Thanx KhanTyranitar!

 

I'm not really fond of replying to my own post, but here goes.......

Just today I found a local shop that will still sell the 215/75R14 tire.
They can get Firestone and Hankook.
The Firestone price would be about $75 a tire. Not a big fan of Firestone from previous Firestone tires experiences, so I inquired about the Hankooks. The price on the Hankook is (get this) $56 a tire, plus taxes. This is mounted and balanced for that price. The man at the tire shop said that at that price, there would be no road hazard warranty available. (I didn't want it anyway)
They also don't stock that size so they would have to order them and it would be a 2-3 day wait. (Good. That means they are probably fresher tires) He assured me that his supplier had them in inventory.
I realize the Hankook will probably be made in China, Korea or Vietnam, but I've heard internet postings that no manufacturer has an American-made 215/75R14 tire available anymore anyway.
Tires are supposed to take a big price increase beginning January 1st, so I better get them ordered tomorrow.

 

thanks kruse,
any tire info we can get and pass around on our ageing Aeros helps all. getting much harder to find 14s
I'll soon be replacing mine, Toyo Ultras which they no longer make.
let us know how the Hankook runs.

 

INTERSTATE SIGMA ARCTIC CLAW TXI is another one still available in sizes from 185-205/75/14 made in co-operation with CooperTire & Rubber Co. I've found a source from Sweden that delivers to the EU Market but highly priced.
Must be a real Snow-Grabber. I wonder if anyone have expirience with those on a Aero*.

 

225 section fits? How about loaded? 225-70-14 is pretty common yet, but the last time I looked (this week), one tire place had 2 options in 215-70-14. The General Grabber AT2 in 27-8.50-14 was not available.

I was also thinking about 215-70-15, once I round up some rims. My Windstar has this size. Might be about the same overall height as the 215-75-14 I'm supposed to run (2wd), and have enough sidewall to ride decent and carry a load.

At this point I'm looking for rear tires first, as the ones I am using are 2-4 years old, off my old van. The fronts are fairly new, the previous owner replaced them after scrubbing them off due to shot tie rod ends.

The 14" tires are getting harder to find, only passenger car tires around here.

 

It seems that 215/70 14 have completly vanished in Europe, I'm searching a solution since several week with no other issue to move to 15" rims; problem: finding Explorer rims in a junk here is like searching feather on an egg!!!!

 

Penceau,

You easier might find tires in a size below 215 f.e. 185 to 205 made for Transporters, "C"-Class rated. I've finally found and ordered four of that kind in size 185/75/14. TOYO H9 and Conti Conveo are available in many sizes for 14" rims but rarely over 205.

Smaler is better in mudy snow-conditions and fresh deep snow, whereas bigger is better on hardened snow-surface, then i always put chains under.

Good Luck

 

almost any Ford 15" 6" or 7" wide 5 bolt rim will fit the Aero hub. lots of 1/2 ton pickups and all the larger cars from the 90s including the Taurus as an option i believe.

later Ranger pickups

Jeep 15" fits also.

Volvo may fit?

i would not go below 205 wide tires due to the weight of the Aero and body roll, especially the long heavy EXT. AWD

 

A final followup.
I got the three tires installed today. The bill for the mounted and balanced tires with new stems was $163.83. Tax added $11.96 to that amount for a grand total of $176.54. That is the total bill for a set of three tires. (Fourth tire is a different brand purchased a couple of months ago)
This was for a Hankook 215/75R14 tire that was made in Korea. FYI, the treadwear is rated at 500, traction is "A" and temperature is "C" on these tires. Tires are quiet and they make me feel a little bit better that my wife will be putting about 1500 miles on the Aero over Christmas.
So, yes. They are still available.

 

People keep saying wheels from full size Fords and 1/2 ton pickups will work, but I think some of the old Galaxies and LTDs, etc, (the real full size Fords) have a bolt pattern larger than 4 1/2", and the F100s and 150's have a 5" bolt pattern. I would definitely do a trial fit before mounting tires.

 

Like i said in another thread dodge caravan 2000. They fit. I put 1/4 spacer on the front and all is well. Just about the same.

 

'79-02 Panther platform would have 4.5" bolt circle, along with Ranger rims. Newer Panther ('03-up) have a different offset, probably wouldn't fit as well. The older full-size cars I believe have GM 4.75" bolt pattern.

 

Giving this thread a bump with a member wanting tires in the 215/74R14 size.

 

I'm a little late to answer (beside my job and my Aero i've to deal with a cancer!!!), French regulation is strongly restrictive with tires (and all others thing about cars!!): downsizing tires is strictly forbidden and you can't match with the periodics controls.
recently I found four rims from a Jeep in a local tires dealer: 15x7, they seem to fit perfectly with a positive offset of 17 mm. This is the lone solution available, in 14" dimensions over 205 have completly disappeared here; Michelin still sell a "collection tires" in 215/70 R14 for the price of four, I think for Mustang and old Ferrari.

 

good luck with the 15" tires, good solution.

best of luck with the cancer and lots more years enjoying driving your Aero.