185R14 Bus Tire & Sidewall Photos

by Richard Atwell
(c) Copyright 2006-2008

Index:

    Vintage Tires:

  1. Michelin X
  2. Michelin MX
  3. Michelin XZX
  4. Metzler Monza
  5. Dunlop SP 68
  6. Continental TS 771
  7. Continental RS771
  8. Continental Contrans
  9. Continental CR21
  10. Continental Bias Ply
  11. Pirelli Cintauro
  12. Goodyear Ultra Grip G800
  13. Vredestein Transport Steel
  14. 74/75 Folding Spare

    Available Tires:

  15. Bridgestone RD-603
  16. Continental Vanco 8
  17. Cooper SRM II
  18. Hankook RA08
  19. Hercules G4000 LT
  20. Michelin Agilis 61
  21. Michelin Agilis 81
  22. Nankang N-810
  23. Nokian NRC2
  24. Jupiter SV-820
  25. Woosung SV-820
  26. Signet SV-820
  27. Vredestein Comtrac
  28. Yokohama Y356

    Winter Tires:

  29. Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS
  30. Nokian Hakkapeliitta CQ
  31. Nokian Hakkapeliitta C2

This page can take a while to load in your browser because of all the photos.

I collect photos of tires to aid as a buyers guide. Models and styles come and go so it also serves to record the details of each tire in the event a suitable tire from the same manufacturer becomes available in future.

As you will see below, over the last 20+ years the tires specs haven't changed, only the selection and availability has changed; tread styles and construction ply designs come and go. NLA means no longer available.

Tires are listed in no particular sort order but the vintage group on the left are NLA and listed so we can remember them. It's interesting to see what the original tires looked like and what their specs were. The middle group are currently available. The date of manufacture if known is shown in (parenthesis).

At present, the selection of 185R14C tires gives us about 10 different brands to choose from.

If you would like to add to this collection you can email me at ratwell at mac dot com for more info. If you also have a vintage tire in your garage not listed here, I am especially interested.

A tire that says 8PR means it's 8-ply rated. When the number of plies listed is less than 8 this simply means the strength is equivalent to an 8-ply bias ply tire rating. 6PR has a similar meaning.

Most radial plies are now made from steel, nylon and polyester. Rayon is out of fashion as a tire ply and kevlar is starting to appear but I haven't seen a bus tire made with Kevlar to date. When referring to tire plies below, poly is short for polyester.

Vintage Tires:

Michelin X (1980) - NLA
Purchased from VW dealer

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 94 n/a 2 poly + 2 steel 2 poly reinforced 1540 lbs 40 psi Belgium

Michelin MX (July '00) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Chris Hinkley
Purchased used from GoWesty!

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 94R n/a 2 poly + 1 polyamide + 2 steel 2 poly 1540 lbs reinforced 40 psi United Kingdom

Michelin XZX (made Oct '99) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Karl Von Salzen
Found in Junkyard

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 94R n/a 2 steel + 2 rayon 2 rayon 1540 lbs reinforced 40 psi Germany

Metzler Monza (made Dec '95) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Matt Cuddy
Came from Previous Owner

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C n/a n/a 2 nylon + 4 rayon 2 nylon LRC 1675 lbs 55 psi Germany

Dunlop SP 68 - NLA
Found in Westy spare tire box

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a Germany

Continental TS 771 (Jan '90) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Karl Von Salzen
Found in Junkyard

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 94R S 2 rayon + 2 steel + 2 nylon 2 rayon reinforced 1540 lbs 40 psi Germany

Continental RS771 (Jan '94) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Karl Von Salzen
Found in Junkyard

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 99 N 2 rayon + 1 steel + 1 nylon 2 rayon LRC 1710 lbs 55 psi Germany

Continental Contrans (Nov '94) - NLA
Purchased from VW dealer

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 99 Q 2 poly + 2 steel + 1 nylon 2 poly LRC 1710 lbs 55 psi Great Britain

Continental CR21 (Nov '01) - NLA
Purchased from Discount Tire

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 94R R 2 poly + 2 steel + 2 nylon 2 poly reinforced 1540 lbs 40 psi Sweden

Continental Bias Ply - NLA

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

Pirelli Cintauro (1972) NLA
Original unused spare

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6PR n/a Germany

Goodyear Ultra Grip G800 (1985) NLA

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 6PR n/a Sweden

Vredestein Transport Steel (Jan '01) - Photos courtesy of Don
Product Page at Tyreland

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 N 2 steel + 2 rayon + 1 nylon 2 rayon 1875 lbs LRD 65 psi Holland

74/75 Folding Spare (by BF Goodrich) - NLA - Photos courtesy of Ed Woenker
Came with every 74/75 Westfalia

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
F78-14 n/a n/a 2 rayon + 1 nylon 2 rayon LRB 1500 lbs 32 psi USA

That is not a typo: the folding spare is a Load Range "B" tire. This normally means there are a maximum of 4 plies (tread and sidewall).

Available Tires:

Bridgestone RD-603 (Oct 1999) - Photos courtesy of Adam McKinley
Purchased from Craigslist - Product Page at Tire Rack

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 LT n/a n/a 2 steel + 2 poly 2 poly 1850 lbs LRD 65 psi Japan

Continental Vanco 8 (May '06) - Photos courtesy of Chris Hinkley
Purchased at Five Points Tire - Product Page at Tire Rack

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 Q 1 poly + 1 steel + 2 nylon 1 poly 1874 lbs LRD 65 psi Czech Republic

Cooper SRM II (made Nov '05) - Photos courtesy of Bret Giuliani
Purchased at Express Tire in San Marcos, CA - Product Page at Cooper Tires (alternate site)

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 Q 2 steel + 2 nylon 2 poly 1875 lbs LRD 65 psi USA

Hankook RA08 (Nov '05) - Photos courtesy of Joe Bartoli
Purchased from Hankook dealer, Dexter's Tire and Auto - Product Page at Bus Depot and Hankook USA

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 Q 2 poly + 2 steel + 1 nylon 2 poly LRD 1874 lbs 65 psi Korea

Hercules G4000 LT - Photos courtesy of Phil Eslin
Product Page at Hercules

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C n/a n/a n/a n/a 1875 lbs LRD 65 psi

Michelin Agilis 61 - Photos courtesy of Kevin Smith
Product Page at Michelin and Tire Rack

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 99 n/a n/a n/a 1709 lbs LRC 54 psi n/a

Nankang N-810 - Photos courtesy of Troy Wical

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 100 R 2 poly + 2 steel + 1 nylon 2 poly 1870 lbs LRD 64 psi Taiwan

Michelin Agilis 81 (Apr '05) - Photos courtesy of Tom Tuomey
Purchased at Tire Rack -

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 R 2 poly + 3 steel 2 poly 1875 lbs LRD 65 psi France

Nokian NRC2 (Jan '05) - the best summer tire you can buy
Purchased from TireFactory.net - Product Page at Nokian

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 S 2 steel + 2 poly + 1 nylon 2 poly 1873 lbs LRD 65 psi Finland

Jupiter SV-820 (March '04) - Photos courtesy of Evan Cabodi
Purchased from Les Schwab - (Product Page at Nexen Tire)
Known Clones: Capitol/Geostar/Signet/Woosung

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 n/a 2 poly + 2 steel 2 poly LRD 1875 lbs 65 psi Korea

Woosung SV-820 (March '04) - Photos courtesy of Clarke Bayles

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 99 P 2 poly + 2 steel 2 poly LRC 1710 lbs 55 psi Korea

Signet SV-820 - Photos courtesy of Scott Lyons

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 P n/a n/a LRD 1875 lbs 65 psi Korea

Vredestein Comtrac Steel (Jan '01) - Photos courtesy of Troy Wical
Product Page at Vredestein

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 R 2 poly + 2 steel + 1 nylon 2 poly 1875 lbs LRD 65 psi Holland

Yokohama Y356 (Mar '06) - Photos courtesy of Ed Woenker and David Lawrence
Purchased at Tire Rack - Product Page at Tire Rack (LRD version)

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14 LT n/a n/a 2 steel + 2 poly 2 poly 1600 lbs LRC 50 psi Japan

Winter Tires:


Severe Service Emblem. Nokian make the best winter tires, period. See my Nokian tire page for more info.

Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS (Sept '06)
Purchased from TireFactory.net - Product Page at Nokian

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 S 2 steel + 2 poly + 1 nylon 2 poly 1873 lbs LRD 65 psi Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta CQ (Nov '03) - Photos courtesy of Peter Steckhan
Purchased from Kal Tire - Product Page at Nokian

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 Q 2 steel + 2 poly + 1 nylon 2 poly 1873 lbs LRD 65 psi Finland

Nokian Hakkapeliitta C2 (Sept '06)
Purchased from TireFactory.net - Product Page at Nokian

Size Load Index Speed Rating Tread plies Sidewall plies Load Range Load Rating Max Pressure Made in
185R14C 102 Q 2 steel + 2 poly + 1 nylon 2 poly 1873 lbs LRD 65 psi Finland

References:

History:

07/25/06 - Created w/ Michelin X
07/26/06 - Added my Continental Tires
07/27/06 - Added Karl's Continental Tires
07/27/06 - Added Evan's Jupiter SV-820's
07/28/06 - Added Joe's Hankook RA08's
07/29/06 - Added Ed and David's Yokohama Y356's
07/30/06 - Added Adam's Bridgestones
07/31/06 - Added Peter's Nokian CQ's
08/01/06 - Added Chris Hinkley's Vanco's and Michelin X
08/01/06 - Added Clarke's Woosung's
08/05/06 - Added Kevin's Agilis
08/05/06 - Updated Karl's photos
08/07/06 - Added Karl's XZX photos
08/07/06 - Added Ed's 74/75 Folding spare photos
08/07/06 - Added Tom's Agilis
08/10/06 - Added Scott's Signet
08/15/06 - Added Phil's Hercules
08/16/06 - Added Bret's Cooper's
08/24/06 - Added Don's Vredestein's
02/25/07 - Added Troy's Vredestein's
12/13/07 - Added Pirelli and Goodyear vintage tires
04/16/08 - Added Troy's Nankang photos