Lotus Europa Community
Lotus Europa Forums => Garage => Topic started by: RoddyMac on Thursday,April 27, 2023, 09:11:42 AM
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I've run into an issue after buying the Group 5 Cortina wheels from Retroford, I can't seem to find suitable tires. I know I can run the current tires I have (185/60R13) on them, but with a 6.5" rear wheel the 185 is at it's maximum rim width. My ideal set up would be 185/60's on the front and 205/60s on the rear. Those sizes are available off the shelf in the UK and Europe, but it seems that no one in North America stocks those sizes unless I go for an R888R tire. I've approached Demon Tweeks about shipping some Yoko A008's over, but they wont ship tires to Canada or the US. Does anyone know of a supplier of decent 13" tires over here?
I really wish the Federal 595's were still available, the Legends cars used to use the 205/60R13 in that series.
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I've bought from Longstone. They shipped by mail. Didn't take too long and the price was reasonable. They don't stock Yoko's though.
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Roddy,
185mm is 7.28” I would think they would be fine on 6.5” wheels?
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John,
I sent Longstone an inquiry, but have yet to hear back. Looking at their website, it doesn't appear that they would have a matched set in the sizes I'm after. But, fingers crossed they can come up with something.
Turbo,
Yes a 185 will fit the 6.5" rim, but that's the narrowest that's typically used. I really should have done my research before ordering the wider rim.
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Tires are problematic even in 15” sizes as I have found…wider sizes for bigger/heavier cars have far better choices.
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Out of idle curiosity I tried to look up light three piece rims in 15" for my El Camino.
The smallest diameter I could find started at 17".
This shows where tire availability is going.
Curiously 13" and even 12" for LBC's seem to remain available.
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Thought I should update this thread, Longstone came through with some Avon's in the sizes I wanted. Not cheap, but at least they're what I was after. Only downside is they're a 160 treadwear, if you can call that a downside :D
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Do tires wear on a Europa?
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I had some Yokohama A008's that wore down in 5K miles. That was before I replaced the tweaked frame and was able to get a proper wheel alignment.
Great tires, though. I wish they were still available in the USA.