Experience with 15” tire choices, Couple of Data points Options

[gereed75]

For those of us still hanging on with 15” tires, it appears from what is on Tire Rack, that we are down to three choices in the 205 55 size - the Yokohama,s, the Kuhmos and the Dunlop’s. As most know, in the 205 size, very slight tire size variation can mean a lot in the tight fitting driver wheel arch.

I recently swapped out a set of worn Yoko’s for a Set of Kuhmos, both were 205 55 15. All mounted on 15 x 6 fake Fuch deep sixes.

The Yoko’s just barely fit under my stock six rear fenders, with only slight massaging of the drivers side ( trimmed the lip and hand rolled the aft portion of the wheel arch). As typical, the passenger side fits untouched.

The Kuhmos are just slightly smaller, so a bit more fit margin. I would say that the Yoko’s are slightly better tires in my amateur opinion, seeming to have more meat in the side wall. It might be that the Yoko’s are going out of production, as Tire Rack lists them “out of Stock”. Anyone know?

No experience with the Dunlops. Anyone have any direct info on them, particularly relative to size.

Might be some other non- Tire Rack brands out there. Anyone know?

Never tried the 50 series choices. Tire OD already pretty small on 55’s and don’t need lower effective gear ratio!

[914Sixer]

185x70x15 Vredestein Klassic is another option.

[campbellcj]

The Pirelli CN36 is also pretty popular now as a period-correct appearing option, but sizes are very limited and prices high

https://www.lucasclassictires.com/185-70VR1...-p1857015n4.htm

https://www.lucasclassictires.com/215-60VR1...-p2156015n4.htm

I recently got some Michelin TB-5 which again are in limited sizing and really $pendy. I think the smallest 15" is a 225 equivalent. But they are cool tires.

https://www.cokertire.com/michelin-tb5.html

[Chi-town]

I ran 195/55/15 Yokohama S-drives on 2.0 Fuchs fit nicely, 7" contact patch