Tyres for Amazon on 5.5x15 Wheels

[DavidJones]

Hi there,
I have a 122s running a set of 5.5x15 wheels and old Michelin 175/70 R15 tyres - although there still is a lot of tread on them I assume from paperwork that came with the car that these tyres are, at best, circa 2011. I would like to update the rubber as there seem to be a few cracks appearing but the 175/70 R15s seem no longer available - what are others using?
The car gets "occasional local use" to and from Sunday car meets but I might like to use it for a few mild sporting trials, such as the Crystal Palace sprint and similar events if they ever happen again!!
Many Thanks
David

[Volvo_133]

Your tyre walls will have 4 x numbers on the sidewall usually close to the rim. These are the date of manufacture. 0811 would be August 2011.This date may be months before your paperwork.
Chris

[old fart]

I use 165/80x15, this is the original size for standard wheels, but also standard fitment on other cars with 5.5 inch wheels. Vredestein have some good ones.

[AndyV7o]

Either 165/80, 185/70 or 175/70, 185/65 will be happy on 5.5" rims.
175/70 and 185/65 will make the Speedo overread a little.
The widest choice will be 185/65, a very common size.

[Derek UK]

195/65/15 will get a mention. They will provide more grip for track work if the rest of your suspension is up to it. As OF says you can keep with the 165's and you might find those more fun on the track as they will test you a bit more as a driver.

185/65 are smaller in diameter than the 165/80 but can be used if you are happy to take that into account.

[Burdekin]

My tyre shop had a 20 day wait for Vredestein’s at the moment from their 3 suppliers.

[DavidJones]

Many thanks for all your comments and feedback - I actually race an Amazon in the HRDC Touring Greats series and have recently obtained HTP Appendix K papers for it so I can run it in other series. I bought the car in question a couple of years back as a "spares car" unseen from an auction. When I collected it I was very surprised by its condition - so much so that my wife banned me from breaking it and thus it got added to the collection and used as a fun day car.... it has had some care lavished on it over the past few years by previous owners including Bilsteins all round, Neoprene bushes, a sports exhaust and 50/30 spring kit plus a few 123 GT dressing bits.
As regards the tyres the current Michelins are looking very aged and I can't find any date stamps as there are so many cracks..!! I don't want it to be another race car, just a useable fun classic but I want the tyres to be safe - it gets a lot of favourable comments at Sunday drive-ins held at the local pubs around here.

[AndyV7o]

If you want it to be fun, be aware (you may already be) that most of today's tyres are very soft in construction, its hard to find a good handling tyre.
In terms of decent handling tyres, known to me are Firestone Multihawk and Pirelli P1 cinturato, also well regarded are Kumho Hs51, any of those three will help keep the fun without being too soggy.

[mocambique-amazone]

Michelin XAS are very good
Michelin XZX are not as good, still the classic look.

Bridgestone and Hankook are good too.
Personally I don't like Vredestein, other people tell me they are very good now too.

I prefer very much over all the 165/80R15 on 5.5x15 combination and really really don't like wider as 185 on 5.5 rim. Other peoples opinion is 100% different.
Some here are running 205 on 4 inch, geek.
Michelin are prone to crack for bad luck.

Good luck, Kay

[classicswede]

You can run a 195/65/15 in the 4inch wheel, a 205 would not fit.

As you have a 5.5inch wide wheel I would be on at least a 195 if not a 205/60/15 to make use of the wheel width you have