Author Topic: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???  (Read 1115 times)

Offline kkupec02

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My 1967 GTA came with 185R14 Radial Ply white sidewall Rayon tires. I did some searches but couldn't find any recommended modern replacement tires. I bought the car with P215/70R 14's. 96T. But they are not whitewall. Is there a recommended modern replacement? How wide was the whitewall in the original tires? Thanks.
« Last Edit: November 14, 2019, 11:31:47 AM by kkupec02 »
1967 GT500 Built 1/26/67 #817
1967 Corvette Roadster

Offline 67gta289

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2019, 04:09:12 PM »
I thought that all GT equipped cars got the F70x14 Firestone wide oval tires except those that had the rare competition suspension option.

The F70x14 usually is replaced by either P205/70R14 or P215/70R14.

Modern (radial) tires with white walls appears to be an oxymoron at this point.  I was able to get some Firestone whitewall radial tires about 7 years ago when they were discontinued.  Good luck in your search and let us know if you find anything.

John
67 289 GTA Dec 20 1966 San Jose
7R02C156xxx
MCA 74660

Offline kkupec02

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2019, 05:05:12 PM »
The 185R14 radial ply wsw Rayon is what is listed in the Marti report.
1967 GT500 Built 1/26/67 #817
1967 Corvette Roadster

Offline 67gta289

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2019, 05:46:47 PM »
Interesting.  I did not know they had a P-Metric tire as an option in 1967.
John
67 289 GTA Dec 20 1966 San Jose
7R02C156xxx
MCA 74660

Offline kkupec02

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2019, 09:05:04 PM »
Per the Marti report, only 2 cars came with this tire. Mine is a 1 of 1 based on some other options as well.
1967 GT500 Built 1/26/67 #817
1967 Corvette Roadster

Offline 67gtasanjose

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #5 on: November 15, 2019, 05:43:53 AM »
No help on a source for the best radial tires but because I thought your comment of only two having radial tires seemed VERY low, I went to Kevin Marti's Mustang By The Numbers book.

1,383 in total 1967 Mustangs came from the factory with Radial Tires.  No size is mentioned in his book.
Breakdown by body type is 363 Coupes, 855 Fastbacks and 165 Convertibles.

Numbers on a Marti Report are typically arranged in an order to filter YOUR particular car towards a goal of "1 of 1",  juggling the numbers of OTHER options to reach that goal.

Interesting.  I did not know they had a P-Metric tire as an option in 1967.

The "P" in "P-metric" statement did not come into play for about another 10 years (1978?).
Notice the O.P. nor Marti Reports have the letter "P" in the tire size.
« Last Edit: November 15, 2019, 05:59:45 AM by 67gtasanjose »
Richard Urch

1967 (11/2/66, S.J.) GTA Luxury Coupe, 289-4V w/Thermactor Emissions, C-4, Int./Ext. Decor +many options

2005 (04/05) GT Premium Convertible, Windveil Blue, Parchment Top w/Med. Parchment interior,  Roush Body Appointments

Offline Building 3

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #6 on: November 15, 2019, 10:50:15 AM »
Try these websites: I have a set of Tiger Paw 195x14 radial wsw tires.  The white stripe is about 3/4."
I have seen Hankook Optimo 14" wsw radials on Concours Driven cars at shows. Also Toyo made wsw 14" tires at least through last year.
1966 289 C code auto convertible December 1965 scheduled build at Dearborn.

1966 289 C code auto convertible
October 1965 scheduled build at Metuchen.

Offline heavy60chevy

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #7 on: September 27, 2020, 10:37:57 PM »
Hello everyone. I have been a car collector for a number of years but I am somewhat new to the world of vintage Mustangs. Well, almost new. I have been on the hunt for a Raven Black '67 GT fastback with the S-Code engine option. For years I've been searching high & low for either his car or one close (enough) to it. I recently found a pretty strong candidate. While reading though both its window sticker and Marti Report I saw the entry "185R14 WSW RADIAL PLY TIRES", which I found confusing. I didn't know 1967 Mustangs came equipped with radial tires. I fell into this Concours Mustang Forums thread while searching the Internet for information on this tire. My apology for offering my thoughts on such an old topic, but perhaps those involved might have a look someday.

I have tried to find information, and specifically a photo on the '67 Mustang 185R14 tire but haven't found anything yet. I'm curious what they look like. But what I can offer to anyone interested is what the white pinstripe (WSW?) tires looked like on my father's '67 GT. Dad special ordered this car through the Ford garage in Grantsville, Maryland sometime during the summer of 1967. I recently found the 35-mm slides dad took in early September while my parents were on their honeymoon in Niagara Falls. I cropped a few down to the tires to post here. I think it's a safe bet the tires shown here were equipped on the car when it left the factory. I have seen this style of tire in vintage '67 Mustang advertising. What I am unsure of is whether this is the 185R14 tire one of the other tire options. I thought I would share.

Offline 67gtasanjose

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Re: What is the best replacement tire for 185R14 Radial Ply wsw Rayon tires???
« Reply #8 on: September 28, 2020, 09:24:31 AM »
... what I can offer to anyone interested is what the white pinstripe (WSW?) tires looked like on my father's '67 GT. Dad special ordered this car through the Ford garage in Grantsville, Maryland sometime during the summer of 1967. I recently found the 35-mm slides dad took in early September while my parents were on their honeymoon in Niagara Falls. I cropped a few down to the tires to post here. I think it's a safe bet the tires shown here were equipped on the car when it left the factory. I have seen this style of tire in vintage '67 Mustang advertising. What I am unsure of is whether this is the 185R14 tire one of the other tire options. I thought I would share.
I would say those are the Wide Oval variety commonly used (not the radial).
Richard Urch

1967 (11/2/66, S.J.) GTA Luxury Coupe, 289-4V w/Thermactor Emissions, C-4, Int./Ext. Decor +many options

2005 (04/05) GT Premium Convertible, Windveil Blue, Parchment Top w/Med. Parchment interior,  Roush Body Appointments