Tyres

[Rich107]

Advice for newbie please- just had my Amazon 122s delivered today and all of the tyres are shot. Any recommendations please modern or classic / which size as they only have 165/ 15 on them thanks

[Ron Kwas]

Rich;

Congratulations on your new Amazon, and welcome to this forum!!

Loosing the old rubber and replacing it will be a good start, but involves a somewhat complex answer...if you are going to keep it stock, 165/80R15 is the size specified in the Owners Manual, so correct, (I suggest you get one OR study the applicable one on-line...they are all scanned and out there for you to locate...including service manuals, also highly recommended!), and since the wheel width on sedans is only 4" (kombis have 4.5") there are few other sized tires which can (or should) be fitted on those wheels. There are thankfully still some manufacturers who produce very capable tires in this size , Vredestein for one, and their Sprint Classic is one of my favorite anyway...

If you can get some kombi wheels, you may have some other options, but if you go with a 6" aftermarket wheel, certainly more...beware, fitting anything wider than a Series 70 will result in high Steering Forces, and increased St Box wear...I recommend against it. See: https://www.sw-em.com/Wheels_Tires_S...nd_Wheel_Sizes

You don't mention your experience and capabilities with vintage cars...or if you are even going to be doing your own minor or major service, but the Amazon is certainly a great subject vehicle, even for the inexperienced, because of the quality of materials, logical engineering and simple design, resulting in superb performance and longevity, and there is much in the way of info, techniques and a literally a world of experience on-line, in this and other fora to help you and keep you from making beginner mistakes...you should do some surfing to come up to speed on model specific issues and service techniques, which have just about all been encountered and well documented by now (its unlikely you'll be breaking any new ground...but you never know!). For instance, learn about rear Drum Brakes BEFORE attacking them and getting all wrong...see: https://www.sw-em.com/Brake_Drum_Notes.htm

Another first thing you should do without fail (to prevent a commonly occurring lowpoint in vintage Volvo ownership), is install a Momentary Start Switch to prevent (the quite typical) Ign Key breakage, see: http://www.sw-em.com/ignition_switch...ch_article.htm

I invite you to visit the SW-EM.com site and review Tech Articles there. There are lots of other helpful sites...

That's enough for you to digest for a welcome posting.

Cheers from Connecticut!

[old fart]

165/80 x 15 is the standard size. Vredestein are good, but you can get cheaper.

[classicswede]

I like to run mine on 195/65/15 being the widest that will go on the 4inch wide wheel. They are a very tight fit. 185/65/65 is also available and not so tight on the rim.

You can also get new wider wheels that will allow fitting wider tyres

[classicswede]

Oh and with 195's the steering is still nice and light, yes a little effort needed at parking speeds. If the steering is stiff that suggests issues with ball joints, steering bush or an over tightened steering box

[Bracpan]

I run 195 / 65 / 15 tyre on the Front on a 6 x 15 Revolution Wheel
and a 205 / 65 /15 tyre on the Rear on a 7 x 15 Revolution Wheel with a 60mm suspension kit from Classic Swede. No rubbing issues and the gearing is the same...

[Burdekin]

It seems if you go for a classic style tyre they are much more expensive than a modern style tyre. Personally don’t know how the two styles compare on the road. I’m needing a new set as well so in the same boat as yourself.

[Burdekin]

I might go these: https://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/V...n/T-Trac-2.htm

Would normally go to Sillet tyres on Holland st but they are shut.

[old fart]

Got those on 2 cars, much better than the cheaper ones - worth the extra.

[mocambique-amazone]

I hate 195 on a Amazon personally

My favorite is the 165/80 15 on 5.5x15 rims combo

Matches perfectly the car

If you want to have a "better look" by 16, 17 or 18 inchs wheels

I buy the best tyres on the market only, never regret.
Good luck, Kay