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MG TD TF 1500 - tire size 165r vs 165x80

I need new shoes for the TD which currently sports 165Rx15. Dealers are pushing 165 80 x15. Are these the same size or will my speedo be wrong? I had Margaret at MOMA calibrate the speedo last year and different dealers are giving me contradictory statements. Thanks in advance for your help.

Tim
tw hager

165 = tread width in millimeters.
80 = aspect ratio ie: sidewall height in relationship to tread width. So sidewall is 80% of tread (or 132mm)
15 = rim size

Tires from the 1960's on without an aspect ratio (165/15's for example) usually had an 82 aspect ratio. So a 165/80/R15 is about as close to a 165/15 as you're going to get in modern P-metric or E-metric sizing. The difference between an 80 aspect ratio and an 82 aspect ratio is 6.6 millimeters in total diameter on a brand new tire. I can't imagine that will impact your speedo calibration much--especially given that the average tire loses far more than that over its average life (not to mention over/underinflation). Of course, you can always buy "vintage" tires from a Coker or Longstone (and pay vintage prices).

The problem with a 165/80/R15 is that nobody has used that size in ages on a new car, so the ones the dealers have are usually offbrand cheapos for people with (much) older cars. Michelin (who I work for, in the interest of full disclosure) doesn't make one at all, for example, but we do in our cheaper BF Goodrich line.

So I can't see any performance issues by going with the modern tires. Drawbacks will be "look" and possibly quality (don't buy a cheap Chinese tire). Drawbacks to the vintage tires are cost and maybe performance (if you go with crossplies). As a Michelin employee, I've always ponied up and gotten vintage Michelins myself--which are "wrong" in themselves--but only because I'd get crap in the parking lot if I didn't. And because it does seem odd to see modern tread patterns on a vintage car.

Andy White
TF0537
A.T. White

Tim, If you were running 165Rx15 radials, I think that the 80 aspect is the standard. I was running Dunlop sp20's in that size when I calibrated my speedo. I've recently installed Hankook tires and I find that they are virtually the same. The other choice was Kumho, and they were also the same. The diameter, from what I've seen should be 25.4 inches. There is always a slight deviation from this between manufacturers, but the difference will be tiny. By the way, I am quite pleased ith the Hankooks. I didn't realise how bad my old tires (1991) were until I drove with the new ones. Even though they looked new with no visible checking, the compound must have been rock-hard. They were very noisy when cornering.
Steven Tobias

I also feel compelled to point out to everyone that no matter how the tread "looks" and even if there are no crack in the sidewall you absolutely should not drive on tires older than 10 years old--and ideally no more than eight years old. Tire rubber does break down with age. Belts can separate with age. It may "look" fine, but that does not mean it is.

And that 10 years is from the date of manufacture, not when you bought them. You can find out when it was made on the sidewall in the DOT number which will read DOT2298 (for example), which means the tire was made in the 22nd week of 2098. Time to replace that tire. If you've never had a tire fail at speed, you want to keep it that way.

Safety fast!
Andy
TF0537
A.T. White

TM, my TD has run Michelin 165SR15 XZX's (or perhaps a ZX way back in the day?) since dad bought the car in the early 70s. Replaced the last set due to age/sidewall dry cracking. I went through the brand-x cheapo deal and the brand or brands tried were absolutley terrible. My local tire guy (has been at the shop for 35+ years!) swears more balance/vibration/shimmys are fixed by a good set of Michelins than anything else. Getting pricey now- just looked at Coker and they are $169 each (ouch!). I recall that these are actually still made by Michelin in France or Italy, but just not imported and sold by the official US Michelin branch. Have heard good reports about the Kuhumos and Verdstiens (sp?) also. George
George Butz

I think it was Edsel Ford, who asked why is my prototype, mock -up, Lincoln MK?? (late '60's early '70's)shod with Michelin tires? The engineers stated, " Because they are the best!" The conversation was over.
Len Fanelli

When I bought my MGA 10+ years ago it had brand new Pep Boys el-cheapos on it. I put Michelin XZX's on it, and the difference in ride and handling was amazing. The new TF has relatively new Hankooks on it, and I'll keep them for a while as Hankook makes a pretty good tire. But when it's time to replace them it'll be XZX's again. The tires are made in Italy on original tooling, and Coker has the exclusive US distributorship and buys them directly from Michelin France. Luckily, as an employee I can get them directly and at a discount, but it takes about three months...

If you go the modern tire route, I've only seen 4 "name brands" in this size recently; BF Goodrich, Kumho, Hankook, and Nankang. The Goodrich comes with raised white letters, so I'd skip that one. Of the other three, in terms of quality they go Hankook, Kumho, and Nankang. Vredestein makes a good tire, but they have very limited US distribution.

Andy White
TF0537
A.T. White

I put Vredestein tires on my wire wheeled TD a couple of years ago and have been very pleased with the appearance and handling. Here is the information I posted at the time:

"From Tires Unlimited (www.tiresunlimited.com) I purchased five 165R15 radial tires ($68.99 each), radial inner tubes ($8.07 each)... Shipping from Dayton, OH, to Massachusetts was $46.18."

"Bill Pfeiffer is the expert at Tires Unlimited (800.628.4737)."

If I recall correctly, Bill gave me a price that was less than the price listed on the Tires Unlimited website.

There is also a ton of information in the archives about current tire options.

Larry
Larry Shoer

To expand further on my new Hankook tires...I had the TD out, last night, for the first really spirited drive since mounting the tires. It was a real twisty and hilly ride through the north shore of Long Island, with about 380 lbs of human payload aboard, and the tires were magnificent! Based on this and previous experience, I don't think that I would expect much more from the expensive brands. There was one hill, however, that taxed my 4.3 rearend to its limit. We started out a little short on momentum, and had to call on 2nd gear to top it.
Steven Tobias

Thanks for all the help - looks like I have a decision to make - was planning to go with cheap tires b/c not many miles are driven each year.

tim
tw hager

The best option is the michelin s tyres. They are twice expensive but twice good looking and vintage style.... !!!
I have Michelins in a few cars Austin Healey 100-4, my mg td, and Alfa Guillietta and these tyres are great......
Jose Vicente Vargas

To A.T.White, after reading your info about DOT and dates, I read my tires. They are "Master Craft 165R15's" and the numbers read "DOT U9 FD3426". What does this tell me? They , of course look like new and still have the stickers on them and have never seen daylight. Trash them?
Best regards, Daniel
D Desmond

A.T.White, it is not only road tyres that can blow when you are least expecting it, bad as that situation can be.

When approaching my aging Mercury Sable station wagon from the rear on a hot summer's day earlier this year, I was intrigued to notice that the plastic interior spare wheel cover was lying on the back platform together with its two plastic snaps. This is usually mounted vertically on the left hand side rear of the car, concealing the spare. The Mickey Mouse unused spare wheel's tyre had exploded and blown off the cover. Two light boxes, which had been adjacent, were on the other side of the car, upside down. It must have been a hell of a bang but fortunately, it had not gone off while I was driving otherwise I should have definitely suffered that most ignominious of fates, namely an involuntary evacuation of the bowels with subsequent severe difficulties, not to mention trying to explain to the policemen why I had caused the accident.

As the wheel was also slightly buckled, I went to the biggest scrap merchants in Pa. and the first three wheels they found, when they opened the spare wheel compartments in scrapped vehicles, all had tyres with large bulges showing in the side walls obviously about ready to blow within a short time..

Moral of the story is obvious.
G.E. Love

Daniel,
This site should help
http://riverviewtire.com/ReadingTires.html seems like your tires were made in the 42 week of HUMMMM 96 or 2006 ???? I guess we need more help !!!
Where in CT are you ?? We are in Canton,
SPW
Steve Wincze

Daniel,

Tires were made in '96. Best to trash them.

Regards,
Andy
TF0537
A.T. White

Andy,
What would be the number for a tire made in 2006?? How would it diferentiate from a tire made in 1996??

SPW
Steve Wincze

Here is some info Steve:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11

Dallas
D C Congleton

Thanks Dallas,,, now it is clear.

SPW
Steve Wincze

Hello Steve, I'm in Waterford. Send Email if you like. Best regards,Daniel
D Desmond

Stopped in to my local Goodyear and Michelin dealer. Only thing he could offer were Kumho in this size. Checking with my Kelly dealer this week to see what they have locally.
Bruce-C

This thread was discussed between 11/08/2009 and 20/08/2009

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