Tires from Mexico

[Davidb]

I have found that the Sumitomo HTR200 175/70x13 tires work wonderfully on my Elan-with wider than stock rims.
These tires have not been available in the USA or Canada for some time but they are available in Mexico and other parts of the world I have learned. The company who has a large stock of them in Mexico does not ship to the USA however.
Do we have any members who could bring four over the border into the US for me--pre paid of course. I would need them shipped to 98281.

This is the link to to company:

https://www.prodynamics.com.mx/sumitomo ... -7310.html
(Price is in Pesos)

Rob Walker-do you need some?

[Davidb]

There was discussion about these tires on this forum a few years ago. Those that had tried them on standard rims didn't like them. Those that fitted them to wider rims-5.5" or 6"--found them to be very good indeed.
They are made in Japan but for some reason are no longer imported into the US or Canada.

[h20hamelan]

Those look good.
Here are some new options in Canada, not available before winter.

https://pmctire.com/en/search/tires/#as ... th=175:175

[h20hamelan]

It’s a relatively short drive to Mexico
Why cant you get a courier company to collect, they dont need to know destination
I would determine date of manufacture before

[nomad]

This is common in the good ol USA. I had read somewhere the issue was with some ridiculous bureaucratic requirement that I'm sure benefited some giant company.

I was a fan of Falken tires having had several sets on various things including a MG MIdget. They stopped being available in the US so I had a set shipped from England right before shipping went nuts.
Unfortuneatly, Falken had changed their tread pattern to the same as every other tire I see offered now days. They all have gone to huge radial grooves running around the tire. Some are wide enough to stick your finger into. I'm sure that they will pick up rocks and fling them at the delicate fiberglass inner fenders. I just got through with tissueing a large area to repair crazing from former tires throwing rocks. I think I have done a fair job of that not happening again but would like to cut down on the likely hood of it with decent tread pattern tires. Am I going to have to go to some of the very expensive replica tires from specialists like Coker???

Kurt
26/3754

[h20hamelan]

While the Coker may be fine, there are a bunch of people in N America who for about $600 had their tyres delivered from Longstone.
We will see when 661 Graeme finishes his tests, though I think only a couple will apply to N America.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/sizes/re ... iameter=13

I dont know ousted of tire rack and Les Schwab in the good old US of A

[nomad]

It's been a few years but the Falken's I had sent from England cost far less than $600 to get here.

If getting tires out of Mexico is an issue and there is a good selection down there I would think that a motor home full of tires could be arranged some how!

I had a set of Sumitomo 175/70s on a Sprite and hated them. Side walls very flexible and squirrelly on narrower rims. On wide rims I can see why some would like them. I imagine the ride would be better than stiff side wall tires and the grip might benefit as well.

Kurt

[Davidb]

I am not aware that the Sumitomo HTR200 was available in the UK-is it?

They need a wider rim to support them but with that they are superb! I have a fair bit of race experience and found them to be great in the dry or wet. The person who recommended them "Prezoom" here on the forum, also has a lot of race experience I note so there must be something good about them!


Still looking for a way of getting them over the border.

[StressCraxx]

I was at a local Alfa club meet yesterday. One of my friends owns an Abarth Allemano coupe that weighs only 1380lbs and is quite quick. I noticed his tires and asked him about them. He said he found them on pure luck and desperation because the wheels are 12". He said the car rides and handles really well and his little Abarth is transformed by them, making it a joy to drive. They are sold online through Wal-Mart.

The sidewalls read "Waterfall", made in Turkey. He said they are made on former Pirelli equipment and use the same construction as Pirellis of the similar models. This is what I found for sizes available in the US:
https://www.walmart.com/search?q=waterfall+tires

They stock a 165/70 13 for the S3 Elan and 175/70H 13 for the S4 and Sprint

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Waterfall-Ec ... /210293704

[Davidb]

Thanks for the tip on the "Waterfalls"--I still hold out hope of getting the Sumitomos but will keep Walmart in mind!

[nomad]

Oh my, I haven't seen 40 dollar tires in 13 inch for a while. I'll have to check them out even if they go by the name of "Waterfall".

Kurt

[h20hamelan]

While anyone can have a mold, its what ya do with it. Also as important, might be materials used. I bet you could get many compounds to pass dot, I would accept major brand names to have better warranty and quality control, not to mention compounds again.

[nomad]

While anyone can have a mold, its what ya do with it. Also as important, might be materials used. I bet you could get many compounds to pass dot, I would accept major brand names to have better warranty and quality control, not to mention compounds again.

I've played with Sprites and Midgets for a while and usually need a set of 155/80's about every 2 years. For my driver I don't mind cheap!

Kurt

[The Veg]

Hmmmm, the Waterfalls might be OK on my Plus 2 as well. Currently on a set of Prestige Radialmax in 165 that must be at least a dozen years old, certainly pre-date my ownership but have so few miles on them that they still look new.

[mbell]

Currently on a set of Prestige Radialmax in 165 that must be at least a dozen years old, certainly pre-date my ownership but have so few miles on them that they still look new.

I'd replace those before any serious trip. May look ok but performance in the wet will really drop with age. A new set of tires is cheap compared to the CO pay or medical bills.