After finally getting my '85 GT tagged and on the road, the next step is a new set of tires. I've talked to two local shops who both quoted me north of $700 for a set, telling me that 215/60/14 is a rare size anymore. Ouch.
My question is, do you all recommend any online tire sources? I've heard that purchasing tires online is cheaper even with shipping, than what a shop charges for their tires.
I know you have an '85 GT and thus you have the 14" hi-tech wheels. However, have you considered upgrading to the '86-'88 GT 15" diamond spoke wheels? The reason I ask is that the tires are a lot cheaper in the OEM sizes for the 15" diamond spoke GT wheels. I got Firestone all-seasons last year in the OEM 15" GT sizes for $70 a tire.
Taking that into consideration, you could get a set of tires for under $300, and people all the time sell sets of the 15" GT wheels for under $200. It's a cost, size, and versatility upgrade all the way around.
Finding tires for the 14" and especially the 13" wheels used on the base coupes are going to be harder and more expensive since not too many cars use below a 15" wheel nowadays. Even my daily driver econo-box uses a 15" wheel.
[This message has been edited by Fiero84Freak (edited 02-16-2014).]
As stated above, check out discount tire direct. I was in the same position as you are, with someone before me putting 14" on an 86 GT. I was going to go the "buying stock 15" mesh wheels" route, but this was much better. From discount tire, I received these 16" wheels and 225/50R16 tires shipped to me (mounted and balanced, ready to fit on the car!) for $617.
They have some great sales on wheels and tire packages if you buy four at a time. Plus, if you buy four tires/wheels, they will ship them mounted and balanced at no extra charge.
[This message has been edited by MacGyversMullet (edited 02-16-2014).]
Hi, you should consider looking at the "Tire Rack.com". The link below came from using their tire search feature. I asked for 205/60-14 front tires and 215/60-14 rear tires. http://www.tirerack.com/tir...r=15&wtpackage=false The site came up with 16 sets of tires that meet those criteria. If none of these choices is acceptable, then perhaps you should consider changing to either 15" or even 16" wheels to give you more (and perhaps better), choices.
Good Luck, with your search Let us know what your final decision and choice will be.
~ Bob ~
------------------ "Its nice to be important. Its more important to be nice."
Hi, you should consider looking at the "Tire Rack.com". The link below came from using their tire search feature. I asked for 205/60-14 front tires and 215/60-14 rear tires. The site came up with 16 sets of tires that meet those criteria. ~ Bob ~
Well not quite. Your search was for 15" tires. Tire Rack only has 2 very expensive 14" tires.
I almost always get tire/wheel combos from Tire Rack. I usually get a set delivered, mounted and balanced for $600...and usually the next day if I call in soon enough.A local guy I also deal with usually gets me a set of just tires for around $300. I got Dunlops for one Fiero, Coopers on one Corvette, and Kumhos on another for around that. The Kumhos btw, were trash on wet roads. He got Mastercrafts for the motorhome (19.5s) for $200 each.
Thanks for all the info, guys, I will look into all of those options.
I would love a set of 15" mesh rims, ideally, but at this point I'd even consider getting a cheap set of steel 15 or 16" rallyes to hold more affordable tires. I'll definitely keep you Posted.
I got Michelin Defenders in 14" with wheels, mounted and balanced, not cheap, from tirerack.com shipping not cheap either, but I just want to say they've been very good. The weather has been terrible this year, but the tires allow me to drive about as well as big awd vehicles and better than the Chrysler 200 rental I had for three days when I tore the brake line off.
I got 15 inch diamond spoke rims off a wrecked Fiero, Falken 215/60R15 for $52 each. Speedometer is 5% slow. But they look so much better in the wheel wells. Dad gave me 205/60R15 ties off one of his Ford cars. I think for 215/60R15, for under $100 a tire, the Falkens are best. Did a lot of research on this. Actually better than the 225/35R17 Khumo tires I had on the 8x17 inch rims I had on my car before I got 4 rims that match. The rims were aftermarket from an infinity I30 that my brother had. Looked damn good, but were a discontinued style.
Sorry, I think they're 195 60 14. Will check tomorrow. If you enter 85 GT (at tirerack.com) and select 14," they'll still come up.
Somehow they now say stock is 13 inches! Could that be?
Big snow again Monday - lots of fun. I guess saying "can't break it loose" is exaggerating when you're talking snow covered roads, but it's really kind of fun. You can powerslide at ordinary speeds, you can go, but you can also stop. If you rush to get out of a driveway or side street you may find yourself flailing a little. I also got Koni's all around in the fall, and TFS drilled rotors and carbomet pads last month.
I think I'm going to go with 195/70/14 for now, because they are way cheaper, and when I can eventually get the 215/60/14s, I can put the other ones on my Volvo, and have newer tires on that car as well.
TireBuyer.com has 185/60-14 General Altimax high performance tires with free delivery to the installer for $238 for a set of 4. When I bought my 85 GT a few months ago it came with an extra set of tires and rims that were on the car when po bought it, that was the size of the tires. There are quite a few brands to choose from in this size.
TireBuyer.com has 185/60-14 General Altimax high performance tires with free delivery to the installer for $238 for a set of 4. When I bought my 85 GT a few months ago it came with an extra set of tires and rims that were on the car when po bought it, that was the size of the tires. There are quite a few brands to choose from in this size.
215/60-14 was the 1985 GT OE size... TireBuyer has the BF Goodrich Radial T/A@ $507 for 4 & Nexen CP641 $284 for 4. Anyone know where Nexen tires are made? Anyone tried them?
Nexen tires are made in China, I have a set of Fuzion tires on my 85 2M4 and they are also made in China and perform very well, They are smooth all the way to 75 mph and I haven't even had to add any balance weights. The only reason the 205-60/14 white letter tires were used on the GT was for "appearance" performance, it wasn't because they added anything noticeable to handling or performance.
TireBuyer.com has 185/60-14 General Altimax high performance tires with free delivery to the installer for $238 for a set of 4. When I bought my 85 GT a few months ago it came with an extra set of tires and rims that were on the car when po bought it, that was the size of the tires. There are quite a few brands to choose from in this size.
I have also been looking for tires would like them to look stock so have been looking every where. The sock sizes for 14 were 195/70r14 and 215/60r14, the problem with 185/60 14 would be a difference of 2" smaller diameter and almost 6" smaller circumference so what was 60 mph would now be 55 with the smaller tire. Bfgoodrich makes a 215/60 ta radial with raised white letters like stock but with mounting and tax come in just under $700 for 4 looking for a good stock looking tire give you the bent over feeling
Well, after my left rear tire exploded on I-70, I managed to get a used, matching set of 195/70/14s. Not ideal, but they only cost $160, including disposal fees.
Look at Firestone Champion HR. About $288.00 for set of 4 tires. plus installation, balancing and taxes. I put a set on My 87 GT about a year ago and have been happy with them. I bought them on a special, buy 3 get 1 free at that time. They also have other brands. I do not know about other locations by mu local Firestone store did a great job on them. I warned them about where to jack up the Fiero to avoid damage to coolant tubes, etc. and they listened. I also requested that no weights be put on the outside of the rim and they did that correctly also. Tires handle good are quiet and show no wear after 4K miles. You do not need super high speed performance tires for a Fiero, they do not go fast.
I vote for the 195-70-14's. 215's are hard to find, not actually in stock and/or overpriced. Wht if you get a side wall nail in a year or two and no loner find 215's? If you want performance you should upsize your wheels. The 195-70-14 were the standard in the base Fiero anything later than 84(which had base 13"). Only reason for anything elese is if it is an all original show car? Just a couple months ago I got Coopers Lifeliners from Tirekingdom with nominal sale was ~329+/- out the door. They seem good.
