MatraSport Forum

Hello,

I just bought an Murena 2,2 from 1982 that haven´t been in traffic since October 1983 so it still have the original Pirelli tyres. It has only been driven 40000km and is in relative good condition but needs som maintance on the brakes and so on.
So I want to buy new tyres and realize that the original dimension it´s not so common if you want high premium sport tyres!

What tyres should I buy?

Best regards
Mattias

 

Nice car.

There has been a wide discussion on the Belgian forum without a conclusion, except that a lot of tyres are too soft.

Hi Mattias. And welcome to the Matra experience. :-)
Good tires for 14" wheels are hard to get. But look for a tire with a V speed rating as it will have stiffer side walls and give better control. for example MICHELIN MXV 3A they come in 86 load and V speed rating. Not cheap though.

Thanks for reply!

I have always liked the Murena but they are very unusal here, around 10 cars in Sweden. Saw the car on an internet auction and it was located near my home so had to see it in reality. It´s very nice in this colour I think and since it only have been in traffic from July 82 to October 83 and with 40000km I was very interested. I big interest during the auction but the price was ok so now it´s mine.
I have searched the internet and realize that original tyre dimension with V rating is very hard to find. The Michelin MXV3A is double the price as for Vredestein Sportrac 5, a modern tyre with good results in different test but only H rating. So perhaps the solution is to buy 15 inch wheels and V rated tyres!? I can get Vredestein Sportrac 5 in 205/195-50 or 55 profile with V-rating. We will see. The original Pirelli P6 tyres only have H rating but perhaps the side walls where stiffer back then...We will se what I found!

Best regards
Mattias

Hi Mattias,

Nice car find, well done and enjoy it.

Here is a link (below) to a good site, to see at least what is generally available out there in 14" tyre size.

Cheers,

Graham

P.S. I like Khumo's.

https://www.oponeo.co.uk/tyre-finder/s=3/summer,winter,all-season/t=1/car/r=1/195-60-r14#&&_wEXDgUOcGNrX1RyTFNTc25JZHMFCTHilKwy4pSsMwUVcGNrX0xzdFNTb3J0UGFyYW1ldGVyBQIzNwUKcGNrX1RyTFNQRgUCMzYFFXBja19UckxTU29ydERpcmVjdGlvbgUBMgUIcGNrX0lPRlAFAjI0BQlwY2tfVHJMU1IFA-KUpAUHcGNrX0lQUAUCMjQFCXBja19UcjQ4aAUD4pSkBQpwY2tfVHJMU1BUBQI4OAUNcGNrX1RyTFNWVElkcwUBNAULcGNrX1RyTFNST0YFA-KUpAUHcGNrX0NQZwUBMQUMcGNrX1RyTFNTSWRzBQMyMDgFCnBja19UckxTU0wFAjIxKPcCbrcvBcP-n6NXncIACji688o=

No 14 inch tyres with V index at Oponeo

Check this article from Roy Gillard
http://www.matraclub.org.uk/pdf/Tyres.pdf

Ian

https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/tyres/tyre-speed-rating/

An "H - Rating"  is good for 130mph / 209km/h.

A "V - Rating" is good for 149 mph / 240 km/h. 

Does a standard Murena really need a V-Rating?

At one point (before I sold my car  :( ) I was looking into making some 15" wheels by doing what Chip Foose does in Overhauling.
Namely get some 15" wheel rims and then turning the original wheels on a lathe so the center could be welded into the new rims.
That way you would have wheels that looked original, but were able to be fitted with proper tyres.
The De Lorean club has done something similar to get original looking De Lorean wheels.
Just a thought  ;D

Thanks for reply on this question. I will buy new wheels in 15 or 16 inch size depending on what I will find and then its easy to find good tyres with stiffer side walls then what is offered in 14 inch size. It will be 7x15 or 7x16 with ET 15-25. What ET do you recommend for 7 inch wheels?

// Mattias 

Hello,

Searching for silver and black wheels since there are many black details on a Murena and found these...
Brand new Fondmetal model 7900 in dim 7x16 and ET 30, very special and odd...perhaps to special for a Murena. At least a good price, 320 Euro.
What do you think? :)

// Mattias

I have been modifying mine over the years so am not really qualified to comment.
However having found such an original car I would try and keep it that way or at least fit a wheel which has some sort of reflection on the original.

I agree with GP. I had 16" on my Murena for a long time and I liked them very much. Now I am back at 15 and to me these seem to fit the car better. But everybody has different tastes in rims ofcourse. For me they just have to be more or less period-accurate, not the black/silver modern ones with twisted spokes but more the traditional ones.

On the 15" I have now fitted Nexen Nblue HD Plus tyres. These have a reletively stiff wall and I am very pleased with the handling of these under the Murena. Dunno if they come in 14" though.

Sorry to say this but 16 inch make the look of the car ridiculus.
In my personnal opinion, don't go greater the 15 inch.

Ronal 15 inch using all season V speed.
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FMax-FDdB9o/VSQ4cxjM_pI/AAAAAAAAGJw/S3K2GoK0Jzw/s800/klaar2.jpg)

On my 15 inch  I had 195 x 70 height  tyres.
It came with the wheels.
It gave me this.
(https://is.gd/TLe5zp)

The  front tyres on the 15 inch is now 45 high.

I think the 16 inch can give problems to get it right.

Braid 15"

Thanks for your advise and I agree a Murena should have more classic type of wheels. I found a set of Aluline wheels that need sandplasting and some paint, see attached photo with the same type.
Dim 7x15 and ET 13 but the bolt pattern is 100x4, think it can be solved with special bolts to compensate for the 2 mm differance. Centrum hole is 57,1mm so it needs some machining up to 58,1 but that can be solved. Will use tyres with dim 195/205 in 50-profile.

Oooh they are nice!  :)

Murena has ET29.
Ithink ET  13 wil do but not sure.
50 height front wil be OK.

I have 45 front and 55 rear and 7J ET25
It has good dirve abillity because the car is more wedge.

Wheel look good.

That's very interesting as I did not know that special bolts / "Wobble Bolts" even existed!

https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/tyre-alloy-wheel-section/168043-pcd-variation-bolts-aka-wobble-bolts-myth-versus-reality.html

Those are some nice rims! Wil look nice and wide as well with an ET of 13! Wobble bolts work very well, just make sure you buy a decent set and that the centre-hole fits snug with your hub.

Also found these new wheels from Japan racing during my search on internet...
Have an nice style with a classic touch with the cross spoke pattern that I think would fit the Murena. Available in 4x98 with centrum hole 58,1 in dim 8x15, ET20.
Will be the same money as for the Aluline that I bought with machining, sandblasting, powdercoating and new bolts...so I have to think about it!

// Mattias

These are my posh "going out" wheels!  ;D

Very nice wheels!! Dimensions?

Application: Delta Integrale 16v Only
Size: 7" x 15"
Offset: ET27
PCD: 4 x 98
Centre Bore: Matra Murena

Tyres Front: 195/50VR15
Tyres Rear: 205/50VR15