Tyre Choice for 123GT

[Derek UK]

1800 4.5" wheels #668280 are lighter than the 4.5" Estate wheels #670451 so the 1800 ones are a better choice if you can find them.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by classicswede

I have been running 195/65-15's on 4J wheels for nearly 30 years set at 30PSI wear is even. They are tight to get on but do go. 4.5J is a better fit for them. You could otherwise use the 185/65-15 but they are slightly low geared

This is very interesting. I have just acquired a spare set of steel wheels for my 1963 Amazon - I'm not sure whether they are 4J or 4.5J yet (not collected). I'm thinking of uses for the wheels, one of which is to fit something different to the 165/80R15 tyres I have mounted on the motor car at the moment. I wonder if 185/65 might make some good summer tyres, and keep the taller and skinnier 165/80 section on the original wheels for the winter.

If you had a moment would you post a photo of your 4J wheels with the wider tyres fitted? It would be nice to see the effect.

Alan

[simonvolvo]

My previous set (on 4J wheels) were 195/65’s. Here are some pics I took at the time.

I had no issues with them, other than the optics: I don’t like the look of those fat tyres on a car of that era.

I recently changed to 165R15’s – not always available here, and more expensive because of the low sales.

[Othen]

Originally Posted by simonvolvo

My previous set (on 4J wheels) were 195/65’s. Here are some pics I took at the time.

I had no issues with them, other than the optics: I don’t like the look of those fat tyres on a car of that era.

I recently changed to 165R15’s – not always available here, and more expensive because of the low sales.

Thank you for that - the photos are really helpful.

It is interesting that you had no problems with the 195/65 tyres on 4J rims, that was exactly what I was looking for. I’m not sure about the aesthetics either, but now I know that not only can it be done, but it works on the motor car as well.

185/65R15 is a very common size in the UK, hence it is widely available and cheap; a set of 4 would cost under £200 fitted. 165R15 is less common and the cost is closer to £300.

Excellent, many thanks.

Alan