<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
</head>
<body>
<div dir="auto" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Harold, I've never heard of a
</span><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 16px; text-transform: none;">163/86 R15.</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 16px; text-transform: none;">Where do you get them?</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 16px; text-transform: none;"><br>
</span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="color: rgb(33, 33, 33);"><span style="font-family: Aptos; font-size: 16px; text-transform: none;">M</span></div>
<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-body-separator-line" data-applydefaultfontstyles="true" dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br>
</div>
</div>
<div id="ms-outlook-mobile-signature" dir="auto" style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<div style="font-family: Aptos, Aptos_MSFontService, -apple-system, Roboto, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
<br>
</div>
</div>
<hr style="display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex="-1">
<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Healeys <healeys-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Harold Manifold <manifold@telus.net><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Sunday, February 1, 2026 3:28:03 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Richard Collins <gonnagitcha90@hotmail.com><br>
<b>Cc:</b> Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Healeys] Tires</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<div dir="ltr">
<div>Hi,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>To add to the controversy regarding tires, I believe selection should be based on size and wheel compatibility rather than brand.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>If we look at the original 5.90-15 Road Speed RS5 tires found on most Austin-Healeys, the modern equivalent would be a 163/86 R15—essentially a narrow tire with tall sidewalls. These original tires filled the wheel arches and defined the car's stance.
While a 70-series tire offers more width, it comes at the expense of sidewall height. In my view, the modern tire that closest matches the original 5.90-15 specifications is the Michelin XAS 180/80R15.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>During COVID, I put together a presentation on tire and wheel options for Healeys. I have attached a page that compares the various sizes. When comparing two Healeys side by side, I find that the one fitted with Michelin XAS 180/80R15s has a much more
pleasing stance.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Let the controversy begin.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best regards,</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Harold</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class="x_gmail_quote x_gmail_quote_container">
<div dir="ltr" class="x_gmail_attr">On Sun, Feb 1, 2026 at 10:05 AM Richard Collins via Healeys <<a href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net">healeys@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class="x_gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204); padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="auto">I have Vreds on my BN7, running with tubes; Never an issue; Falken 660 on one PCar, Kuhmos on another, Generals on wife’s car, Goodyear on another, etc.
<div>I have run Toyo, Nitto, Pirelli, Yokos, Michelin, etc over the years on track, street, snow/ice (this week. :-) ) and find pro/con with all of them. But as I think Simon on this board has said: there are horses for courses. I tend to be particular on my
track car, running 200 compound rubber for grip rather than slicks while </div>
<div>Minimal road noise and price are the basis for selection on my road cars. I have Track X’d the Healey with the Vreds and they performed well but it is a back country road car and they are aging (not wearing) out.<br id="x_m_1652514425094531187lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature">
<div dir="ltr">Regards,
<div>Richard C</div>
<div><br>
</div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr"><br>
<blockquote type="cite">On Feb 1, 2026, at 10:43, Bob Spidell via Healeys <<a href="mailto:healeys@autox.team.net" target="_blank">healeys@autox.team.net</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote type="cite">
<div dir="ltr"> List has been a bit moribund lately so I thought maybe I'd try to start some controversy.<br>
<br>
I run Vredestein tires on both my Healeys; the BN2 from relatively recently to having gone through several sets for my BJ8 over the decades. I was somewhat surprised to see Vredestein mentioned favorably with some of the 'biggees,' as I'd always thought of
them as a 'niche' supplier (but I had heard the GM for Vred in the US was a Healey fan and one of their brochures featured a BJ8 on the cover). I've always been happy with their performance and longevity, and they supplied tires in some of the less common
sizes (185/70R-15 for the BJ8; 165s for the BN2).<br>
<br>
The CR article cited is behind a paywall:<br>
<br>
<i>"The very top of the winter-snow table has Bridgestone, Michelin, Nokian, and Vredestein as the most satisfying brands to own, and those latter three brands dominate the summer tires category, too."</i><br>
<br>
<a href="https://www.jalopnik.com/2085748/tire-brand-with-worst-owner-satisfaction-consumer-reports/" target="_blank">https://www.jalopnik.com/2085748/tire-brand-with-worst-owner-satisfaction-consumer-reports/</a>
<span>_______________________________________________</span><br>
<span>Support Team.Net <a href="http://www.team.net/donate.html" target="_blank">
http://www.team.net/donate.html</a></span><br>
<span>Suggested annual donation $12.75</span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Archive: <a href="http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys" target="_blank">http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys</a>
<a href="http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys</a></span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span><a href="mailto:Healeys@autox.team.net" target="_blank">Healeys@autox.team.net</a></span><br>
<span><a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys</a></span><br>
<span></span><br>
<span>Unsubscribe/Manage: <a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/gonnagitcha90@hotmail.com" target="_blank">
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/gonnagitcha90@hotmail.com</a></span><br>
<span></span><br>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
Support Team.Net <a href="http://www.team.net/donate.html" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
http://www.team.net/donate.html</a><br>
Suggested annual donation $12.75<br>
<br>
Archive: <a href="http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys</a> <a href="http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
http://autox.team.net/archive/healeys</a><br>
<br>
<a href="mailto:Healeys@autox.team.net" target="_blank">Healeys@autox.team.net</a><br>
<a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/healeys</a><br>
<br>
Unsubscribe/Manage: <a href="http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/manifold@telus.net" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">
http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/healeys/manifold@telus.net</a><br>
<br>
</blockquote>
</div>
</div>
</body>
</html>