Michelins for 14" bottle caps and basket weaves

[Bimmerfan84]

So I found out something exciting today!!!! Michelin has started mass producing 185/65/14 again in their Defender line! 80k mile warranty! H speed rated (130mph for those that don't know) and they list for just under $100 each! Awesome tires for those that want to keep it original!


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[superj]

cool

[Stück]

185/65R14 is too small, 195/65R14 is original.... and a tire that lasts 80k mi is going to be awful.

[Bimmerfan84]

While not exact (1cm tread width difference), it's a tire that fits, easily available, and it's a Michelin, they don't sacrifice comfort for tread life. (So that 80k mile warranty argument you mentioned is null and void) Guaranteed it will be the smoothest running tire you've ever had. I assume you've never run a Michelin on your car? Otherwise, you would know the difference. Also, I would
like you to find a 195/65/14 easily available in a decent brand that is not outrageously expensive.


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[bymep]

While we are on the subject, I need to get tires for my 318is. Looking around I am only finding one decent tire in 195/65/14/ Uniroyal Tiger Paw. The rest are no name brands that I've never heard of. Is there a brand name company that still makes decent tire in this size? I checked 205/60/14 as well and same thing. Nothing. The only similar size that's still available is 195/60/14 but I am afraid it won't have enough sidewall and look goofy.

[DRVN2WN]

While not exact (1cm tread width difference), it's a tire that fits, easily available, and it's a Michelin, they don't sacrifice comfort for tread life. (So that 80k mile warranty argument you mentioned is null and void) Guaranteed it will be the smoothest running tire you've ever had. I assume you've never run a Michelin on your car? Otherwise, you would know the difference. Also, I would
like you to find a 195/65/14 easily available in a decent brand that is not outrageously expensive.

LOL. Having run many different brands of tires, the particular tire specs say a lot more than the brand. I've had some Michelins that were great, others that were meh. Same for other brands.

As far as the correct size of 195/65R14, not much to choose from. In the 185/65R14, there's several good options. The new Michelin is one of them, as is the General Altimax RT43, Pirelli P4, I'm sure there's others as well.

For those looking for ultimate stick, you'll have to deviate a bit from those, but you can get a Falken Azenis RT615K in a 195/60R14, which is just about the same rolling diameter as the 185/65R14.

[nick325xit 5spd]

While not exact (1cm tread width difference), it's a tire that fits, easily available, and it's a Michelin, they don't sacrifice comfort for tread life. (So that 80k mile warranty argument you mentioned is null and void) Guaranteed it will be the smoothest running tire you've ever had. I assume you've never run a Michelin on your car? Otherwise, you would know the difference. Also, I would
like you to find a 195/65/14 easily available in a decent brand that is not outrageously expensive.


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I own at least 12 Michelin tires currently. I also own Continental (including a set of Generals), Hankook, and others. Michelins are good tires and are *sometimes* the best available, but Defenders are generally the line they value engineer to a price point. And it shows.

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While we are on the subject, I need to get tires for my 318is. Looking around I am only finding one decent tire in 195/65/14/ Uniroyal Tiger Paw. The rest are no name brands that I've never heard of. Is there a brand name company that still makes decent tire in this size? I checked 205/60/14 as well and same thing. Nothing. The only similar size that's still available is 195/60/14 but I am afraid it won't have enough sidewall and look goofy.

Look at 185/70. There are still decent choices there, including the Generals (which are Continentals), Michelins (yeah, the Defenders are mediocre, but mediocre is the best you can get), and a couple others. And you'll be at roughly the correct sidewall height.

[aaverhulst]

How about running 195/70/14. There are still lots of choices in this size. I think I might try this size as it seems a lot of 325i's speedometers read too fast. Will this size fit? Will it make the speedometer more accurate?

[andyleonard]

Not exactly an answer to your problem but FYI, Walmart has a Solar (Sumitomo) in 195-60R-14 for $43. I just put some on 6x14 bottlecaps for a 2002 with low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised by appearance and ride quality.

[bymep]

Not exactly an answer to your problem but FYI, Walmart has a Solar (Sumitomo) in 195-60R-14 for $43. I just put some on 6x14 bottlecaps for a 2002 with low expectations and was very pleasantly surprised by appearance and ride quality.

US inventory might be different from Canadian but I stopped at Walmart last night and they have no tires in that size at all. Not even China branded ones.

[Stück]

While not exact (1cm tread width difference), it's a tire that fits, easily available, and it's a Michelin, they don't sacrifice comfort for tread life.

Comfort isn't real high at the top of my list. I look at performance, and cost. Comfort is a byproduct.

That 80k mile warranty argument you mentioned is null and void) Guaranteed it will be the smoothest running tire you've ever had.

Uh.. yeah well a tire warrantied for 80k is going to be hard as a rock, and perform piss poor when it comes to handling. If performance in your eyes is how long you can drive them down a straight road thats cool. I drive my cars, and expect them to perform as such.

I assume you've never run a Michelin on your car? Otherwise, you would know the difference.

I've probably burned through two dozen sets of Michelins in my life. I have a $1800 set of Michelin P4S on my daily F10, but yeah, TF do I know.

Also, I would like you to find a 195/65/14 easily available in a decent brand that is not outrageously expensive.

Yeah, I'm well aware tire selection in 195/65R14 sucks. The tire you're so excited about also sucks, and is the wrong size. I recommend doing what many E30 owners do and stepping up to 15's or 16's which have some better selection and some actual performance tire compound options.

[pjizzlejazzle]

I just bought my first BMW, a 1992 318i convertible. I would like to return it as close as possible to stock look. What is the best way for me to get 4-14" rims - either bottle caps or basket weaves - so then I can get some 195/65/14 tires? Right now the car has aftermarket 15" rims.

[firstRWD]

While not exact (1cm tread width difference), it's a tire that fits, easily available, and it's a Michelin, they don't sacrifice comfort for tread life. (So that 80k mile warranty argument you mentioned is null and void) Guaranteed it will be the smoothest running tire you've ever had.

It's a sporty little car, not a Cadillac. Stuck is right. That's gonna be a hard tire with poor handling and grip.

For those looking for ultimate stick, you'll have to deviate a bit from those, but you can get a Falken Azenis RT615K in a 195/60R14, which is just about the same rolling diameter as the 185/65R14.

I love my Azenis, but they do seem to be wearing very quickly. I'm thinking I'll end up getting ~20,000mi out of them. I need to find something sporty and kinda grippy, but I guess not quite that soft of a compound. $100 for every 5,000mi is a little more than I want to spend on a set of tires. Is there anything in the middle?

[DRVN2WN]

In the tire sizes in here, the General Altimax RT43 is probably the best option. That's a high performance all-season though, so it will be a far cry from the stickiness you're used to if coming from the Azenis. If you want a better selection, you'll want to move to a 15" wheel.

[ross1]

In the tire sizes in here, the General Altimax RT43 is probably the best option. That's a high performance all-season though, so it will be a far cry from the stickiness you're used to if coming from the Azenis. If you want a better selection, you'll want to move to a 15" wheel.

Pickins' are thin in 15" too, friggin minivan tires or some el cheezo brands.

[Stück]

205/55R15 Dunlop DZ102 is a solid high performer, and is the correct size for the E30. It's no Michelin PSS or P4S, but its about as good as you'll get in a 15 street tire.

[95BMWIC]

205/55R15 Dunlop DZ102 is a solid high performer, and is the correct size for the E30. It's no Michelin PSS or P4S, but its about as good as you'll get in a 15 street tire.

Agree.

I love my Dunlop Direzza tires - I put them on a set of 15" Beyerns (no flaming please) and are sticky and comfortable - they are for summer only however.

Also run them on my 81 Porsche 911...

[Kershaw]

205/55R15 Dunlop DZ102 is a solid high performer, and is the correct size for the E30. It's no Michelin PSS or P4S, but its about as good as you'll get in a 15 street tire.

Did you forget about the Dunlop Star Spec IIs or are you going to say that's not a street tire? They are available in 205/50/15 and definitely a better tire. I've gone through 2 sets and I'm really happy with them.

15" wheels were available from the factory, so if anyone is looking to keep it oem, consider the switch to 15" weaves. You can get ix weaves and 15mm spacers or euroweaves. The car will sit nicer too.