205/60R13 Tire Size for Ascona?

[ghcoe]

OK, so I have looked around some here, but cannot find the info I am interested it. If this Ascona deal goes through I will most likely have to get some new tires. On my Manta's I was running a P205/60R13 but I did have a contact issue on the rear metal lip on the rear fenders and a slight contact on the front fender at full lock. I corrected the rear with banging up the metal lip and putting a slight lift to the rear. I did autocross the manta and found Cooper Cobras to work pretty good. I will probably autocross the Ascona too but do not really want to deal with the contact areas the Manta had. My Manta was a 1974 and I read that in 1975 they changed to a wider rim to clear the larger brakes. I was curious if they changed the offset as well? If they did, does anyone know if they would accommodate the P205/60R13 or is there still going to be contact issue. My second choice would be some 185/70R13's. Also, is there a good aftermarket rim to fit the Opel with the right off set? I know there are some people in the know here and I am just learning again. Wish I had this kind of support 20 years ago. Thanks, George.

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by ghcoe OK, so I have looked around some here, but cannot find the info I am interested it. If this Ascona deal goes through I will most likely have to get some new tires. On my Manta's I was running a P205/60R13 but I did have a contact issue on the rear metal lip on the rear fenders and a slight contact on the front fender at full lock. I corrected the rear with banging up the metal lip and putting a slight lift to the rear. I did autocross the manta and found Cooper Cobras to work pretty good. I will probably autocross the Ascona too but do not really want to deal with the contact areas the Manta had. My Manta was a 1974 and I read that in 1975 they changed to a wider rim to clear the larger brakes. I was curious if they changed the offset as well? If they did, does anyone know if they would accommodate the P205/60R13 or is there still going to be contact issue. My second choice would be some 185/70R13's. Also, is there a good aftermarket rim to fit the Opel with the right off set? I know there are some people in the know here and I am just learning again. Wish I had this kind of support 20 years ago. Thanks, George.

Hopefully I can provide at least part of your answers. The '75 wheel is a 1/2" wider than the earlier wheels. The wheel doesn't stick out any further than the earlier models since the 1/2" was added to the inside. Obviously the 205 will fit the 5 1/2" wheel better than the 5" wheel.

HTH,
Harold

[Aardvaark]

Just put 205-60/13's on my '75 Manta with stock 5.5x13 wheels and they clear everythging just fine. Lock to lock on the steering. My car hasn't
been lowered though. Pics iare n my 'aardvaark' album of them on the car.

[Aardvaark]

Here are a couple of pics of inside full lock without the front engine
lower shield being trimmed on my '75 manta with the stock rims and 205-60/13
Sumitomo HRT200's. They should clear on the Ascona, not sure tho.

Also no issues in the rear. I can rum my fingers along the fender lips without
contacting the tires. So I'd say at least 3/4" clearance in the rear.

[ghcoe]

Thanks for the info. Maybe the half inch off set was enough to clear the rear. Looks like I would still worry about the front on your Manta. Looks about the same as I remember on mine. At one point in time it did manage to grab the lower shield and bent the sheet metal pretty good. I remember being quite upset about the deal. Seems I was reversing at full lock and the wheel cycled enough to grab the lower shield and bent the fender a good 6 inches up from the shield/fender attachment location.

How do you like those tires. I was looking at them myself, but we do get some snow in our area so I think they are out. I am looking at the General Altimax RT's or the Kumho Solus KR21's in the 185/70R13. I think if I do go with the 205/60R13's I will probably go back to the Cooper Cobras I use to run. Thanks George.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by ghcoe Thanks for the info. Maybe the half inch off set was enough to clear the rear. Looks like I would still worry about the front on your Manta. Looks about the same as I remember on mine. At one point in time it did manage to grab the lower shield and bent the sheet metal pretty good. I remember being quite upset about the deal. Seems I was reversing at full lock and the wheel cycled enough to grab the lower shield and bent the fender a good 6 inches up from the shield/fender attachment location. How do you like those tires. I was looking at them myself, but we do get some snow in our area so I think they are out. I am looking at the General Altimax RT's or the Kumho Solus KR21's in the 185/70R13. I think if I do go with the 205/60R13's I will probably go back to the Cooper Cobras I use to run. Thanks George.

It was snowing pretty good last fall when I drove home from getting them mounted from a Tirerack approved installer, and for not being all season tires, they actually didn't do too bad in about 1.5" of snow. I haven't driven on them much due to winter since then, but they feel pretty good. I plan to run a solo or three this summer in our local vintage class.

[Bill Hoffmann]

Originally Posted by ghcoe On my Manta's I was running a P205/60R13 but I did have a contact issue on the rear metal lip on the rear fenders and a slight contact on the front fender at full lock. I corrected the rear with banging up the metal lip and putting a slight lift to the rear.

I am guessing you were not using the stock rims, or possibly they were GT rims which have less offset. I say this because I have used P205/60R13 on several Mantas with no rubbing in the rear. However, I put that size on 13 x 5.5, ET25 rims and found that in reverse, turning the wheel, such as backing out of a parking space, the front outer edge catches the inner fenter in the front. It never happened with the stock ET37 rims of the same size.

Bill

[ghcoe]

Originally Posted by Bill Hoffmann I am guessing you were not using the stock rims, or possibly they were GT rims which have less offset. I say this because I have used P205/60R13 on several Mantas with no rubbing in the rear. However, I put that size on 13 x 5.5, ET25 rims and found that in reverse, turning the wheel, such as backing out of a parking space, the front outer edge catches the inner fenter in the front. It never happened with the stock ET37 rims of the same size. Bill

You know, I think you are right. I believe I was using a aftermarket rim of somesort. Maybe that was my downfall. I am feeling better about this now.

[BQS4]

I have run 205/60's on most my Mantas and Asconas, an like most have said, when you back up in a turn, it'll catch the front edge of the wheel well lip and the splash pan. But a little trimming clears this all up andyou can't see where the triming was done, unless you lay down in front of the car

[OpelJim]

Originally Posted by ghcoe You know, I think you are right. I believe I was using a aftermarket rim of somesort. Maybe that was my downfall. I am feeling better about this now.

205 is a bit to wide and there are the rubbing issues but with
the 185 60r 13's that is not an issue and they handle great too
Might even cost less too

[hrcollinsjr]

Originally Posted by OpelJim 205 is a bit to wide and there are the rubbing issues but with the 185 60r 13's that is not an issue and they handle great too Might even cost less too

I guess that is one way to lower it. What is the diameter of this tire?

Harold

[stock77]

The 185/60/13 is a 21.7" diameter tire according to the miata.net calculator. The 205/60 is a 22.7" tire which I believe is the stock diameter. It seems like some people go with the 23" diameter as well.

Theo

[Aardvaark]

FYI:
Its easy to calculate any tire dia. In the case of 185-60x13:

(185mm) times (.6 aspect ratio )times (2 sidewalls) divided by (25.4 for mm to inches) plus (13 for rim dia.) = tire dia.

185 x .6 = 111
111 + 111 = 222
222/25.4 = 8.74
8.74 + 13 = 21.74"

[ghcoe]

I did a search, but could not find any info for my question. Thought I would post here so as not to clutter up things. I was given a set of aftermarket rims that came off of a Opel GT and I know that the offset is different. I was wondering if you stay near the original sized (165/80R13) if there would be a issue or not. I was thinking of going with a 175/70R13 which I believe would be a slightly smaller diameter than stock. Anyone try this? Thanks, George.

[ghcoe]

Well I measured the back space and found that the rims that were given to me are exactly 1 inch shallower. I see that some are using a 1" spacer on this thread so I figure I should be ok.
http://www.opelgt.com/forums/3d-whee...l-spacers.html
George.