I'm so close on my rebuild of my Fiero. It hasn't been on the road for 6 years. I've got the engine & tranny all done and installed and it runs and everything. Just one coolant leak to find. Coolant is showing up dripping off the front left corner of the cradle below where the water pump is. I need to get it on the lift and get in there with an inspection mirror. Just threw that out there for ideas. Now the real post.
Stock tire size as listed in my owners manual is P185/80R13. I live in a remote area in Utah, called two tire shops in Vernal and neither one had that size. I had one really start searching and they can't find that size from any of the major manufacturers. I ended up ordering a set of 70's 'cuz that seemed to be a little more common. Anybody got the story as to what happened to our stock tire size? A link? A source possibly for the next set?

I know I've read alot of threads about tires and rims, but not anything about this specific size.

Thanks guys.

http://www.tirerack.com/tir...diameter=13&x=16&y=6

With respect to Old Lar, I'm not sure "Trailer Service" tires would be OK for a car. The 70 series tires will be fine I doubt anyone could tell the difference by driving. 80 series tires are obviously way out of fashion.

If you are going for a Concours resto, and simply must have 185/80-13 tires, Coker has them.

http://store.coker.com/sear...&substring=185/80R13

In wide whitewall. For $173. Each! Don't want them that bad, do you?

My '84 2M4 left the factory on a set of 215/60R14s, and I had no trouble getting one from the Big-O Tire store in Vernal. Check your door sticker, not the stupid owner's manual.

Door sticker matches owner's manual in this case. Even tires on the car were the spec size, but they are way too far gone. I won't even drive it to the tire store (42 miles)!! Going on a flatbed for new tires and alignment when the tires get here.

Yeah, the whitewalls and price on the coker's might be a bit much!

I was able to find the trailer tires but somehow, I don't think they would work out!!

We had a hard time finding that size tire for my wife's 87 Buick. Found them at Firestone.

I went on the Walmart website and they got the rare 215/60R14's through BFgoodrich. They can ship to my local Walmart and they are pretty cheap. Try that.

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84 Duke, Holley TBI, Manual Trans 4.10, CompuCam, White

I have 70s on one of my 84s, and tho they are fine for everyday use, and more common than the 215/60R14's , they look crappy imo. I know the little owners manual says 13's, but I've never actually seen an 84 with 13" wheels, and I've owned 4 of them. Perhaps on bare bones the econo sport?

Don the "Turbine" wheels were 13's, and some of the steel wheels were 13's also. I liked the look of the turbines, but didn't want to mess with the small 13" tires.
Joe

quote Originally posted by josef644: Don the "Turbine" wheels were 13's, and some of the steel wheels were 13's also. I liked the look of the turbines, but didn't want to mess with the small 13" tires. Joe

You dont mean the turbo alloy wheels....mine are 14".

quote Originally posted by White 84 SE: You dont mean the turbo alloy wheels....mine are 14".

If you have 14" alloy wheels, they were the standard Pontiac Ralley wheels and are not the Turbine ones. The turbine wheels look like the turbine inside a jet engine.
Example of standard Pontiac Ralley :


An example of the 13"turbine wheels is posted below by TopNotch. Just look at the next post.

[This message has been edited by josef644 (edited 10-18-2009).]

quote Originally posted by maryjane: I know the little owners manual says 13's, but I've never actually seen an 84 with 13" wheels, and I've owned 4 of them. Perhaps on bare bones the econo sport?

Here is a picture of an 84 Fiero with 13" "turbine" wheels on it.

quote Originally posted by White 84 SE: You got 70s on your 14" alloys? That can be done? Are they grippier in wet weather?

No they are not. That shouldn't affect grip. That "70" is the # given for the sidewall "height". And remember, that # isn't a specific value--it's % of the tire width, and is called the sidewall aspect ratio I believe.
for instance, a tire stamped 195/70r/14 means the sidewall height from the rim to the tread is 70% of whatever the cross section of the tire is at it's widest point.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 10-18-2009).]

DMC, Back to the future, almost the same ones I think:

You can fit 195/70R14s on the rear, and 185/70s up front, on the aluminum 14x6" wheels, that's what's on my Fiero.

I think Damelectrician's problem is that he HAS 13" rims, and isn't interested in upgrading to 14". If I'm wrong, please let me know.

Wouldn't it be cheaper to take the wheels off and bring them to the tire store for new tires? Then you could drive it to the alignment shop. Unless you're flatbed is owned by a friend, you might save enought to upgrade to 14's.

215= cross section width, in millimeters; 60= sidewall, tread to bead, is 60% of 215 mm. If you go way taller, you can increase the contact patch, but usually people go slightly wider to achieve this. 195/70R14 will work, and be close to same overall height, so speedo. and odo. will be pretty accurate, but you'll loose a small bit in contact patch. For a better selection, try 205/60R14. If you choose a performance or touring tire, the tread width will almost meet cross section width (which is measured sidewall to sidewall, unloaded). Will be very slightly shorter, but contact patch should be near identical. I think it's the way I'm going to go.

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'84 Sport Coupe (third time's a charm?)

[This message has been edited by JohnyGt67 (edited 10-19-2009).]

I do have the turbine wheels. Heck I didn't know they had a name!! They are 13" and at this point, I'm trying to get the car on the road without too much additional cost.
I did just finish a complete engine and transmission overhaul. We'll see how it goes, I built it as a daily driver. Maybe I'll have reason to upgrade later. Or maybe I'll want a V-6 car... The fun is just beginning!!


Flatbed IS actually owned by a friend, so N/C on the tow! You are right, I would just order the tires and mount 'em (I have access to mounting & balancing equipment). And drive it to town for the alignment.

quote Originally posted by josef644: If you have 14" alloy wheels, they were the standard Pontiac Ralley wheels and are not the Turbine ones. The turbine wheels look like the turbine inside a jet engine. Example of standard Pontiac Ralley : An example of the 13"turbine wheels is posted below by TopNotch. Just look at the next post.

Ah thanks for that!

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84 Duke, Holley TBI, Manual Trans 4.10, CompuCam, White

I would think the 13"ers would get a little better torque.

When I first got my 84 it had the steel wheels on it and the seller had the alloys yet to be put on. When I did switch I remember the steel ones were smaller and thinner and they held better on a slippery road. All this seems contrary to theory. It seemed like a smaller foot print put more weight on a smaller area thus giving better traction. The touring tires on the rallys are flatter and they seem to be"slicker" such that the weight of the little car is spread out and nowhere is there much traction.

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84 Duke, Holley TBI, Manual Trans 4.10, CompuCam, White

[This message has been edited by White 84 SE (edited 10-19-2009).]

quote Originally posted by jamiesweet: You can fit 195/70R14s .

That's what's on my old daily driver--all 4 wheels. It looked crappy, (appeared tall & skinny) but handled well. I had them put on, because I was about to leave on a trip, and couldn't find the 215/60s locally.

quote For a better selection, try 205/60R14.

Is that a more common (easier to find) tire than 215/60R/14?

quote Originally posted by maryjane: Is that a more common (easier to find) tire than 215/60R/14?

Well, a quick check of TheTireRack.com, shows 2 tires in the 215, 4 in 205. 195/70 is even more common. My personal and subjective opinion, everything else (such as speed rating and compound) being similar, is that wider is better. I'd rather give up only 10 mm as opposed to 20. If we're only talking about 10mm, it's more easily made up by a touring or performance tire. As the tread width could be wider on the narrower touring tire than a wider non-touring all season tire. At 20mm, you'd still be losing something in tread width.

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'84 Sport Coupe (third time's a charm?)

[This message has been edited by JohnyGt67 (edited 10-19-2009).]

For 14'' rims, i was looking to go 195/60r14

Can get a nice looking tire for $47 at tire rack

quote Originally posted by JohnyGt67: Well, a quick check of TheTireRack.com, shows 2 tires in the 215, 4 in 205. 195/70 is even more common. My personal and subjective opinion, everything else (such as speed rating and compound) being similar, is that wider is better. I'd rather give up only 10 mm as opposed to 20. If we're only talking about 10mm, it's more easily made up by a touring or performance tire. As the tread width could be wider on the narrower touring tire than a wider non-touring all season tire. At 20mm, you'd still be losing something in tread width.

I agree about "wider=better",----and----imo-- they look better.
I'm not an aggressive driver any more, but I do drive a lot on wet, poorly drained, and poorly maintained roads.

[This message has been edited by maryjane (edited 10-19-2009).]

You might consider how the car will look with your choice of tire. Anything other than a 215/60R15 ( 25.16" overall dia.) just doesn't fill the front wheel well right, and looks stupid. On the rear you need a 235/60R15 ( 26.10") to look right. Do NOT try BFGoodrich Radial T/As on the rear of a Fiero, these tires are only good with double-A-arm suspensions, NOT strut-style. Damn shame, too, because they're so good in snow.

I'll see if I can find a picture of my silver 84 with the 195/70s on it. You are correct--the tires just look goofy, with too much height for their width, and still do a poor job of filling wheel well. They ride just so-so.

quote Originally posted by LitebulbwithaFiero: For 14'' rims, i was looking to go 195/60r14 Can get a nice looking tire for $47 at tire rack

60 mph indicated=57.7 mph actual. I don't think it'll look good. Would probably be okay, if compound softer to make up for loss in contact patch size (narrower+shorter=measurably smaller patch).

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'84 Sport Coupe (third time's a charm?)

quote Originally posted by JohnyGt67: 60 mph indicated=57.7 mph actual. I don't think it'll look good. Would probably be okay, if compound softer to make up for loss in contact patch size (narrower+shorter=measurably smaller patch).

They are the same size I already got on there. Mine are bald and I am cheap, so they are likely what I will get. Also only need 2 tires, so going with the same size so it doesn't look like a hoopty. I agree though, tire is way too small for the wheel opening. But I disagree with the traction problem. Gets good traction now (at least I have never been at a loss of traction) and skinner tires help in the snow too.


Speedo being off in that direction will help me out also

[This message has been edited by LitebulbwithaFiero (edited 10-20-2009).]