Hi all from a newbie,
 
1990 SW20 "as vanilla as it gets" and owned from new. My regular every-day ride.
 
Original wheels 14x6 front and 14x7 rear with 195/60H14 Pirelli P6 (near new) front and Yokohama S306 (some years old now :-) 205/60H14 rear.
 
The rear tires are, um, tired.
 
I need at least some new rear tyres. 205/60HR14 are, apparently, now hard to source.
 
So, looking for either
1) suitable (205? 215? 195???) rear tyres to fit the existing, original, rear wheels (preferred option),
OR
2) recommendation for an upgrade to new wheels and tyres: basically, 'gentle'  street-only use - better than current but it doesn't have to be 'white knuckle-capable' - I'm now too old for that - a balance of performance and price if you please.
 
All recommendations and comments welcome.
 
Thank you!

Hi Vanilla,
 
Welcome to the forum.  some of the other guys/gals are better at answering your questions.  Altho from what I understand upgrading wheels to 16 is a better idea than going to 15's.  15" tyres are getting difficult to source as well.
 
Where are you?  

Oops, not sure why it double posted.

"I need at least some new rear tyres. 205/60HR14 are, apparently, now hard to source"
 
That may be the case with 'performance' brand tyres like Bridgestone RE 003's, or yokahama AD 08's
But if you search Google for 205/60R14 you will find several brands listed that appear to be general purpose all weather tyres.
Unfortunately, I can not tell you how well they would perform handling wise on the rear of an SW20, only that they would conform to the load rating on your driver's side doorpost sticker.
 
 
 
 
 

I have exactly the same car with the original wheels on it.  I couldn't find a single tyre manufacturer that can make matching front and back tyres, I think I'll end up going for a new set of rims.
 
I was looking at the later model SW20 15 inch rims, apparently they have a wider selection of tyres available.

Still have 15's on mine and have a new set 205/225 (Falkens) wrapped in vacum sealed bags ready when I need them.

 

JME
I have exactly the same car with the original wheels on it.  I couldn't find a single tyre manufacturer that can make matching front and back tyres, I think I'll end up going for a new set of rims.
 
I was looking at the later model SW20 15 inch rims, apparently they have a wider selection of tyres available.

You may not need matching front and rear tyres with the same brand/pattern if you can find tyres with similar performance specs. Perhaps ask the advice of a reputable tyre shop.
I have done that sucessfully with my SW20 for many years with no handling problems.

Unfortunately if you went for the later SW20 15" rims you would have the same problem.
While the OEM front size is OK there is now very little choice available in the OEM 15" rear size 225/50R15.
 
 



 

Thank you to all who replied.
 
Shaz - I'm in Sydney.
 
Reddtarga & all - there appears a limited selection of original size 205/60H14, do you have any experience or recommendations regarding
1) Federal SS595,
2) Achilles 122,
3) Nanking SP-9 Cross Sport,
4) Arivo Premio ARZ1,
5) Falken ZIEX ZE912,
6) Nankang NS-20 Noble Sport (where do they think up the names :-) ?
 
All comments welcome - thanks.

Have used the Falkens...very happy with them. Good all rounders and lasted ages. Didn't abuse them tho.