<VV> Tires

[Bruce Schug]

On Oct 1, 2008, at 8:34 AM, Robert Henry wrote:

>
> My Corsa is badly in need of tires. I've called numerous tires  
> stores and
> they don't have anything that will fit. Most of the tire  
> manufacturer web
> sites don't even list 13 inch tires.
>
> So Clark's is now offering new P185/R80-13 radial tires (C12601).  
> They say
> they can't guarantee which brand, but the picture on their web site  
> shows
> "Hankook" name on the sidewall. Can an American Corvair be happy  
> with Korean
> tires? Well, happier than with 20 year-old, irregularly worn P205/ 
> R70-13s
> that aren't made anymore.
>
> Comments? Even better would be comments from someone who has bought  
> tires
> recently. I realize it's another option, but I'm hoping to avoid  
> changing
> the wheels for now.
>

Robert,

If you want good stock-type tires, the 185/80-13's are probably your  
best bet for all-around street driving. It would be good to buy them  
from Clark's since they support the hobby. I think Larry Claypool also  
has them at the Vair Shop. They are very close in diameter to original  
6.50-13's that would have come on your Corsa, if it is a '65. If you  
have a '66, it would have come with larger 7.00-13's. Unfortunately,  
there isn't really a replacement as large as the 7.00-13 available, so  
even there, the 185/80-13 is your best bet.

If you were interested in some really original-type tires, 6.50-13's  
have been reproduced as bias ply tires. These are available from Coker  
Tire and other vintage vendors.

Work is being done to get the original 7.00-13's reproduced as a bias  
ply tire but as of now, they aren't generally available. I say  
"generally" because if you Google "7.00-13" you'll find several  
companies in the Far East listing them. But you're really on your own  
if you decide to deal with them. They list them, but I don't know if  
they really have them. They probably want you to buy a thousand of  
them or something.

Personally, I wouldn't be happy with Korean tires, but they're better  
than no tires.




Bruce

Bruce W. Schug
Treasurer & Membership Chairman
CORSA South Carolina
Greenville, SC
Stock Corvair Group
Performance Corvair Group
bwschug at charter.net

CORSA member since 1980

'67 Monza. "67AC140"