Tires

All Models and Years
WinginEngineer
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Joined: Sat Sep 03, 2016 3:31 pm

Tires

Post by WinginEngineer »

Here's a good one.

Setting my parts budget and went to shop tires. Only tires I can find in 185/80-R13 are trailer tires...

Not sure that's ok.

Am I missing something?
Kevin - Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
1962 Corvair 700
joelsplace
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Re: Tires

Post by joelsplace »

Do NOT use trailer tires.
Maxxis is the only choice. I hear they are available on eBay and at WalMart.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
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terribleted
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Re: Tires

Post by terribleted »

Maxxis MA-1 Radials is the only answer except specialty silly repro bias plys at ridiculous prices or something like them. Other choices are generally quite a bit too small. The Maxxis run around $100 each give or take. Do a google search and check ebay vendors.
Corvair guy since 1982. I have personally restored at least 20 Vairs, many of them restored ground up.
Currently working full time repairing Corvairs and restoring old cars.
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Located in Snellville, Georgia
WinginEngineer
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Re: Tires

Post by WinginEngineer »

That is rediculous! $112.00! Each! That's almost as much as my suburban tires! And these things are like go cart tires!

My '84 rabbit had continentals at $55 each.

My butt hurts right now...
Kevin - Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
1962 Corvair 700
joelsplace
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Re: Tires

Post by joelsplace »

157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
WinginEngineer
Posts: 150
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Re: Tires

Post by WinginEngineer »

Thank you Joel. That's better. Still stings, but better.
Kevin - Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
1962 Corvair 700
bdutile
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Re: Tires

Post by bdutile »

https://www.amazon.com/Achilles-122-All ... ay&sr=8-13
Achilles 122 all_ Season Radial Tire-185/70R13 86H
$45.63 & FREE Shipping

I have these on my car, I know they arent the perfect size but it works. I like them!
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bbodie52
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Re: Tires

Post by bbodie52 »

:think: I tend to try to discourage Corvair owners from sticking with 13" tires and wheels. I have been driving Corvairs since I was 15½ (I am 66 now). I have not put anything smaller than 14" rims on any of my Corvairs since 1970.

13" tires are largely obsolete. Most tire manufacturers no longer produce 13" passenger car tires because they are obsolete. A few manufacturers continue to carry a limited range in this size to cater to classic car owners who require this size for show cars and competitions. The few tires that are still available in this size seldom inherit the latest developments in performance, handling, braking, and all-weather service, so the inventory is severely limited and high-priced.

My recommendation is to move up to 14" or greater rims. The range of tires available to fit larger rims is much-greater. Handling, breaking, and overall performance will often improve significantly when fitting a Corvair with modern tires, and for a car that is intended to be driven often on the street the improvement in handling and safety — and often the cost savings — is significant. Tire and wheel clearances on EM and LM Corvairs is easily handled with 14" or 15" rims with the proper sizing, backspacing, etc. The problem with 13" tire availability will continue to worsen over the years, as manufacturers abandon this size.

Use the information on the following website to determine the desired wheel and tire sizing for your Corvair.

SIZING CORVAIR WHEELS AND TIRES
:link: http://autoxer.skiblack.com/tires.html

Here are some sizes that should work on Corvairs, given a proper wheel width, offset and back spacing (revs per mile for each size are shown in brackets. The range shown reflects different manufacturer specifications):

P185/70R14 (all) [856-866]
P195/70R14 (all, good replacement for 1960 - 65 6.50-13) [839-843]
P205/70R14 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13) [821]
P205/55R15 (all) [843-874]
P195/60R15 (all, good replacement for 1960 - 65 6.50-13) [859-864]
P195/65R15 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13) [832-840]
P205/60R15 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13) [842-846]
P205/55R16 (a little tall, may rub on an early, fits lates) [831-840]

You can see by these numbers that you can play with a broad range of tire sizes and diameters and stay close to the original 13" tire specs in revs per mile, or increase that overall diameter to some extent to make some minimal adjustment to the engine speed at a given vehicle speed (revs per mile). A greater impact might be made by changing the gearset in the differential, but such a change means a significant amount of work involved (if the gearset is compatible with the differential).

Adjusting tire brands, performance specs, and size has a much-greater impact on handling and braking performance than it will on fuel mileage or engine speed. These numbers only list wheel sizes from 13" to 16", and tire aspect ratios down to 50, but lower profile tires and wheels up to 17" in diameter have been successfully fitted to Corvairs. These numbers give you some idea of what will fit, but tread width and wheel width/back spacing must also be carefully considered to ensure adequate clearance with suspension components and the car body.


Image
Image
:link: http://www.cokertire.com/maxxis-185-80r13.html

Maxxis - 185/80R13 - 5/8 Inch Whitewall

$153.00

Set of four: Grand Total $612.00.

I found the same tires at WalMart for considerably less...

:link: https://www.walmart.com/ip/Maxxis-MA-1- ... gJoTvD_BwE

Maxxis MA-1 185/80R13 89 S
$92.00
Free delivery
Set of four: Grand Total $368.00

For comparison, here are several of 14" all-season radials...

Image
:link: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearc ... iameter=14

Results in this size for all-season radials. Here are a few examples...

Michelin DEFENDER T+H 195/70R14 Standard Touring All-Season — $104.99 ea / $349.96 set of four (with rebate)
Special Offer: Buy a set of four and Get a $70 Prepaid Mastercard® Card by Mail-in Rebate.

GENERAL ALTIMAX RT43 (T-SPEED RATED) — $72.99 ea / $291.96 set of four

Yokohama AVID TOURING-S 195/70R14 Standard Touring All-Season — $87.92 ea $351.68 set of four

Goodyear Assurance 195/70R14 All-Season Passenger All-Season — $76.99 ea / $267.96 set of four (with rebate)
Special Offer: Buy a set of four and get a $40 Goodyear Prepaid Mastercard by mail-in rebate.

As you can see, there are a dozen radial tires listed in this one size that will fit your car (with a replacement/used set of 14" 4-lug rims). The prices for a set of four from the Tire Rack range from $212.60 to $781.52, compared to $612 for a set of four 13" tires from Coker Tire (one of the few non-trailer tires offered in this obsolete/rare size).

A list of suitable 4-lug used car 14" donor wheels were listed on the Corvair wheel and tire sizing website I listed earlier. Your savings with 14" tires would help cover a set of four used rims from an auto salvage yard or possibly eBay or some other source. And once you have fitted 14" rims to your Corvair your replacement tire size would be permanently established as 14". This would leave you in a more-economical market for future tires for your classic Corvair.

Similar savings can be selected in 14", 15" or 16" wheel sizes by browsing the Tire Rack with the following tire sizes...

P185/70R14 (all)
P195/70R14 (all, good replacement for 1960 - 65 6.50-13)
P205/70R14 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13)
P205/55R15 (all)
P195/60R15 (all, good replacement for 1960 - 65 6.50-13)
P195/65R15 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13)
P205/60R15 (all, good replacement for 1966 - 69 7.00-13)
P205/55R16 (a little tall, may rub on an early, fits lates)
EM Corvair Wheel Interchange Information.

Since many folks want to know what to shop for online, at swap meets, junk yards, etc., here is some info which might be helpful.

Earlies have 4 lugs on a 4 1/2" (114.3mm) bolt circle. Other cars with that 4 on 4 1/2 pattern are:

Acura Legend '86 to '90
Chevy Nova, Chevy II '60 to '64
Chevy Sprint '85 to '87
Buick Special, Olds F-85 '61 to '63
Datsun/Nissan, most RWD models to '89
Dodge Colt '79 to '92
Ford Falcon, Mustang (6 cyl) '60 to '73
Ford Granada, Maverick '81 to '83
Hyundai all years
Infiniti G20 '91 - '96
Infiniti M30 '90 - '92
Mazda 323 '86 to '89
Mazda 626, RX7 '83 to '87
Mazda GLC '81 to '85
Mazda RX-7 GSL/SE '84 to '88
MGA, MGB, MGC all
Mitsubishi, most 4 lug all years
Nissan 240SX all 4 cyl
Nissan Altima '93 to '01
Olds - F-85 '61 to '63
Plymouth Arrow, Sapporo '79 to '88
Saab, all to '87
Toyota, most RWD except PU and MR2 up to '85
Triumph TR3 through TR6 all
Brad Bodie
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Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
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Re: Tires

Post by terribleted »

bdutile wrote: Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:53 am https://www.amazon.com/Achilles-122-All ... ay&sr=8-13
Achilles 122 all_ Season Radial Tire-185/70R13 86H
$45.63 & FREE Shipping

I have these on my car, I know they arent the perfect size but it works. I like them!
This are only 6% too small inducing a 6% speedometer error and increasing RPM by 6% at all speeds. I do enough highway driving that I would not want to subject the car to the higher RPM's for extended periods. At least their width is the same as the stock size which is helpful. The issue for me would be that they would look poor in my opinion. I like to fill the tire wells more rather than put tires on that look small. To each his own.
Corvair guy since 1982. I have personally restored at least 20 Vairs, many of them restored ground up.
Currently working full time repairing Corvairs and restoring old cars.
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Re: Tires

Post by 64powerglide »

Keep watching this site they have been down to 85.00 now they are back up. They keep changing the price.
https://simpletire.com/maxxis-p185-80r1 ... 0000-tires
64Powerglide, Jeff Phillips

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joelsplace
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Re: Tires

Post by joelsplace »

I run the 185/70s on several of my Corvairs. They work great, handle better and lower the car some too.
They do mess up the speedometer.
157 Corvairs, 5 Ultravans and counting
Northlake, TX
WinginEngineer
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Re: Tires

Post by WinginEngineer »

We are our own worst enemy with technology sometimes.

This is not supposed to be this hard.

I actually like the idea of jumping to 14 or 15 inch rims. But I won't put gangsta thug rims on a Corvair.

That limits my options significantly.

Plus EVERY wheel site I can find only lets you shop by car, not by spec. Lots of 4x114's. Maybe 3 or 4 4x4.5 and my only thoughts on those is hell no.

Maxxis MA-1 it is.
Kevin - Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
1962 Corvair 700
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doug6423
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Re: Tires

Post by doug6423 »

WinginEngineer wrote:We are our own worst enemy with technology sometimes.

This is not supposed to be this hard.

I actually like the idea of jumping to 14 or 15 inch rims. But I won't put gangsta thug rims on a Corvair.

That limits my options significantly.

Plus EVERY wheel site I can find only lets you shop by car, not by spec. Lots of 4x114's. Maybe 3 or 4 4x4.5 and my only thoughts on those is hell no.

Maxxis MA-1 it is.
What exactly are ‘gangsta thug’ rims??


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Re: Tires

Post by bbodie52 »

Image

I think a set of sporty wheels like these would look good on an early Corvair coupe or convertible, but maybe would be out of place on the stately 4-door sedan. :dontknow:

Perhaps some 14" chrome steel rims with baby moons? Or perhaps 14" steel rims with 14" Chevrolet wire wheel covers from that period.
Brad Bodie
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Image 1966 Corvair Corsa Convertible
WinginEngineer
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Re: Tires

Post by WinginEngineer »

doug6423 wrote: Fri Jul 12, 2019 5:53 am What exactly are ‘gangsta thug’ rims??
Gangsta thug are rims best suited for either a ground scraping Civic in one of the first 3 Fast and Furious movies, a beat up '03 Impala in south Phoenix with 2 primered fenders and bullet holes in the back glass, or a fairly late model Tahoe with an Escalade front clip and limo tint rolling down hooker blvd at 2AM.

Don't get me wrong, not all of them look bad, but it ain't what I'm thinking for the look of an early model 4 door Corvair....
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The steel wheel with the baby moons is a look I could swing, but even steel wheels I'm having a hell of a time finding. This is the only one I can find in 4 lug and the shape negates the possibility of using a baby moon. I'd have to use a full moon which again, not the look I'm going for. If I wanted a rat rod I'd get my '58 back on the road...
Steel Smooth 2.JPG
Steel Smooth 2.JPG (30.36 KiB) Viewed 3174 times
Kevin - Phoenix/Mesa, AZ
1962 Corvair 700
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doug6423
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Re: Tires

Post by doug6423 »

WinginEngineer wrote:
doug6423 wrote: Fri Jul 12, 2019 5:53 am What exactly are ‘gangsta thug’ rims??
Gangsta thug are rims best suited for either a ground scraping Civic in one of the first 3 Fast and Furious movies, a beat up '03 Impala in south Phoenix with 2 primered fenders and bullet holes in the back glass, or a fairly late model Tahoe with an Escalade front clip and limo tint rolling down hooker blvd at 2AM.

Don't get me wrong, not all of them look bad, but it ain't what I'm thinking for the look of an early model 4 door Corvair....
Rim1.JPG
Rim3.JPG
Rim4.JPG
Rim5.JPG
Rim6.JPG
Rim7.JPG
Rim8.JPG
The steel wheel with the baby moons is a look I could swing, but even steel wheels I'm having a hell of a time finding. This is the only one I can find in 4 lug and the shape negates the possibility of using a baby moon. I'd have to use a full moon which again, not the look I'm going for. If I wanted a rat rod I'd get my '58 back on the road...
Steel Smooth 2.JPG
I guess ur not a big fan of a sound system that rocks everything in ur house when the bass hits either... [emoji23]


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65 Monza
Cincinnati, OH
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