International Lancia Forums

Huib

I’m sure you’re correct about the Michelins; that’s pretty much what they told me about the 175-13 XAS. But if the Bridgestone are available in Europe in the correct size, it should be a relatively easy matter to order them online/long distance and have them shipped to the US, as I suggested earlier. The shipping will add cost, and the dollar is very low against the Euro, but it’s an easy way to get the correct tires.

Have a good trip Huib!

When you get back, I'd still like to chat you up about the 4.5x14 alloys you have squirrelled away!

Regards...Chas

Right, Chas. I keep forgetting to look them over. The problem is that my computer is at home. No computer in the workshop. Some friends already call me Huib Alzheimer. Best mail Claire at [url=mailto:claire@viva-lancia.com t=_self]claire@viva-lancia.com[/url]. Claire is my assistant and rapidly becoming the first female Fulvia specialist. She is also rather well organised.

Ed, I agree that ordering direct and paying the shipping is probably the most feasible way of getting right-sized tires for our Fulvias.

Based on all of the DOT markings on U.S. tires today, I suspect that manufacturers need to go through a fair number of regulatory hoops before they can legally sell tires in this country.

Since there aren't a large number of cars in the U.S. that use the narrow 14" tires that are correct for my Series 1, I think it unlikely that a manufacturer can be induced to go through these regulatory and manufacturing steps for what has to be a very small market.

So buying from Europe and paying the freight is probably the most realistic approach.

I'd be happy to buy in Europe and pay freight except the five or six dealers I've contacted in the EU weren't willing to ship to the US. If anyone knows of, or has any actual experience with, an EU based firm willing to ship 4 tires to the US, please let us know. Since the B 381's are available (allegedly) in larger sizes here in the US, I'd hoped that the European stock had the correct DOT sidewall markings. If not, perhaps that's the reason the EU dealers wouldn't, couldn't, can't ship their stock to the US.

Bob,
It's possible that the size you need doesn't have a DOT label. In that case, it would be illegal (but not unsafe) to run the tires on the street here, but it wouldn't be illegal to buy them or possess them. Further, I don't think it would be illegal for an EU dealer to ship them here, but it might well be scaring them off. It sounds like a nuisance, but I'd keep trying; it's hard to imagine you won't be able to find one willing dealer. Good luck.

I'm not a coupe man these days and run a 2c Berlina, it should be on Michelin 155x14 but ever since I put her back on the road in 1999 I've been unable to find any 155x14 tyres. I finished up putting on a set of 145x14 Firestones. Having since then had a puncture that ruined one of these, I had to put the spare firestone on, and this was replaced by a Kuhmo 145x14 80R 76 as the spare..
After trips through the Pyrenees 2004, & then the Alps coming back from Turin last year, the front tyres were beginning to look a bit sad & were in need of changing.
Now knowing that Toyo make 155x14, I attempted to buy a set of these & go to the original size tyres, but I was informed by my tyre supplier that they wouldn't be able to obtain them for at least three months.
Not being able to last that long I decided to stay with the 145 Kuhmo, only to be told that these were no longer available, I've now finished up with Bridgestone 145x14 80R 76T's.
I'm not sure if these are 381's or not? but I will report back on their performance.

Never having driven a 2c Berlina on the correct tyres I can't comment on the handling on 145's compared to the 155's, but I'm pretty happy how she handles, & as I never have a full load the weight shouldn't be a problem.

Brian Hilton
UK

And a lovely 2C Berlina it is, too ,judging from the photo that made its way onto the LMC forum. Toyo clearly has some distribution issues; I had to wait more than a month for a set in LA. But it's a shame you couldn't hold out for them--not because they're brilliant tires (they're absolutely not) but simply because there are any number of reasons to run the original size.

Relative to the correct 155s, obviously the 145s will marginally lower the roll center by 8mm (good) but at the cost of narrowing the contact patch by 10mm (not good) and reducing the circumference, which will change the effective gearing (or not change it, as you've never run the correct size...). In fact, the last point may be the most significant. At whatever point you manage to source the correct size, I think you'll be amazed at how much more relaxed it is on the highway.