I just got my sadly deceased father's Datsun (by Nissan) 280ZX out of storage since 1999, 54,000 miles, almost perfect. Amazingly after draining the fuel tank and adding 5 gallons of non alcohol gas and a good dose of techron it runs and drives great (brakes are not so good). Tires, obviously need to be replaced. Stock size is 195 or 205 70 14. What would be a good replacement tire?
Tires for 1982 Datsun 280ZX
- Thread starter silveravant
- Start date
I assume you wont drive it on snowy or roads that have salt on them, even dry roads that have salt on them. So winter performance isn't an issue. There are sadly few choices in those sizes as consumer demand in 195/70R14 and 205/70R14 has been dwindling year after year I would assume. I'd get some Sure Drive brand tires which are Bridgestones budget tire sold at Firestone Auto care locations. If you're driving the car on those old tires keep in mind they are hard and don't grip as well. You can get in real trouble if you enter a freeway cloverleaf too fast.
Here are a few decent name brand options in 195/70r14
Hankook Kinergy ST
General Altimax RT45
Uniroyal Tiger Paw AWP II
Vredestein Quatrac 5
Hankook Kinergy ST
General Altimax RT45
Uniroyal Tiger Paw AWP II
Vredestein Quatrac 5
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2021
- Messages
- 209
BFGoodrich Radial T/A, with the raised white letters!
That's what I rocked on the 260Z that I used to drive about 30 years ago.
I remember getting them on sale at the Sears Auto Center, and the guy asked if I wanted the white letters in or out. I proudly stated "Out"!
So that's what I recommend!
That's what I rocked on the 260Z that I used to drive about 30 years ago.
I remember getting them on sale at the Sears Auto Center, and the guy asked if I wanted the white letters in or out. I proudly stated "Out"!
So that's what I recommend!
195/70-14 seems to be the stock size, and the Vredestein Quatrac 5 from Tire Rack seems to be the best tire available in that size 
Walmart also has their Douglas tires, if you want something cheap.
Walmart also has their Douglas tires, if you want something cheap.
Last edited:
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2024
- Messages
- 1,479
Douglas, Dextero, Arroyo from Walmart would be my top picks
I wouldn't get anything particularly grippy, if you are keeping the suspension close to original. Some good quality all seasons with wet grip would be nice, and then you can get to the limits of the car without leaning over so much.
I used to love zipping around below 55mph in my Dad's 11 year old Miata with the original tires, as they would slip around without going crazy fast around corners, and it was possible to steer with the throttle despite the low torque and hp.
This is an interesting thread, since I just yanked my 20 year old cavalier out of the garage after someone destroyed my Cobalt.
It still has the General Altimax RT’s from 2013. The Tiger paws have been discontinued for almost a year- though there seems to be stock floating around.Think the Hankooks were toast too.
I’ve notice Discount tire has the General RT45, Arizonians, and another one of their house tires (60 bucks I believe). This is where I’m getting my 195/70/14s from
It's a Japanese classic. I'd stick with Yokohama or Toyo tires. In the 70's I had a 1972 280Z with a manual transmission. Wish I still had it.
I think I saw the Tiger Paw's on TireRack.com. I wonder if for these low demand sizes, companies make a short run once or twice a year so availability can be hit or miss?
It is possible!
I told a friend with a Forester you have Prius tires - Bridgestone Ecopia EP422s, developed for the gen 4 Prius. And Toyota used the Goodyear Integrity which was commissioned for Mopar for their minivans on the gen 2.^ They say they equipped the BR-Z with "Prius tires" for the same thrill.
I recommended the Hankook Kinergy STs or General RT45s to someone with a Ranger that takes 205/75R14 tires. They got the former, they work decently well.
I have the Kinergy STs on a vehicle I previously had General RT43's on. My only complaint for the Kinergy ST is reduced wet traction. It's not bad, per se, just not quite as good as the RT43. How the RT43's compare to the RT45's, I can't say.
Bought a new Datsun 280z with a four-speed manual in 1976 and drove it for 12 years. Like you, wish I still had it, but I'm not sure about getting in and out of it these days!!! I always ran Michelins.
My bad. Of course it was a 240Z. I also had a 1990 300Z, quite a car.
Sorry to hear of your family's loss.
You can't post a 280ZX thread and not post a picture.
For 14's I would honestly stay with something out of Asia since thats still a somewhat common size over there. Taiwan based - maybe something like Nanking or Kenda? There cheap too.
You can't post a 280ZX thread and not post a picture.
For 14's I would honestly stay with something out of Asia since thats still a somewhat common size over there. Taiwan based - maybe something like Nanking or Kenda? There cheap too.
^ They say they equipped the BR-Z with "Prius tires" for the same thrill.
I second this, and would add Falken aswell. Vintage JDM needs to stay JDM.
I wonder what was factory?
