<VV> Tire gurus - What kind of tires do I have?

[airvair]

Doug,

You must be just a young buck. You can tell what tire construction it is 
by the size designation configuration (for lack of a better word.) The 
original sizes of 6.50-13 and 7.00-13 were bias ply tires, and were 
replaced by, respectively, C78-13 and D78-13 when belted-bias tires came 
out. These were in turn replaced by radials of P185/80-13 size, the 
7.00-13 and D78-13 not having a common radial size. It's why I've always 
said that the P185/80-13's are an inch too small, and I have some 
original 7.00-13's to prove it!

I used to use D78-13's all the time back in the early '70's. Perfect 
size replacement for the originals. Not so, these too-tiny radials, 
which is all you can get these days. By rights, REAL Corvair radials 
ought to be P205/80-13 size.

Man, I wish we could talk Coker into reproducing REAL tires for Corvairs!

-Mark

Doug Mackintosh wrote:

>Need some expert advice on tires.  My new driver has
>the following sizes (new tires):
>
>Front: P185/80 D13
>Rear: C78-13
>
>Are these both bias ply, or is the front radial?  I've
>never seen a "D13" designation before.
>
>Thanks
>
>
>-- Doug Mackintosh
>  Corsa member since 1996
>  Corsa/NC member since 1996,  Virtual Vairs member
>  Corvair owner 1969-1971 and 1996-on
>  
>