12 replies to this topic

[pattracy]

I just bought my first Mini.  It is a 1960, that has been in storage since 1975.  Along with the car, I got lots of extras. I got a set of 165 Goodyear Rally Special tires on Cosmic wheels, never mounted on a car.  The wheels and tires have been kept in the guys house, since they were new.  They have tubes in them, do they need tubes?  And can they be run on the road safely?

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Edited by pattracy, 24 May 2015 - 04:20 AM.

[b_sdaddy]

Firstly, welcome to the world of minis and wow, a lovely example!

 

Sorry to be so negative as it's your first step, but I would be almost certain these will be no longer useable. After so long, the rubber will be perished. They may look great, but on closer inspection, the rubber will just not have the structural

 

integrity required. From experience, having bought a second set of 10 x 3.5's with tyres, I had to bin the tyres as the tyre place said they would be dangerous to use, even though they looked great in the Ad. A cheap set suddenly became less

 

of a bargain.

 

Other experts will follow, so listen to them as well but old tyres, for what new tyres cost, they're just not worth the risk.

 

 

Welcome again!

[Swift_General]

The tyres should have a date code on the sidewall. About 6 years old is the limit. Look it up but unless they have been bought recently then as above I think that they won't be any good unfortunately.

[whistler]

The reason that those tyres have tubes fitted probably is because late 60's and 70's rally cars had to run tubes even if the tyres were 'tubeless'. I was told that it was to reduce the risk of tyres having the seal broken by stones or other debris on rough stage events. Having seen wheels at the end of a stage with chunks of wood jammed between tyre bead and wheel rim then I can fully understand the reasoning. Don't know if it still applies nowadays, perhaps Cooperman can assist with this.

I would guess that these Rally Specials are for 12 inch wheels as don't think they were made in 10 inch. Think mini men back then would use Hillman Imp wheels to go up to 12 inch wheels. That gave them option of wider wheels and the availability of wide tyres as well. There was only 1 size tyre for 10 inch wheels back then and that was 145/75/10. I used to use Dunlop SP44's and Pirelli Cinturatos with assymetrical tread. Both 145 size on 5J cosmics. A good stretch.

[Ivor Badger]

165/70x10 Rally specials were made in both road and ultragrip pattern. fitting tubes was quite normal and compulsory at one time for non tarmac eevents. This was in case the tyre got pulled of the rim when low pressures were used and the rim dug in and caused the car to roll. This restriction was lifted after the works Ford Escorts on the RAC had endless punctures caused by debris from previous use being transferred to the new tyre during changes when the tyres were replaced mid rally in service areas.

I know of the 6 year recommendation, but have used tyres considerably older than that. What they don't like is being anywhere near sunlight.

[wile e coyote]

165/70x10 Rally specials were made in both road and ultragrip pattern. fitting tubes was quite normal and compulsory at one time for non tarmac eevents. This was in case the tyre got pulled of the rim when low pressures were used and the rim dug in and caused the car to roll. This restriction was lifted after the works Ford Escorts on the RAC had endless punctures caused by debris from previous use being transferred to the new tyre during changes when the tyres were replaced mid rally in service areas.

I know of the 6 year recommendation, but have used tyres considerably older than that. What they don't like is being anywhere near sunlight.

I had the same dilemma a little while ago - with a set of unused never fitted 165/70/10's - circa 1997 these were stored perfectly dry in cool dark conditons - asked  on here  and also my local tyre place that I've used for years - on the assumption that if at all "iffy" they'd  quickly flog me a new set.......but he took a look and quickly fitted them for me  - my own risk admittedly - but advice was they should be OK if kept out of sunlight......

 

Having said all that - and with no qualification on the matter I'd be a bit hesitant using yours!!!

[pattracy]

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the advise.  These wheels are 10", so now my next question is , who makes 10" tires.  I know Yokohama makes some 265 70 10, but who else makes them?

[Ivor Badger]

Thanks for the welcome, and thanks for the advise.  These wheels are 10", so now my next question is , who makes 10" tires.  I know Yokohama makes some 265 70 10, but who else makes them?

265x70x10 = sounds like a golf buggy tyre. Check the speed rating, OH and the diameter

[pattracy]

sorry 165

[carbon]

Falken also do a 165x10 tyre

 

For wheel rims up to 4.5 width you can use 145x10 tyres. For normal road use I would recommend 4.5 rims with 145x10s, as they are much less prone to aquaplaning than the 165 width tyres.

[Blatherskite]

There's also MaxSport Hakka (145/70 10), Falken FK-07e, and Dunlop, Avon and Carmac (never heard of them before) make Classic tyres thst look like crossplies.

[Cooperman]

The old Goodyear rally Specials were superb 'back in the day'.

Modern compounds are probably much better with the Yokohama range being excellent and Falkens being good. Some complain about Falkens, but you need to compare them with the tyres Minis had in the 60's & 70's like the 145/80 x 10 Dunlop SP41 which was good in the wet, but could easily be worn out on a quickly driven 1275 'S' in under 2000 miles (been there, done that).

We are lucky that we can still get the correct sizes for our little classic cars and that we have a choice.

For best dry grip a 165 will be best, but for the true 'retro classic Mini' feel and for wet grip a 145 section is best and the 145 is best for optimum handling as well (not the same as road-holding).

[mk3 Cooper S]

I would be interestd in the original tyres if you are not using them