tires and wheels 2002 Stock Tires

[joysterm]

Can anyone tell me what were the factory tires for the 02's (late 71 early 72) , failing that were I might uncover the info.

 

...many thanks

[esty]

forum search or google

[Lengrep]

165HR-13

[joysterm]

probably should have expanded on the query. Have an '02 with Michelin XAS 165-13's,just wondering if they are factory originals. The car has only 50K and the entire set (spare incl.) have no visible signs of deteritation so just trying to determine if they have any value.  

[schoir]

Michelin XAS 165-13's were factory originals in 1971 if you selected the "radial tires" option.

 

IIRC, that option, which I did select for my '71, was an additional $16.00 (for all five tires, including the spare).

 

If you didn't choose that option, the car came with bias-ply tires but I don't recall what those were.

 

Regards, Maurice.

[Conserv]

probably should have expanded on the query. Have an '02 with Michelin XAS 165-13's,just wondering if they are factory originals. The car has only 50K and the entire set (spare incl.) have no visible signs of deteritation so just trying to determine if they have any value.

If you search the forums on "Michelin XAs," you will find LOTS of info, including the fact that XAs's have been continuously available, in the 165HR-13 size, from the 1965 through the present (now available from the Michelin Passion division through Coker Tire as the U.S. distributor or, among others, Longstone Tyre in the U.K.).

I've run XAs's exclusively (on my 2002's) since 1973. And I believe the mileage range is 15,000 to 35,000 miles, so it is unlikely that a set with 50,000 miles on it would be original. And if they're older than 10-15 years old, they're likely unsafe for driving (there are obviously collectors who don't drive their cars and/or who swap on unsafe old tires for concours judging purposes). But look for the DOT date (the last 3 or 4 digits at the end of the DOT "string"). It will tell you the week and the year the tires were manufactured. If there is no DOT string, the tires are much too old for safe driving!

If the tires are recent, and they have lots of tread left, they may have some value as the modern Michelin Passion versions, through Coker or Longstone, are $250-$350 each.

Steve

EDIT at 1-16-2014: I don't know why -- competition? -- but prices for Michelin XAs in the original 165HR13 size have gone down and are currently $233 each through Coker Tire. I even got free shipping!

Edited April 29, 2015 by Conserv

[schoir]

When I bought my '71 new with the XAS tires, I ran them for 78k miles before replacing them.  At that point, however, one of the front tires had started to literally shred apart. 

 

In retrospect, that was probably just as dangerous as driving around with tires that are more than 6-10 years old or so, no matter what the mileage.  Once the rubber gets hard it gets very slippery.

 

Regards, Maurice.

Edited October 4, 2013 by schoir

[joysterm]

Thanks Steve and Maurice for the information just what I was looking for......Mike

 

ps thanks FAQ

[John_in_VA]

They may have value for a static display car, but I would not drive on 40-year-old tires.

[Conserv]

Michelin XAS 165-13's were factory originals in 1971 if you selected the "radial tires" option.

IIRC, that option, which I did select for my '71, was an additional $16.00 (for all five tires, including the spare).

If you didn't choose that option, the car came with bias-ply tires but I don't recall what those were.

Regards, Maurice.

It's possible, Maurice, that few in the U.S. -- certainly including myself -- have ever seen the base bias-ply tire! It was a 6.00 S 13 as of the July '69 owners manual. Perhaps some of the early 1600-2's were thusly equipped. My '67 1600-2 (6-volt) had worn Continental SR radials on it when I purchased it at 54,000 miles. I assumed they were the second set of tires. If so, perhaps the original tires were typically short-lived bias plies!

And there were actually two levels of optionable radial tires: (1.) 165 SR 13; and (2.) 165 HR 13. The latter option, of course, with the higher "H" speed rating, was generally the Michelin XAs. The former option, the SR radial, was, I believe, often a Michelin ZX or Continental tire. The July '69 owners manual supplied with my old September '69 car shows both a Phoenix radial and a Michelin ZX radial in its illustrations. But since Hoffman Motors made the XAs HR radials a "mandatory" option on U.S.-delivered cars from fairly early in '02 history, I suspect that relatively few of the SR radials and even fewer of the bias-ply tires found their way here. (European delivery, of course, was a possibility that may have permitted more cars factory-equipped with SR radials or bias-ply tires to arrive on these shores.)

Surely there are some non-U.S. members of this forum who recall the brand(s) of the factory bias-ply tires (probably similar to the brands utilized on the NK cars).

Steve

Edited January 30, 2014 by Conserv

[schoir]

Steve:

 

Thanks for that information.  Some of it has awakened long-forgotten memories! 

 

Regards, Maurice.

[jimk]

Conserv is right on.  That's how I recollect it was when I bought my car. Michelin XAS was a mandatory opion.  I got about 45k out of the first set, bought a second set.  Then at about 60k bought some Phoenix Stalflex premounted on some alloy rims.  I think the offset was wrong on them because the 55mph vibration was never ending.  Sold those and bought some Goodyear American Eagles 195s on bottlecaps.  Good riding tire but had rubs.  Now have Yokohamas 185-65.

Recently replaced the strut mounts that had begun to sag which would have contributed to the rubs.  The spring caps will also rub steel on steel on the strut mount stud bottoms from the sagging strut mounts.

[Mike Self]

While very early 1600s may have come in with bias ply tires standard, I don't believe any 2002s were brought into the US with bias ply tires.  The "base" tire was an S-rated Continental, IIRC, and the H-rated Michelin XAS was a $59 option (still have my original window sticker).  However most of at least the '69s came with XASs. 

 

My 73 also came with XAS tires, but had been replaced by a set of Semprits by the time I bought the car at 46k miles in 1978.  Those tires failed, one by one from belt separation, so I replaced them with  more XASs; used them for many years until they were no longer the best option.  Those Michelins had excellent wet/snow traction--never needed snow tires at least here in SW OH, but they were hard to begin with--squealed from new on smooth concrete pavement.  That's why the lasted so long (60k + on both my cars).

 

cheers

mike

[Conserv]

I don't know if I should be embarrassed, or proud: I've put 200,000 '02 miles on XAs's and have never gotten more than 35,000 miles out of an XAs. Clearly, much greater mileage -- 60K+ and 78K+ -- is/was possible! For 40 years I've viewed myself as a sporty but gentle driver -- wrong again!

Regards,

Steve

[hwyix]

165HR-13

 

What is the aspect ratio? 205/50/16 ( looking for the middle number )