Datsun Roadster Forum-311s.org

I have a 66 1600 and don't want to update or change the wheels. What is a "stock" tyre size for the car. The tyres on them are so old they have an outdated tyre size on them...

Thanks in advance for your help.

The stock size tires were 5.60x14 which is roughly a 155R14 tire. You can put 165R14s on with no problems. If you go much wider, then the tires will not fit properly as the wheels are only 4" wide. I believe that most tire manufacturers recommend wider wheels for anything bigger than those two mentioned sizes.

I'm being told by one source that 175-70-14 is the tire to get. Does that sound right? I was looking for style cues also.... White wall'd. white letters, etc.? What was the normal 1966 tire a plain blackwall bias ply?

OK, more Roadster esoterica! When the 1500 was introduced, it had WIDE gangster style whitewalls - you know, the 2 1/2 wide whites. That lasted about a year, but they look sweet on the 1500 body. Not quite on the later ones though as the progressively bigger flares looked more sporty. Anyway, once the wide whites went away, the whitewall was still wide by modern standards - about 1" or so. That was retained pretty much through the end of production (although the high windshield cars may have had a more narrow whitewall - I am not sure there - but I know that the low windshield cars had the wider than current whitewalls...)

That having been said, the 1600s and 2000s look fine with blackwalls too. It is up to you. If you want to get really anal and go dead stock, Coker tire is the deal - you can get those 5.60x14s with the wider whites there.

The 175 70 sounds like a good compromise for some wider width. Check with the tire manufacturer's website for the rim width recommendations. I have some 5.5 wheels (Libres) that I want to put some 185 65s on at some point. Things to do, things to do...

Good call Sid,
I was reading this and thought of Coker Tire. they sell a lot of Repro restoration tires. If you can't find them on the net (they've got to have a web site!) then they always have an ad in the back of Hemming's. They have those earlier sizes listed.

Of course I say buy 195/60-14 Azenis... But that's just me

I'll be less of a pest as time goes by.... Just have to hit the learning curve hard, and see what happens...

Thanks again for the input....

In the States us blokes spell it tire not tyre!LOL

Crap, does that mean I don't have a boot or a bonnet? To much time hangin around the UK Z3 message boards I guess..... LOL

It's ok, having owned a Breyton BMW for years I had to convert myself as well. As for the Brit slang, they make fun of me all the time at work for saying shyte! Proper slangs keeps people on their toes I say.

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Well, have I got a deal for you!! I found the 13" wide whites in radials. Check out http://www.dbtire.com or http://www.widewhitewalltires.com (both are the same company). They have those plus they can make the 14" whitewalls with the width that is wanted.

Another company is http://whitewallcandystore.com but their prices are higher.

Another option is to check with local tire stores. Most tires can have the whitewall "widened" a bit. This link explains how a guy did it to the tires on his trailer. http://www.300f.com/teardrop/1955benroy.htm#tires

The last option is definately the lowest price!

Enjoy!!

[quote="Z3BigDaddy"]I'll be less of a pest as time goes by.... Just have to hit the learning curve hard, and see what happens...
[quote]

Nah.. no one's really a pest around here. Everyone on here is on free time, work time, or garage time. Guess which time is used to roam the forum.

I put 175/65/14 tires on stock early '67 wheels. They are lower profile than stock so the RPMs will be a bit higher but they looked pretty nice. My '70 had 195/60/14 tires on the stock wheels when I bought it and they held air fine for five years but that really is too wide a tire for the stock wheel.