What size tyres?

[droptop]

I would like to put 15" wheels under the spider, but am unsure of what size tyres to fit. I love wide tyres, but as I don't have power steering and have a smaller steering wheel fitted, I need to be sensible about it.
What was the original tyre size on a 1978 spider 2000? And while we're on the subject, or close to it anyway, my car seems to have a lot of clearence between the top of the tyre and the bottom of the arch in the front, but the car sits level and the back looks normal.
Current tyre size is 185/60/14 on OE spider alloys
I can't post a picture to illustrate what I mean as my camera won't go down to a low enough resolution to alow me to upload any photos.

[HFStuart]

175/70 14 was standard with 185/65 14 offered in some markets.

A 185/60 15 is about right and about as wide as you should go unless you want arms like hercules and possible clearance issues.

My spider used to sit high at the front  - I found it had had saloon springs fitted. Sadly the only way to find out for sure is to take the struts off, strip them and measure the free length of the springs.

BTW - Plenty of free image editing software about - bownload some and resize your images !

[droptop]

That was the tyre size I was hoping for and as regards the springs, it can stay high until winter.
As always, my thanks for the help.

[Spyder79]

I have just been given a set of 185 60 R14 tyres to go on to standard Lancia Beta wheels for a Spyder.

Is this the correct size or will it effect the speedo reading? if so which way?

Would they be acceptable?

My current wheels are retro fitted alloys and are 15" , hence the reason I would like to change.

Many thanks

[75coupe]

I had 185/60 x 14 tyres on my coupe on std Lancia rims. The overall diameter of the tyres is less than the 175/70 x 14 originals, so your speedo will read slightly faster than you are actually going, but not massively so. I have used 185/60 x 14, 195/60 x 14 (closer to std diameter), 195/55 x 15 (very close to std diameter and same as 185/65 x14 as used on VX) and now 205/50 x 15!

I didn't find the steering excessively heavy with any of these, or maybe I have Popeye arms!! (The car does not have power steering) I used to drive a MK2 RS2000 escort with quick rack etc and was much heavier to steer!

At 70mph your speedo will read 67.4 mph

Here are some tyre size comparisons:

  size          diameter   circumference  Difference
195/60 R14  590 mm    1854 mm        -1.83 %
205/60 R14  602 mm    1891 mm         0.17 %
185/65 R14  596 mm    1872 mm        -0.75 %
195/65 R14  609 mm    1913 mm         1.42 %
175/70 R14  601 mm    1888 mm         0 %
185/70 R14  615 mm    1932 mm         2.33 %
205/50 R15  586 mm    1841 mm        -2.43 %
195/55 R15  596 mm    1872 mm        -0.85 %
205/55 R15  607 mm    1907 mm         0.98 %
175/60 R15  591 mm    1857 mm        -1.6 %
185/60 R15  603 mm    1894 mm         0.4 %
195/60 R15  615 mm    1932 mm         2.4 %

There are several tyre calculators on the net, here is one: http://www.alloywheels.com/tyrecalc.asp

Regards Ian