Technical Substitute for Fiat Palio Tyre : 165/80-R13 Tube+Tyre

[Navin Talati]

Dear friend,
I seek your valuable guidance for the Tyre selection for my Palio.
The car is Fiat Palio 1.2 nv petrol and its Tyre specification is: 165/80-R13 Tube+Tyre.
This type of tyres are presently non running nowadays and so unavailability is the main issue. Only Bridgestone is making this size (which is S248 / 83S type) and being a non-running item, it remains almost unavailable in India.

Please guide me for the substitute size without compromising any factor with that for officially specified size and type.
Thanks.
Navin Talati

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

185-70 R13.
(Better find some 14" tubeless rims).

 

[portland_bill]

Is it the size that is the problem, or it being a tube type tyre?

These guys list 21 options for a tubeless in that size. https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finde...rX1RyTFNTTAUCMzF3+50yERh9SakOYYFNk0iOXAjPgQ==

Their website will also help choose an alternative size: https://www.oponeo.co.uk/advice-and-tips/tyre-size-calculator

Is there some local legislation requiring tube type?

If the rims have been running tubed tyres for some time, some rust may develop around the valve hole. This may prevent a tubeless valve sealing properly. That would mean new wheels. The Oponeo site may help there too.

You can run tubeless tyres with tubes, but you may end up replacing the tubes very frequently. The inner surfaces of tube type tyres are smooth, but tubeless ones have internal ribs. These ribs chafe the tube, causing them to wear through. Very good quality tubes, like the thicker ones Michelin used to produce (hopefully still do) will last a lot longer. Make sure the fitter puts in a lot of chalk as lubricant.
Had this issue many years ago with a 131. 1988-91. Ah, memories.

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

The valve hole rusting isn't a big problem, clean it, and it's OK again.
Tubeless wheels have two dedicated "humps" in them, to keep the tubeless tyre in place, which tube type wheels don't have.
So driving tubetype wheels with tubeless tyres is VERY dangerous, cause the tyre can come loose at any moment....

Left tube less, right tube type wheel

 

[portland_bill]

My 1978 131 had the humps in the wheels, but Fiat had fitted tubed tyres from new. By the time I got it, at 7 years old, the valve holes were beyond help.

As the Palio is later, it is worth checking whether the wheels are capable of taking tubeless. Being India, might be some local legislation for tubes though.

 

[Navin Talati]

Let me add something more.
The unavailability of the original size is the main issue for my car's tyre. I do not want to change the Rim. It is a Steel Rim of 13". It is found on many sights and also advised to use mainly following TWO options for the original 165/80-R13 stock tyres:

(1). 175/70-R13
(2). 185/70-R13

The later one is advised to be preferred as the overall diameter of the wheel almost remains the same (i.e. reduces by just 0.2"). So I am thinking to go for it. Micheline Energy XM2 185/70-R13 is also a suggested product for Fiat Palio nv on its website. Now my questions are:

a). It is a Tybe typoe tyre or Tubeless tyre?
b). If it is a Tubeless tyre, can I use it with tube and install on my car's original 13" Steel Rim?

(NOTE: My usual driving habit is to maintain average 80 km speed, hardly exceeds 90-95 or max. say 100, i.e. just while casual over-taking requirement.)

Please advise and guide.

Navin Talati / 16-12-2017

 

[Peter Pick-Up]

185/70R13 is the right size.
If your rims have the tubeless hump (see picture) fitting a tubeless tyre is no problem.
Putting a tube in a tubeless tyre is asking for problems, so don't even consider it.
Again, it's all clearly explained above.

 

[KevinTaylo]

On my fiat palio 1.2 2008 model,
I use (175/65 R14).