According to the manual the original tire size was 175 SR 14 (M+S) on my 300D. Currently I have 195/70R14 tires. Was the original tire equivalent to a 175/75R14 or maybe a 175/85R14? Are the 195/70R14s to big? Around here folks running 75+ are a dime a dozen. There is no overdrive. I'm wondering if the old girl could run some longer legs. Im used to cruisin about 70, just fast enough that they all dont blow their horns as they pass me on the left and the right. Of course I have found that noone tailgates me any longer, gotta love oil crushers.

 

Yep, that's the only thing I like about dino diesel.... Now that I'm burning Tokyo Terriaki's WVO, they seem to love the smell so much they want to drive up my tailpipe....

 

I run 185/70 R14 Michelin Weatherwise Sporttires on my alloy rims in Summer and the same size Kleber Snowson my steel wheels w/hubcaps in the Winter. I once ran 195s on my '77 240D and I seem to remember them rubbing -- maybe my front springs were worn? In any event I have no problem with 185s, and I believe them to be the bestall-around choicewhen consideringthe original factory spec of 175 SR 14. Ihave a set of OE 175 SR 14 Continental tires, but at their age I'd never consider actually running them. At their fully vulcanized state I could probably get 200K miles out of 'em.

 

I found that there is a tire and wheel forum here so I reposted.

However, thanks for the input. I dont have any problems with these tires rubbing but it sounds like I probably shouldn't go any wider, or taller. Thank goodness I dont have to change to different sets of tires with the season. I just got rid of a Continental that was in the spare slot...looked like a bad retread with all the cracks. So that might have been my last original tire. Ah, well the engine gets loud at highway speed. I wish they wouldnt drive so fast around here. This is not exactly an autobahn car. I sure could use a 2 speed rear end or another gear.