Change font size
It is currently Mon Mar 18, 2024 10:59 pm


Post a new topicPost a reply Page 1 of 2   [ 17 posts ]
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
 Post subject: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 5:21 pm 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:46 pm
Posts: 73
This spring, I'm going to be doing an ambitious 5000-mile road trip in my 122S. It will be probably 20-30% gravel and the rest will mostly be secondary highways and other paved back roads (I'll make another post about it later). There will also be a few nasty sections of dirt/sand roads.

I'm really struggling to figure out what tires to put on the car. I know the stock tire size is 165/80R15, but there is pretty much nothing in Canada in that size that I can find. I was hoping to stick with the stock 4J wheels. I've read about a few people putting on 185/65s and I've read others saying that isn't a good idea as they are too wide and will negatively effect handling.

Should I give up on the stock wheels and find something that will open up better tire options? I really don't want to run spacers and don't have a massive budget as I'm replacing/upgrading the engine, suspension and brakes in the next few months to get ready for the trip. Does anyone have experience running 185/65s? Or does anyone know where I can find 165/80s?

Thanks!

_________________
1967 Volvo 122S
1969 Lotus Elan +2
2000 Subaru Impreza


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 6:12 pm 
Haha, I just built a W24 Octo-Turbo, now what?!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 14, 2006 4:19 pm
Posts: 3131
Location: Lethbridge, AB
I'm assuming that you've looked at Coker Tire? They have the expensive options. The 122's bolt pattern is common and I would advise getting something wider and more common. I had a set of wheels widened to 6" but it sounds like that's out of your budget. I'm going to suggest a trip to the JY with a tape to see what will fit for stock steel wheels. I think Crown Vic wheels are close, but haven't measured the off set (check tire craft/discount tire) to see what the off set is for these vehicles. Lots of imports also run 5 X 4.5" (Toyota/Mazda etc).

_________________
Coburn Performance - OCD comes naturally.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 9:42 pm 
First volvo in outer space
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:46 pm
Posts: 1648
Location: East L.A.
No experience to offer, but i find it hard to believe a 185/65 would be an issue. I'm running wider Panasports (6") so have 195/60 in the front and 205/60 in the rear, (not my setup, it's how I bought the car) my spare is a 122 steelie with a 185/65 mounted on it, doesn't look stretched or weird to me. If the Minister of Finance is in a good mood this spring I'll go to 205/55 all around. Personally I think buying the 165 would be because you want the period correct look, for the trip you listed I would go for the wider more modern tire for stability and braking.

If you look at Tireracks tire size conversion chart they show a 185/70 or 195/65 as the modern equivalent, although 185/70 is a useless size hence the trend to the more common 185/65. Have to admit though that an online tire size calculator does call for a minimum 5" rim width for the 185/65. http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/ ... chart.html

Here's a link to a thread on SS with lots of links and other info that might help? http://forums.swedespeed.com/showthread ... ion-thread!

Good luck on your road trip, looking forward to your trip posts!

_________________
Jim

66 122S (Garage Queen)
89 244 (Hers)
90 745Ti (Mine)
89 744 (SOLD/Bought back for other daughter)
78 242GT (Project... LOL)
91 244 (Don't Ask!!)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2015 10:28 pm 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Thu Mar 31, 2011 9:15 pm
Posts: 67
Location: Lethbridge
Fountain tire got me 165/80's. There is an enthusiast at the local shop though and I think he may have searched for me. It's years ago but I believe they told me the bolts are 4.5 x I can't remember... Matches some Chevy.
Hey every time you tell them you have a 4" rim they go a little white don't they!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:31 am 
Haha, I just built a W24 Octo-Turbo, now what?!

Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:03 pm
Posts: 2859
Location: T2C
If you have a shop to put them on, I can get you Kumho 758s in 165/80/15 for $80. I can also get Federal SS 657 Touring and Jetzon Classic in that size for about the same price.

_________________
Dale

'67 123GT
'67 122s
'99 AMG E55T


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:30 am 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:46 pm
Posts: 73
As for junkyard wheels or finding stock wheels from other cars, the problem seems to be offset. The stock wheels are 4j and ET25, so you'd need a low positive offset wheel if going wider.

Found this on Volvo Forums UK:
Quote:
Personally, for a 15x5.5J, I'd expect an offset of ET15, for 15x6J, I'd want an offset of ET6, or with a 7J wheel, an offset of ET0, all in order to maintain the correct backspacing & thus maintain the turning circle and at the same time, keeping the offset as close as possible to standard as is practical for those widths. From my own experience, whilst 15x7J with an offset of ET-20 looks fantastic, the steering will be very jittery on anything except a smooth road surface, and wheel bearings won't last long...


So all FWD cars with the same PCD are definitely out, as are most wheels from anything modern and RWD. Not a lot of selection out there, but I'll keep looking.

Woodenshoes - Thanks for all of that info. I would like to be period correct in the type of wheel I have - I'm going for the rally look.. I've picked up some Cibies... Putting a wheel that is more suited for a newer Japanese car or an American muscle car isn't all that appealing to me. But being period correct in the size of tire I use isn't important to me, as long as it is safe and performs well. I see in the SS thread you posted, someone recommended Ranger wheels. I found a couple that look decent but all are 14".

Pylon - Let me look into those tires and get back to you. Sounds like a decent deal!

_________________
1967 Volvo 122S
1969 Lotus Elan +2
2000 Subaru Impreza


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:44 am 
Haha, I just built a W24 Octo-Turbo, now what?!

Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:03 pm
Posts: 2859
Location: T2C
Matt just reminded me I have a full set of brand new tires in my possession as well. Two of them are mounted to 122 wheels. The other two are not mounted. They came with a car I bought a while ago. I would certainly sell those as I don't plan on using them. $250 and they're yours...

_________________
Dale

'67 123GT
'67 122s
'99 AMG E55T


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 9:50 am 
First volvo in outer space
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:46 pm
Posts: 1648
Location: East L.A.
Your welcome, I don't need to do this myself but I'm interested to know what the options are. I found another interesting link with a comment from George Dill who also commented in the thread on SS that I linked to earlier. George has been active for years with VCOA in the vintage era cars and is a wealth of information. I thought his comment in post #549 in this thread made sense on the issue of mounting a 185/65 tire on the stock 4J wheel. I have to admit that pics of your car with the period correct look with some Cibie's mounted out on a remote road will be pretty cool.

http://www.vcoa.org/forum/10-Amazon-P12 ... rd-to-find

_________________
Jim

66 122S (Garage Queen)
89 244 (Hers)
90 745Ti (Mine)
89 744 (SOLD/Bought back for other daughter)
78 242GT (Project... LOL)
91 244 (Don't Ask!!)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:22 am 
Haha, I just built a W24 Octo-Turbo, now what?!
User avatar

Joined: Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:40 pm
Posts: 3492
Location: Calgary, Ab
If you don't figure out the stock setup, I've always liked the old Mopar cop wheels. Wheel Vintiques makes repops but you can get them from some guys for around $100/ea. I have a bag of cop center caps but have no more wheels. The most common ones are a 15x7 with a 4" backspace, basically zero offset. They're not particularly light, but they can be dressed up just fine.

http://www.wheelvintiques.com/index.php ... eries.html


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 3:56 pm 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:46 pm
Posts: 73
Dale - Very interesting. What tires are they?

Jim - I actually came across that George Dill post last night so that gives me confidence in going bigger. One concern I had with the 165/80s is finding another one in that size if I have a problem somewhere along the way.

Ugly Duck - Those Chrysler police wheels actually look pretty good. Definitely an option!

_________________
1967 Volvo 122S
1969 Lotus Elan +2
2000 Subaru Impreza


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 7:40 pm 
First volvo in outer space
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:46 pm
Posts: 1648
Location: East L.A.
I see you added a signature line with your cars... :shock:

I have a 122S as well so don't take this the wrong way but... forget the skinny tire talk lets talk about the Lotus!!!!! =P~ =P~ =P~

Have to add as per Turbobricks type nonsense; pics or ban. :lol:

_________________
Jim

66 122S (Garage Queen)
89 244 (Hers)
90 745Ti (Mine)
89 744 (SOLD/Bought back for other daughter)
78 242GT (Project... LOL)
91 244 (Don't Ask!!)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Wed Feb 11, 2015 10:21 pm 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:46 pm
Posts: 73
Haha, here are some photos and posts on where my Lotus:

http://www.myautoproject.com/category/l ... us-elan-2/

Currently, it literally couldn't be more disassembled. It's completely torn apart. The body is off the chassis, the suspension is stripped off the chassis. The only thing still intact is the motor. I won't get to that for a while yet.

This is what it'll look like when finally completed. Same colour and wheels:
Image

So in the meantime, I needed to have a vintage car to actually be able to drive... enter the Volvo!

_________________
1967 Volvo 122S
1969 Lotus Elan +2
2000 Subaru Impreza


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:04 am 
First volvo in outer space
User avatar

Joined: Fri Dec 14, 2007 1:46 pm
Posts: 1648
Location: East L.A.
Wow, big project, only read a bit of your resto blog so far. Such a pretty car, thanks for sharing.

_________________
Jim

66 122S (Garage Queen)
89 244 (Hers)
90 745Ti (Mine)
89 744 (SOLD/Bought back for other daughter)
78 242GT (Project... LOL)
91 244 (Don't Ask!!)


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 8:26 pm 
Bone stock

Joined: Tue Aug 06, 2013 1:07 pm
Posts: 6
Location: Austin, Texas
A few years ago i went to a firestone dealer and they still stocked 165R15's the original size for these cars. I think they are common to old VW bugs. You might try them if you have one nearby. They are not nearly as good looking at the michelin xzx tires i had back when my 122 was relatively new...but they were only about $65 a tire mounted and balanced.

Dean


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject: Re: 122S tire options
PostPosted: Thu Feb 12, 2015 9:54 pm 
Cams + Headers

Joined: Tue Jan 27, 2015 9:46 pm
Posts: 73
It's a massive project. A bit daunting at times! And pretty hard on the pocketbook too.

Thanks Dean, I know a few VW guys, so I'll have to ask them where their tires locally.

_________________
1967 Volvo 122S
1969 Lotus Elan +2
2000 Subaru Impreza


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post a new topicPost a reply Page 1 of 2   [ 17 posts ]
Go to page 1, 2  Next


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
cron


Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group
610nm Style by Daniel St. Jules of Gamexe.net