I Hate This Part

[furrbear]

...of auto maintenance. Buying tires. Ever try to find tires for a 34-year-old British import?

The '74 MGB tires did me the favor or rotting while in storage. So now I need to replace them before I can do any more work. I just need to be able to move it back-and-forth on the concrete. I think, "Maybe I can find four used tires cheap?" Nope. Damn hard to find 14" tires these days. (This is after the old size has been converted mind you.)

So, it's off to the on-line searches:

• Discount Tire. All three local stores couldn't help me out on used, but at least I can specify 185/70/14 and see what's available. I can get out for ~50/wheel.
  
  
• Pepboys. Their web site will show me all the tire brands they carry, but nowhere may a size be specified or price found. Grumble.
  
  
• CostCo. Complete and utter fail on this one. In order to find a tire size, one must first specify year, make and model. Year stops at 1984. See car year above. Nevermind I already know what size I need, the web site is of no help. None. Winner of Worst UI Design.

At least the battery is an easy replacement.

Comments

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

You shouldn't have too much hassle finding tires (tyres!) for your MG, and they shouldn't be too much gelt. You may wish to look at Tirerack for on-line service if no-one in your area is able to help (and that would be surprising unless you live in the backwoods). There are a number of Asian tire producers and atleast two of them likely supply your size.

search by size instead of year/make/model as that may be more helpful.

Many cars used 14 inch tires.

As it happens, I possess a 1977 B (which will need a metricshittonne of money and loving if it's to ever again see the road). Seems to me the 74 was the last of the lovely chrome bumper examples.

more tire details

[mhkrabat.livejournal.com]

Here at work now I've logged to my own tire supplier to see what's available and plenty is.

From my wholesaler Cooper Tire offers 4 models in this size. Yokohama has 1, Hankook has one, Dean has 1, General has 1. GT has 1, National has 3.

I don't believe I can help you obtain any of these from here, plus the shipping would negate the cheepnis, but point is, there's gotta be someone in your neighborhood who can help you get what you want with ease.

[geometrician.livejournal.com]

J.C. Whitney? Are they still around?

[pink-halen.livejournal.com]

one must first specify year, make and model
Some damn fool thought this was a "user friendly" approach.

[furr-a-bruin.livejournal.com]

Hmm.... TireRack.com lists 30 models that fit the size you specify. Even if you don't buy from them, that should give you help figuring out what you want.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Jeeps, Trucks, Motorcycles, & Classic VWs. I get their Jeep & VW Catalogs.

For MGBs it's Victoria British, Ltd.. They Do MG, Sunbeam, Austin-Healey, & Triumph.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

yeah, with no "shortcut" for folks who know the size tire they need.

Worse, some other fools signed-off on this design.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

What I want is cheap. These tires won't see asphalt for some time. No need to pay for performance for that.

Thanks for the site, George. Bookmarked. But it doesn't help me with finding prices for local dealers.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Yes, red with chrome bumper. Picked it up in '98 for $800 - it had a thrown rod (who knows what else) wrong with engine.

(Weird trivia item: Plate on it when I bought it - DKN 99L. DKN are Dave's initials. 99 is when we made the L(overs) commitment.)

Buddy had rebuilt a 78(?) engine and the guy never showed back up to pick it up. Swapped it in to replace the thrown engine. Have original engine in storage (with all exhaust piping too). I adhere to the Car Talk guy's advice on classic imports: ALWAYS have a spare engine.

Engine hasn't been burned in since the rebuild, need to tune carbs and then engine. Front rotors are rusty from sitting,...

You know how it goes. BUT I saw a '74 white B go for almost $6k last yr on eBay Motors, so I figure the investment may just be worth it.

[furrbear.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know I can find 14" 185/70s. It's just that I know the car is still gonna be doing a lot of sitting and I hate spending for new rubber to have it just sit. That's why I was looking for a set of used. None of the dealers I called had any 14" used stock.

[sunbeam-bears.livejournal.com]

Check Coker Tires online, they might have the correct tires.