Well, in most places, the majority rules. There are significantly more American English speakers than British English speakers. The United States has around 239 million native English speakers, while the UK has about 62 million. So tires it is on my Pagoda with a hood and a trunk. 😉
Two additional tires that have not been mentioned in this thread are the
Coker Phoenix https://cokertire.com/tires/phoenix-3-4-inch-whitewall-185r14.html, as well as the
Blockley https://www.blockleytyre.com/make/mercedes/mercedes-280sl. I had the Coker Phoenix until they expired a few years ago, so to speak, and I replaced them with the Blockley. These are two that are available in both black wall and white wall.
Like the Michelin mentioned, they are not inexpensive, but they are one of the few tires available in the correct and proper size: 185HR14. But inexpensive is a relative thing. I have had to purchase tires for a daily driver, and the set of four was nearly $1000 after discounts.
A few years ago, when assisting my elderly aunt with her SLK, I had to purchase two Michelin tires with the – MO suffix. By creating a proprietary tire with Michelin, giving it the Mercedes only designation, they created a tire that handles exceedingly well, but doesn’t last very long (was less than 20K miles over three years). My aunt was quite literally the old lady who goes to church on Sundays, and the tires did not last the length of the lease. Those replacement tires were a few hundred dollars
each.
Good tires are not inexpensive and that’s all there is to it. Like many others I may not drive my car as often as a daily driver, but I do want good tires on it as you never know what can happen or when. At least several times a year, I am on the highway at speed and I want good rubber. Going to PagodaFest next week I will probably be on the highway at 70 to 80 miles an hour for four hours.
The current tariff situation in the USA may induce price havoc on the tire situation. The Michelin’s mentioned are made in Mexico. The Cokers are made in Mexico. The Blockleys are made in Malaysia, but come through UK. These tariffs seem to be whimsical and may change at any time.
