Rover Sports Register Forum

Hi all from a new member in Australia.

I apologise if this has been covered many times before, but I tried a search and couldn't find the answer.

Do Rovers still have such a lovely quiet ride when fitted with radial tyres instead of cross-plys? If so, can anyone suggest a suitable size? Down here in Australia, the closest I can find to 6.70/15 is a 185/80/15 which has a diameter nearly two inches less than a 6.70/15.

Does this matter much? I am concerned because being a 95, my Rover doesn't have the overdrive.

Any suggstions or advice very gratefully received!!

Cheers all,

Paul

Hi Paul and welcome to the club.

I’m sure others will be able to answer your question better than me - I had a P4 (105) for many years and I stuck with the crossplies throughout - I ran on 6.40 / 15 (Avons).
My main reason was that the radial equivalent wouldn’t fit in the spare wheel tray, although I understand the next size down radial is ok, but looks a bit small in the P4’s wheel arches. Another consideration is that the steering becomes a bit heavier at parking speeds with radials but the roadholding is much improved over crossplies which tend to stick to white lines on the road like a railway line!

Good luck with your 95 the P4’s are lovely cars!

Regards

Neal

G'day Paul, Wife and I have two 90's both with 100 engines. Both had radials when we bought them, 185/80 R15. I bought a new set for one car about two years ago, they are Kumho brand, and I'm very pleased with them. About 12 months ago we had a set fitted to the other car, but Kumho weren't available, so had Hankooks fitted. Seem very good too.

Welcome to the forum. Whereabouts in Oz are you?

Thanks Neal and Roverdriver,

I am probably decades out of touch, but it used to be that radials gave a very harsh ride compared with cross-plys. Maybe modern ones are not so bad. I am still a little concerned about lowering the final drive ratio, given that mine is a non-overdrive model. I will see how it goes on the trip home next week.

Roverdriver, I am not far from you, in the Bega Valley, NSW. I have seen your evocative video of your Rover on your lead-in road. Excellent. My road is dustier and rougher, but not so pretty!

Thanks for the replies,

Cheers,

Paul

G'day Paul, Thanks for the comments about my 'Run in Gloria'.
I have sent a P.M. to you.

The handling is transformed on radials and the road noise only increased slightly on concrete ones. The steering will be heavier at parking speeds though and a fulling inflated spare will not go into the locker.

I used to used Khumos - they were good but now not made so I have used Hankooks which are just as good

185/15 standard aspect.

Beware 8 ply C rated tyres as peed rating not high enough and these will give road noise