May 17, 2014:
In a few years time a lot of tire supplies can change. Do a web search for 168-80-15 tires. Current common models are Nankang and Nexen with good tires for reasonable prices. "Classic" brand is more rare, but I think they have good reviews. Vredestine is very good, but also very expensive. Michelin is now expensive and okay but not great. Bias ply tires and wide whitewalls are only for show cars, not for vigorous driving.

Addendum, October 28, 2014:
On good advice, I installed a set of Nexen SB802 tires 165-80-15 on my MGA, shown here on my 4-1/2 inch wide wheels. Look good, feel good to drive on with good grip and handling response. Time for the life test.

Addendum, March 28, 2016:
In October 2014, I bought Nexen tires (photo above). These lasted 17 months, 55,000 miles. They might have gone farther, but had a wheel bearing problem (fixed now) that ate some of the tread life. Just installed another set of Nexen. They have UTOG rating 320AB. Happy with the handling and wear life.

Addendum July 20, 2017:
I was advised some time ago by "someone who should know" that Nankang tires were "less than desirable" (to put it mildly). Having ruined a good Nexen tire on a ratty gravel road, I had to settle for the only 165-80-15 tires available in Alaska at the time, and installed a pair of Nankang CX668 165-80-15 tires. The driving experience is as advised, less than desirable. Side grip may be low, or there may be a high slip angle. When run on the rear of the car it tends to fishtail a bit in hard cornering. When run on the front of the car, it tends to wander left and right, requiring full time attention to keep the car centered in the traffic lane. On a paved road with worn tracks (we call "W" roads or "U-U roads), it does not want to stay on center, but wants do "climb" out of the tracks (easier to drive on the ridges). In short, directional stability sucks. I will not be buying these tires again.

Addendum July 28, 2017:
First user report on Firestone F-560 radial tires (165-80-15 size designed to look like bias ply tires). Aside from anything else, they are apparently not round, wanting to be shaved to be round before use. Also the sidewalls are soft, feeling a bit mushy to drive on.


Addendum September 5, 2017:
Several weeks out of Alaska and cruising Canada for a while, I found Gremax Capturar CF2 165/80/15 tires in Kelowna, BC, and had a pair of these installed on the front of my MGA. They must have been a new model, because I could not find any information about them on the internet at the time. The tire dealer reported UTOG rating of 400AA, meaning Treadwear 400, Traction A, and Temperature A. The "A" temperature rating is rare for a tire in this size, but it implies less heat buildup at road speed, possibly lower rolling resistance.

The tread pattern looked a bit odd at first, but they might run quiet, and may be good in the rain. Don't let the appearance fool you, as these turned out to be very good tires. Driving on the well worn "U-U" road pavement revealed very good directional stability, driving straight with two fingers on the steering wheel regardless of position within the road tracks. Twisty roads reveal good road grip, and driving in moderate rain with puddles in the road reveals good grip in the rain as well. I am delighted with these tires and recon they may be better than the Nexen tires I also like.

Addendum June 25, 2018:

American Classic 560R15s from Coker Tire. A radial tire that looks like vintage bias ply. No user road report on this one yet, but it may be a good compromise between show car and driver. Probably better than driving on bias ply tires, but likely not as good as modern radials for road grip.

Addendum June 30, 2018:
The Blockley Tyre Company have introduced a new range of whitewall tires. These three new tires are based on the standard Blockley radial design but with a thin white wall on the outside of the tyre. They are made to the same high standards as the rest of the Blockley Radial range and offer great reliable performance as well as authentic period looks (statement from Blockley). The tires are available in 125SR12, 185HR14 and 155HR15.

The issue now is, we have been so used to using 165-80-15 tires that I am not sure if I want to step back to 155 size. But Blockley does make good tires.