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Subject:Re: 16" tires? Long
From:Stephen Grisanti
Date:Thu, 18 Oct 2018 10:52:37 -0400

205/65R16 Achilles Multivan from tires-easy. com cost less than $400 shipped for four and are about 1" taller than stock. I did not mark the rev drop at speed but the difference is slightly noticeable on climbs with the stock '87 driveline.  Mounted on CLKs. 

Stephen

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> On Oct 18, 2018, at 10:42 AM, Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
>  I'm about due for more tires and I've spotted some appropriate 16" wheels
> at a good price.  I'm currently on Vredistein Comtrac 195 r 14 on stock
> wheels
> 
>   I'm actually wanting to try a bit larger diameter tire, to see if I can
> get along with a taller final drive.  I'm thinking this way... Currently, I
> cruise flat ground at about 65 at 3300 rpm in my 5th gear.  My motor's
> happy down to around 2300 rpm, but it's power (270° cam, ABA 8 valve head)
> comes on at about 3700... When the road pitches up to much above 5-6°
> grade, the van can't maintain it's speed in 5th and I shift down to 4th at
> around 50.  That puts me at my 3700 rpm, but with plenty of throttle left,
> so I usually back off agaon at around 55mph (4000 rpms in 4th) to go a bit
> easy on my motor.
>   I think I would like to run uphill at 65 in 4th and keep below my
> arbitrary ~4000+/- rpms.  I don't mind flicking gears ahead of time to
> negotiate mountains effectively, I enjoy it.
>  So anyone care to suggest a starting point as far as diameter/size in
> 16s?  And perhaps inexpensive all season tires I could put on to try for
> 20-30 k miles?  Thanks, Don Hanson