Tyre choice

[Nick Longman]

I've just had my Cromodora rims refurbished for my Fulvia S2.  Welding was done by Ian Jemison (www.ianjemison.co.uk) and crack testing and powder coating by Steve Turner (www.tpcs-magnesium-refurbs.co.uk).  Work has been of a high quality and service excellent - so would recommend these guys.

I now come to the question of tyres.  It looks like all the recommendations are to stick with the 165-80 R14 size.  But choice seems to be pretty much limited to Michelin XAS or Vredestein Classic from Longstone.  Are there any other options I should think about?  Do all tyres for these rims need to have tubes fitted or are there any tubeless options?

[roddy]

Hello Nick

Your wheels look very nice.   Earlier this year I fitted 165/80x14 Vredestein Classic Sprint tyres in H rating to my Sport 1600, and have been very pleased with them - slightly harsh, but quiet and good grip and feel.   However they are on Flavia 5.5" rims, and I just wonder if fitting them onto a 6" rim might be stretching them a bit far?  (Have others any experience of this configuration?)   I would definitely recommend that you do stick with a 80 aspect tyre as the sidewall compliance is an integral part of the suspension springing and damping rates.   Although there might be clearance problems, and the gearing would be raised about .5 mph / 1000 top, you could consider a 175/80x14.   That section will sit nicely on the 6" rim, like the 1600HF.

The wheels have no safety rim built into the bead, and therefore in the event of a puncture, the tyre can slip into the well-base and come off the rim.   That is the theory, anyway!   I have never had any problems using a tubeless tyre (as the Vredestein is, although the ZAS is not) on Cromodora wheels, and seldom does a fitter even raise an eyebrow.

You could also have a look at Mytyres website, who supplied the tyres only to me at a very competitive price and carriage costs.  Fitting/balancing is about £10 per wheel.   Use a fitter who supplies new alloy wheels - they tend to take better care fitting as they do not want to damage a new wheel for a potential customer.

Regards - Roddy

[rogerelias]

No tubes in mine

[ColinMarr]

My experience in using tubes in 'tubeless' tyres was not good. I tried this because I understood the Cromodoras were not designed for tubeless, but I has several unexplained flats before I took the tubes out and since then all has been fine.

Colin

 

[Nick Longman]

Thanks for your very quick responses!  The advice to move up to a 175 width is very helpful - and this opens up loads of additional options.  I'll try tubeless.  Bizarrely when I went into Kwikfit to get the old tyres removed they started to do the job but as soon as they found that tubes were fitted they stopped work and handed me back the wheels saying that they were not insured to do any work on wheels with tubes fitted.  I thought they were joking.  I took them across the road to a Halfords centre who were not at all bothered and took the old tyres off without a question.

[Richard Fridd]

175/80s are good.i like to laugh at the never ending situations where for example tyre fitters cant remove an innertube/carpet fitters cant remove carpets/decorators cant move a chair/banks cant provide exchange rate till next monday.sometimes i think i am dreaming

[thecolonel]

I'd suggest spraying the inside of the rim with a sealer, these types of wheels can be porous and you
really don't want to be taking the tyres off again once you have a good rim seal. I always used tubes
in the Fulvia steel wheels but, I agree that it's not the best idea with the alloy ones.

[nistri]

Toyo (from Japan) makes very good 165/80/14 tyres (inner tubes are recommended) at an affordable price. Changing tyre size will affect the speedo reading and make steering heavier. Andrea

[DavidLaver]

An H&S tale last week was from Chris Ryan saying how it had be necessary to wait for signoff for the ladder to be able to climb up and shoot out the trench.

David

[lancialulu]

Michelin do a 175 14 80 energy tyre that I am very happy with and has benefit of compliant side wall and Michelin grip and life.

Tim

[peterbaker]

I've just fitted narrow Toyo winter 155's to the HF ready for the Winter Challenge. Must say the steering effort at low speed is transformed.

[lancialulu]

I've always found new tyres lighter at low speeds for first few hundred miles. Are these on 6Js?

Tim

[peterbaker]

Sorry that should be 165's. I also have tubes and will monitor air loss (not hair loss!) over next couple of weeks.

[phil-m]

I had Pirelli P4's on my Sport with the same wheels, no tubes no problems. The P4 is a proper profile as well.

[Dilambdaman]

My Fanalone is on the original fitment 6 x 13 Cromodoras. Some time ago now I sourced a set of 175 SR 13 Goodyear Grands Prix S tubeles tyres which have a nice period look to them and perform well.

Robin.