Topic: Some help with the 'obsolete' 185/80r13 tire alternatives, someone recommended..

[johnGrandAm]

Yeah, what's up. I'm particularly new here, in fact this is my very first post and in this I thought that I'd ask for a group opinion in regards to my current situation. I currently have 185/80r13 on an older model car of mine, and since they keep "shredding" and my supplier is getting low on them, I went searching around for good and acceptable alternative sizes. I've been left with the option of replacing the original size of 185/80r13 with 175/70r13, all four of them for well over $200, but these are new tires too, but the price isn't the question here. I wanted to just know about the tire sizes and if it was okay to make such a transition... it won't kill my car will it?

[mmret]

Just make sure the rolling diameter is the same, or close.

Google for miata.net tire calculator

Losing 10mm on a 185mm wide tire is a relatively high percentage but I doubt you're trying to set lap times.

[capriracer]

First, It would be helpful if you identified the year, make, and model of your car.  That way we can look it up and see if that size is the original tire size.

Alternatively, you could find the vehicle tire placard which will list the original tire size and the proper pressure for that size.  The vehicle tire placard is uaully located on a dorr or doorpost, but sometimes is found in the glove box, or on the fuel filler door, or in the trunk.

Secondly, what do you mean by "shredding"?  I would think that fixing that would be much cheaper than continually replacing them - and that would basically solve the supply issue.

[johnGrandAm]

Thanks for the replies. In regards to the actual and original tire size, that's it. I've looked it up a few times, but here's further information on the car model: Pontiac, 1989 Grand Am. And when I say shredding, i mean that the surface of the tire, that is to say, my front driver side tire literally shreds after a while, but this is because in buying used Radial tires which are years old, when they're damaged they tend to do that. The bare surface rips off and flies everywhere when I'm going high speeds, but it's only been the same tire, I think three times already... but I honestly think my supplier has a bunch of bad radial tires, though.

[blur911]

Thanks for the replies. In regards to the actual and original tire size, that's it. I've looked it up a few times, but here's further information on the car model: Pontiac, 1989 Grand Am. And when I say shredding, i mean that the surface of the tire, that is to say, my front driver side tire literally shreds after a while, but this is because in buying used Radial tires which are years old, when they're damaged they tend to do that. The bare surface rips off and flies everywhere when I'm going high speeds, but it's only been the same tire, I think three times already... but I honestly think my supplier has a bunch of bad radial tires, though.

That sounds to me more like an alignment issue.  Are you sure the wheels are all pointing in the right direction?
Also, there should be lots of wheel options for a Grand-Am, you could use 14"-16" wheels as they came OE with those sizes and get a much better choice of tires and better handling.

[mrthompson]

^Good call.

[richink]

A 23 year old car is very likely to have soup to nuts front end issues. Shocks, springs, tie road ends, ball joints, bushings, bent anything; I doubt the tires themselves are responsible. There is usually some other issue at play. If it's ruled out then we are back to your original quandry, that is a very odd size of tire.

Go to a junkyard or check out your local classifieds, you should be bale to pick up a set of 14 or 15 inch rims for your Grand Am with ease. My mother in law's Grand Am uses very easy to find and very cheap 14 inch rims that retain a good ride.

[johnGrandAm]

Thanks again for the responses and help. I'll most definitely look into the alignment issue and see if I can get the car realigned. If that's not the problem, then I'll look into finding bigger tire sizes for it. By the way,  richink, when you speak of new "rims," do you literally mean rims or an overall new tire?.. I'm not a genius when it comes to cars and the automotive realm, so I need a bit more clarity. By the way, if anyone has anything else to add please do. Knowledge is power!

[mrthompson]

rim = wheel
tire = tire