A Good Tire Choice


In an article from the BEC (Berkeley Enthusiast Club) newsletter dated September 2002 about the availability of tires for Berkeley’s, the following page shows my findings. I looked into many types and sizes of modern tires, and have come up with what I feel is a good replacement, although not of the original size. Because I drive my Berkeley's my concern was one of overall performance, reliability and availability.

The tires I did not choose were the 145R80/12 radial automobile tire, due to clearance problems with the front suspension components and a 5.20 x 12 Carlisle trailer tire due to having a 6 ply construction (a hard ride) and a greater slip angle while cornering.

The tire I did choose is a Mastercraft brand 145R12 (not to be confused with the 145R80-12). Following are some comparative photographs and comments as to why.




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On the left is an original Michelin 5.20 x 12. On the right is the Mastercraft 145R12. Both are already mounted (you must use a tube with the new 145R12).

Here you can see that the Mastercraft is a bit smaller in diameter approximately 1 inch in height

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At first glance the Matercraft looks much wider than the original Michelin tire.

When put side to side it is only the tread width that is greater. When the sidewalls were measured the difference was negligible. This was the first indication that I would not have a clearance issue. Remember, it is the sidewall width, not tread width that can create a problem if it is too wide.

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And here they are on the Berkeley, a nice fit and they look great.

This is how hard I can be on tires and how to put them to the test.


The Mastercraft tires provided much-improved handling, ride comfort, affordability and availability. The only minus is the slightly smaller diameter.


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