Tyre suggestions for 14" rims?

[tjb0274]

The Ricciardi should be back on the road in a few days, and I'm starting to think about some new tyres (and possibly wheels).

It's currently wearing Yokohama A509s in 205x55x14 on a set of widened steel wheels. They were on the car when I bought it 12 years ago, and still have masses of tread (light car, low mileage), but although the grip level is very high (in the dry at least - it aquaplanes too easily in the wet, another reason to reduce the contact patch a bit) there is very little steering feel, and I'd like to try some 195s to see if that helps with the feel and the scary aqua planing.

I've been reading some of the tyre/wheel threads here and on AlfaBB, and I gather that it's getting hard to find performance road tyres in 14" - keen to get some advice on who still caters for we poor 105 folk, and what you've found that works well on a 105.

I'm also thinking about some alloys. Something reasonably restrained that will work with the retro body style. Is it possible to get the GTA-style wheels here in Oz? I see that someone in the UK makes them, which is encouraging.

[philpot]

Had three (or four...) sets of BF Goodrich G Force Sports on my cars (though they're not 105's natch) over the years, awesome tyre, v rated (good for Ricciardi) , great grip, feel and brilliant handling. Amazing in wet, high levels of grip and really progressive feel when on (high) limit. Wear rate is surprisingly good too. Even on suds/33's    Come in 14's.
Bridgestone Adrenalins 'almost' as good...and bit cheaper. Bought them most recently, not quite as good as BFG's.

BFG's won a Wheels Mag tyre test in 60 series tyres a few years back, that's how I got onto them. BFG has been owned by Michelin for a while now, being marketed as 'Sports' niche demographic. Only tyre I've ever had with 'Traction AA' on side with those US markings, yet still with Temperature A and 'Treadwear 340'. Remember having some Bridgestone Potenza RE 711's in 185/60x14 that were only 'Treadwear 140'...they didn't last long! Had Yokohama 520's before them, 2 gens on from 509's, they were good but way too soft for FWD again, 'Treadwear 210' by memory. Only have the coffee mug got with them now!

Yes, know they're not on 105's, but, a good tyre is a good tyre...

12 year old rubber's gonna be pretty hard by 2010...the vicroads website when talking about tyre build year dating (for what it's worth...) advise that anything with the single year dating markings ( the 90's ) should be replaced for regular use...

[tjb0274]

Had three (or four...) sets of BF Goodrich G Force Sports on my cars (though they're not 105's natch) over the years, awesome tyre, v rated (good for Ricciardi) , great grip, feel and brilliant handling. Amazing in wet, high levels of grip and really progressive feel when on (high) limit. Wear rate is surprisingly good too. Even on suds/33's    Come in 14's.
Bridgestone Adrenalins 'almost' as good...and bit cheaper. Bought them most recently, not quite as good as BFG's.

BFG's won a Wheels Mag tyre test in 60 series tyres a few years back, that's how I got onto them. BFG has been owned by Michelin for a while now, being marketed as 'Sports' niche demographic. Only tyre I've ever had with 'Traction AA' on side with those US markings, yet still with Temperature A and 'Treadwear 340'. Remember having some Bridgestone Potenza RE 711's in 185/60x14 that were only 'Treadwear 140'...they didn't last long! Had Yokohama 520's before them, 2 gens on from 509's, they were good but way too soft for FWD again, 'Treadwear 210' by memory. Only have the coffee mug got with them now!

12 year old rubber's gonna be pretty hard by 2010...the vicroads website when talking about tyre build year dating (for what it's worth...) advise that anything with the single year dating markings ( the 90's ) should be replaced for regular use...

Yes, know they're not on 105's, but, a good tyre is a good tyre...

Thanks for that - I'll put the BFGs on the list   

You're probably right about the rubber hardening - another reason to change them soon.

[Anthony Miller]

Falken ZE912 available 195/60/14 and a little more purposeful are the Dunlop DZ1 also avail in 195/60/14. Falkens from Bob Jane, Dunlops from Stuckey

[AikenDrum105]

Hi mate, 

have a chat to Vin Sharp re the wheels - he imports the GTA and TZ/ Super Ti reps from places mysterioux      I bought a set of the Super reps from him a couple months ago - really happy with them.

The old A509's were brilliant tyres, as were the A539s I ran on the GTV6 -  I think their replacement is the Yoko C-Drive  (there's a set on the 1750 gtv of a friend I'm driving at the moment) -  they've been excellent in the wet - deep central channels for dumping the water.  Not sure if they have the speed / temp rating you're after though...

But that's just a bit of spirited city commute - not campaigning down the back straight and throwing out the anchors at the last minute    

[tjb0274]

Falken ZE912 available 195/60/14 and a little more purposeful are the Dunlop DZ1 also avail in 195/60/14. Falkens from Bob Jane, Dunlops from Stuckey

Cool - looks like there are a few options then!

Thanks for the Stuckey reference, just checked their website and as well as the Dunlops it looks like they also carry the Compomotive GTA replica wheels. Anyone know whether the Compomotives are a good option?

[Davidm1600]

I run Pirelli 195x55 P6000s on my 1750GTV and they have been superb in the wet, they are on BWA 14' alloys.  I have since also fitted Pirelli P7s but 15" on my 156 and have a set of Pirelli P600s on my Fiat AC 124 Sport.  I have tried other tyre makes over the years but seem to end up always fitting Pirellis by choice.

Scott is right re Vin Sharp.  If you have no luck there, have a look at both Alfaholics (send an e-mail to Jim Spakman/Max Banks) or alternatively ClassicAlfa (Richard Norris).  Both of these companies are UK based, their websites are excellent, and both really helpful. 

[philpot]

Bob Jane website is good, just 'advanced option' size wanted (I looked up 195/60x14) and it lists tyres available, image, specs and a bit of a blurb. They dont put up Goodyear/Dunlop options but...

Just looked up Stuckeys' site, yes Anthony, Direzza Sport D1's do look awesome...what price point do they go for?...(they even come in 185/60x14. Hmmm...would look good on the 16v -  when I get it back from the Panel Beater!) H rated though...what rating does the Ricciardi need/what rating are you after tjb?

[Anthony Miller]

I was quoted $210 a tyre 195/60/14 but that was six months ago, who knows might even be cheaper now that we're buying more yankee dollars. Haven't heard how they wear but have heard they are quite stickey and they're not quite an 'R' spec so they don't bump you into "modified" class if sprinting is your thing. I really shoud buy a set

[tjb0274]

Scott is right re Vin Sharp.  If you have no luck there, have a look at both Alfaholics (send an e-mail to Jim Spakman/Max Banks) or alternatively ClassicAlfa (Richard Norris).  Both of these companies are UK based, their websites are excellent, and both really helpful.]Scott is right re Vin Sharp.  If you have no luck there, have a look at both Alfaholics (send an e-mail to Jim Spakman/Max Banks) or alternatively ClassicAlfa (Richard Norris).  Both of these companies are UK based, their websites are excellent, and both really helpful.

Thanks for that - already been on both sites    The 105 parts situation is amazing these days - genuine original parts are more expensive than they were in the 90s, but on the positive side there are so many parts being manufactured now, and so many improved parts available, like the Alfaholics LSD. Great stuff (although potentially dangerous to the hip pocket!).

I sent an email to Stuckey about the Compomotive GTA replicas today, and I'll give Vin Sharp a call and see what he's got. I need to check what offset I need, too - not sure what the offset on the widened steel rims is.

Just looked up Stuckeys' site, yes Anthony, Direzza Sport D1's do look awesome...what price point do they go for?...(they even come in 185/60x14. Hmmm...would look good on the 16v -  when I get it back from the Panel Beater!) H rated though...what rating does the Ricciardi need/what rating are you after tjb?]Just looked up Stuckeys' site, yes Anthony, Direzza Sport D1's do look awesome...what price point do they go for?...(they even come in 185/60x14. Hmmm...would look good on the 16v -  when I get it back from the Panel Beater!) H rated though...what rating does the Ricciardi need/what rating are you after tjb?

Rs are probably fine - it's a light car (about 760kg with driver) and mine's limited by the low ratio diff (4.55, I think) to 170kph anyway. Main use will be fast road with some sprint days thrown in.

Given that the 509s have hardly worn at all over so many years I think I could probably go softer without any wear problems. However, at the moment I'm after feel and progressive breakaway rather than ultimate grip. The limiting factor with the Ricciardi when I was driving it a lot was how suddenly it would let go when you reached the breakaway point. Part of that may be the suspension set up - I think the Konis may be wound down too tight - but I want to see if the tyres make a difference first, since I need some anyway and it's easier to change the tyres than pull the suspension apart to adjust the shocks.

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone - so far it looks like Falken, Pirelli P6000 or BFG for fast road, or the Dunlop for a semi-racing tyre. That's a better set of options than I expected!

[tjb0274]

Oops, missed one! According to the Bob Jane site (thanks philpot!) the c-drive also comes in 195x60x14.

[tjb0274]

Hmm. Spoke to Vin, and he pointed out that for a 14" wheel I want 195x65, not 195x60 as I thought. I had stupidly assumed that the current tyres matched the standard circumference, and they're actually a bit smaller (based on the original size for a 1750GTV of 165x80x14).

That narrows the field slightly - looks like the c.drive and the P6000 only come in 195x60.

[AikenDrum105]

I'm giving those Marangoni Verso tyres a go on the super - by which I mean,  when I finally get it moving under it's own power this weekend I'll be giving them a go (brand new)

Absolutely no feedback on their race performance - but reviews on the interwebs and such have placed them around the same as a c-drive or better.    They're also available in a huge range of sizes, including 195/65 R14.

I really wouldn't have thought of running them,  but they seem to be gaining popularity - and they aren't super expensive either.

Cheers,

[SimonR]

I have also heard very positive things about Marangoni tyres too. They provide many race tyres for "one make" race series in Europe as well as F3 or other open wheeler race series in Italy etc.

Marangoni also has a another subbrand called Stunner which is cheaper yet again and is where they rebadge superceded Marangoni models as Stunners. I have a set on my GTV and they are really good, its just that many people here in Australia still havent heard of them but they are well known in Europe.

[tjb0274]

Sounds interesting - who stocks them?

Edit: Answering my own question, Tyrecorp is the distributor, looks like a few independent tyre places stock them.