Tyres for p5b

[Vee]

I have a 1972 p5b,and my car has got Radials 205/70x15 just need advice on what is the correct radial size to fit.
Having searched some people say 185/80x15,195/80x15 and 205/70x15 so I am confused. 

[stirlingmg]

185r15 (also known as 185/80r15) is the correct equivalent of the original 6.70-15 angry plies

[stirlingmg]

It’s funny because I’m just looking at tyres for mine, it has a good pair of Vredestein sprint classics on the front but the rear Mabor Generals are starting to split

[Sam Bee]

Vredestein are what I use. Not cheap and there are alternatives available in that correct size.

[Vee]

The current tyres have been on about 34 years never went on the road,
no cracks or perishing signs but for safety reason i am looking to change them.
 

[johnwp5bcoupe]

Jun 7, 2020 9:22:16 GMT Vee said:

I have a 1972 p5b,and my car has got Radials 205/70x15 just need advice on what is the correct radial size to fit.
Having searched some people say 185/80x15,195/80x15 and 205/70x15 so I am confused. 

185x80x15 is the correct size a lot of discussion on search as to other sizes!

[Ken Nelson]

I agree with the sizing. I think they look good on my car with a thin whitewall stripe.

[Brendan69]

I have 205/70/15 Maxxis white bands on mine. Had 5 fitted last year @ £500 in total. The car drives lovely and the tyres look the dogs.

Its all however down to personal preference and budget available.

Regards,

[stirlingmg]

Jun 7, 2020 10:19:58 GMT Sam Bee said:

Vredestein are what I use. Not cheap and there are alternatives available in that correct size.

I like Vreds, I’ve used their stuff a lot in the past & they’ve always given a good combination of grip & wear. I’ve never used their classic tyres though, these are the 1st I’ve experienced (they were on the car when I bought it), I haven’t done enough miles to be able to comment on them yet

[djm16]

There is a modern trend for fitting excessively wide tyres to private cars. Note it does not extend to commercial vehicles, even when the vehicle model is close to identical to the private version. The major advantage of wide tyres is better grip on soft terrain, ie sand. Everywhere else the grip will be worse as wide tyres will be more likely to slip on a loose or wet surface.

Personally I find wide tyres on Rover to be vulgar. All three of my Rovers now have light commercial / van tyres (with a plenty wide speed rating).

185/80R15 are no longer available in Australia, so I am now using 195R15C which is only very slightly wider, but is taller too, closer to the original dia of the 640 (to 670) - 15s originally fitted.

All three Rovers are also now running tubeless.

[enigmas]

The taller tyres will keep the gearing correct. I quite like wider tyres (and have appropriate rim mods) but take into account that none of the original Factory Rover steel wheels have a safety bead to run tubeless tyres. You don't want to roll the tyre off the edge of a rim under emergency cornering/braking conditions.

[djm16]

Yeah, forgot that bit about the wider tyre being more likely to roll off the rim of an un-modified wheel.

[Brendan69]

Defensive driving = safe driving and no dodgy situations to cope with.

[Ken Nelson]

Didn't Rover eventually switch to the safety bead for tubeless tires? I have 4 early rims without it, but the rims on my 1966 P5 are slightly different, and I thought had safety beads. They didn't have tubes when I got the car.

[Phil Nottingham]

Rover changed their wheels to suit tubeless in the mid 1950s for the P4 and these wheels were used with various changes to prevent stress cracking around on the alter P4s and P5s.  They were quite adequate for the tubeless crossplies fitted as standard and the correct width radials ie 185 or 195