Tires: Changing tire size on 1971 Mercedes Benz 250C, white wall tires, mercedes benz

Question
I am having a 1971 Mercedes Benz 250C rebuilt. I want to keep it as original as possible. The car came originally with Michelin 195/75/R14 one-inch white wall tires. All that I can find for new tires (keeping the one-inch white wall) are 205/70R/14s. I mentioned these 205/75/R14s to the person doing the mechanical rebuild and he threw a fit. "Can't do it, it will make severe changes to the steerig. Can't do it, will put undo stress on the steering assembly. Can't do it, it will change your speedo reading."
Mercedes in Phoenix says that it is not an issue. Going from 195 to 205 and 75 to 70 shouldn't effect anything except a slight difference in the speedo reading. The car looks simply ratty with the availble 195/75/R14 black walls. What is yyour opinion? Any harm is changing out to the available 205/70/R14 one-inch white walls?

Answer
Frank,

I think you should try to find the network Mercedes has set up to provide parts and such for vintage Benz's.  I know they have commissioned some tires for these cars and I suspect they will be able to help you get exactly what you are looking for.  They are located in Germany and they have a web site, but I can't seem to locate it right now.  Perhaps you will have better, afterall you are more motivated.

But a P195/75R14 has very close to the same diameter as a P205/70R14.