Tires

(Difference between revisions)

Revision as of 09:31, 20 December 2006

The stock tires for Datsun 1200 were 12-inch diameter 6.00 width 4-ply (bias) tire. Optional tires were 155SR12 radial tires.

The largest width tire that fits a stock 1200 body are:

• Front: 185 mm width
• Rear: 205mm width

  

You will need special wheels (possibly with wheel spacers and Rolling the Guard) to fit this rubber into a 1200.

Anything from 12-inch diameter to 17-inch diameter tires can fit a 1200. The important factor is the tire height. A low-profile 17" will fit better than a regular-profile 14" tire.

A common upgrade configuration is 175/70 13" on the front, and 185/60-13 on the back.

Front Tires

With commonly available wheels, 175 or 185 tire will fit nicely.

A 175x60x13 tyre usually takes a 5-inch wide rim. At 540mm in diameter, they are even smaller than the stock Datsun 1000 tyre [552mm] & a lot smaller than a stock 1200 tyre [574mm].

Rear Tires

Discussion: 13x7 Deep Dish Sperlites

The 205x60x13 measures 576mm in diameter, virutually the same diameter as the stock Datsun 1200 12" tires, so this retains the original gearing, & they were designed around a 5 to 7" rim (5-1/2" wheel recommended).

185x60x13 tyres measure 552mm in diameter, the same as the 1000's 5-50x12's which is smaller than the 1200's stock size [574mm] I too have found that slightly larger diameter rear tyres usually brings the odometer much closer into line with true distance traveled, & if the odometer is right, then the speedo is usually closer to the mark too.

1200 had a 155SR12 standard fitment = 155/80*12, which is almost identical to a 185/60*13 give or take 0.6mm

Wide Tires

Yes, stay with the wider tires, you'll be happier I think. The 155s are a bit weak for cornering (I currently have 155s).The advantage of 155/12 is that they are dirt cheap, with many wreckers practically giving them away (e.g. $10 mounted). They are still being produced massively for cars such as Suzuki Swift (Geo Metro), Honda Civic, etc. Sometimes the discount new tire stores sell them $80/four mounted & balanced. Check the Sports section of the newspaper for the occasional tire ad.

Where to buy 12" Tires

But can you still get wide 12" tires? Sure:

• 165/70 SR12 Yokohama Y372 $42-$43 tirerack.com and SummitRacing.com
• 165/60 X 12 FALKEN $99.95 MiniMania.com
• 165/60R12 Falken FK06G $79 TalonTire.com
• 165/60R12 Yokohama A539 $112 TalonTire.com
• 165/60 12" Falken $89.95 7ent.com

TopGear (UK) carries Yokohama A539 165/60-12s.

TireRack (USA) carries:

• 155/75-12
• 155/80-12
• 165/70-12

Tire size comparison: 155/80-12 21.7 inch diameter 165/70-12 21.4" 155SR-13 22.8" 175/70-13 22.6"

NOTE: 165-width tires want a 4-1/2" to 6" wide wheel.

Tyre Size Calculations

Here is a tire height calculations:
Stock tire:
155/80R12 21.8"
165/70R12 21.1 (+ 3% speedometer reading)
205/40R14 20.5
185/50R13 20.3
175/50R13 19.9
165/60R12 19.8 (+ 9%)
165/50R13 19.5
205/40R13 19.5
165/55R12 19.1 (+12%)

http://www.discountpartcenter.com/tirecalc.html

So that's the disadvantage of low-profile tires: your speedometer will read too fast and the effective gearing will increase, making it rev even higher on the freeway ...What about tires for 13" or larger wheels?

See Also

Discussions:

• Shopping for 13" tires
• How to fit 17 inch wheels
• tire size sugestion and question