Summer Sumitomo

Right now I am gearing more for the Yokohama because they offer much better warranty and they are a higher mileage tire then the Sumitomo. Though I am not sure if 70's will look ok or not, and if not I will probably get the Kumho's.

[Arne]

Check the specs. 205/70-14s are roughly the same height as the 195/75-14s you are now running, just wider. The 205/75-14 are actually taller than the 195/75-14.

I'm guessing that you don't understand how tire sizing works. The first number (195) is the approximate width in millimeters. The second number (75) is a ratio or percentage, not the height of the tire, as many people think. In the case of your current 195/75s, each sidewall of the tire is 75% of the width. So the sidewalls (measured from the bead of the tire, not just the part you can see) are 195 x .75 or about 146 mm tall. In the case of the 205/70, 205 x .7 is 143.5. So those two sizes are about the same.

[Caen Fred]

I run 205/65r14 from Kenda... good tires

[red_dog007]

Oh, that is where I did get confused. I had always thought that the second # was the hight #, not the ratio/percentage number.

Thanks for the clarification. :classic:

Sweet! I think I know which tire I am going to get then :-)

[justin260z]

I have 235-60-14 on mine.

[76Datsun280z]

I've got 205/60-14's Federals on my car right now, and I'm pretty happy with that size although there aren't very many tire manufactures out there that make that size! I'm hoping to buy some Falcon Ziex 512's in a few weeks as the Federals on mine are almost to the wear marks.

[Arne]

I've got 205/60-14s on my yellow car, and in my opinion they look too short. Like red_dog I much prefer the taller sizes tires appearance-wise. I have 195/70-14 (factory stock height) on my red 240Z and like that look. Lots mor choices too, although they aren't as wide.

[ktm]

I opted for 225/60R14 (Yokohoma Avid ST) on my 15-spoke Western Turbines (wheels are 14x7). My 5-slot Shelby mags are shod with 195/70R14. I had some reservations about going to a 225 tire with manual steering, however, my fears were unfounded. I do not have any more difficulty during low speed maneuvers with these tires than with the 195s. I do tram a little bit more though, but it is not excessive.

[red_dog007]

I opted for 225/60R14 (Yokohoma Avid ST) on my 15-spoke Western Turbines (wheels are 14x7). My 5-slot Shelby mags are shod with 195/70R14. I had some reservations about going to a 225 tire with manual steering, however, my fears were unfounded. I do not have any more difficulty during low speed maneuvers with these tires than with the 195s. I do tram a little bit more though, but it is not excessive.

I myself was going to limit to 205 cause I heard that it is harder to steer going wider without power steering. But if you dont have a problem, I will consider those tires that you got. I have them here pulled up on www.tirerack.com and they sure look nice.

Though do the 225's stick out from the car or are they still tucked in underneath?

[ktm]

http://www.classiczcars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24558

I posted some photos there.

[Mckrack]

Be careful they don't rub the inner fender wheel openings. BVecause they may on turning the steering wheel all the way with 205s.

[red_dog007]

That tire doesnt look too bad on there. I got the same 15-spoke rims on my 71'. Though in the rear, it looks like that the tire sticks out a bit. I might drop it down to the 215's of the same model instead, but we will see. Still looking around.