Some here may recall I found it impossible to source the original sized tyres (165/70x12) on my Kia Pride.
I replaced them with 155/80s. The only car I know had them were Hillman Imps. Perhaps there's more of them about.
I was told a story. EU regulations limit the road noise tyres are allowed to produce. The last remaining manufacturer of my old size decided it would be uneconomic to re-design the tyre to meet the new regulations.
My new tyres have 'LOW NOISE' in large characters on the sidewall.
Can anyone here throw any light on the plausibility of this story?
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The EU guideline on tyre noise is not planned to be introduced before 2012 so I don't think that's the reason you couldn't get a tyre in that size. I think it's more likely that there are almost no cars that use 165/70x12 tyres so therefore noone bothers manufacturing them.
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as i understand it all new cars will soon have to be fitted with low rolling resistence tyres as oe
so maybethere is some truth in the cost versus amount sold scenario?
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Car exhausts have now got so quiet(catalysts help)that the tyres are now the noisiest item in the legal "drive-by" noise test.
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