Scott M Posted May 3 Report Posted May 3 I’m sure this has been discussed many times but my search skills aren’t working. now I’ve got my 3a running well , sorted electrics , greased and oiled everything etc I’m getting new tyres tomorrow. I had planned on 165-80-15 on my 60 spoke chrome wires which is what’s already on. now , I don’t have a spare for the car yet so wanted to check what is already on the car in the spare wheel well - no chance . im now wondering what would be best as obviously I’d rather have the spare when I get it the same as what’s on the car what do people do who run with bigger tyres ? what will fit the wheel well ? Quote
Drewmotty Posted May 3 Report Posted May 3 I use 165s on 5 1/2” wires but have a 155 on a 4” rim for a spare. It’s still a tight fit in the letterbox. Quote
John Morrison Posted May 3 Report Posted May 3 Or run a 165 x 15 and store the spare flat and inflate with a 12 v compressor if ever needed. Be aware that a lot of spare wheel compartments have been ‘Squashed’ over the years and this might be part of your issue John Quote
Lebro Posted May 3 Report Posted May 3 If your 3A is post 60000 then you can get a 165 width tyre on a 4" rim in (It has a slightly raised boot floor) Other wise a 155 should fit ok. Bob Quote
Scott M Posted May 3 Author Report Posted May 3 Thanks chaps , I’ll stick with the 165s then and try to source a 4” rim for the spare . it’s a post 60000 so that sounds ideal that 165 will fit . I could get one of the road ones in as far as the hub but that caught - just so probably have 4.5s on the car . Quote
harlequin Posted May 4 Report Posted May 4 A 165 on a 4" rim is what I have and its tight, so I have a leather belt round the rim and tyre (through the spokes) to give me something to pull on for removing the spare George Quote
Ralph Whitaker Posted May 4 Report Posted May 4 Some 165s fit and some don`t. I have 185/70/15s on 60 spoke TR6 rims and had an old Firestone 165 on a 4 1/2 inch 48 spoke rim which fitted in the compartment fully inflated. My car is a post 60k too and I did have to use a scissor jack and some offcuts of ply to push the boot floor back up into place. Because of the age of the spare I replaced it with the same as on the car but another 165, theory being that if I had to use it at first glance it would match the other tyres even if strictly illegal, but that would not fit fully inflated. I now carry it deflated and store the scissor jack and a 12v tyre pump inside the well of the wheel, also a bag and a small ratchet strap so I can carry the removed 185 wheel on the shelf behind the seats strapped back using the seatbelt mounts on the wheel arches as anchor points. As an alternative I also carry a roll of non slip rubber coated mesh so I can carry the removed wheel and tyre on the bootlid. A boot rack may be a future purchase. Ralph Quote
Lebro Posted May 4 Report Posted May 4 (edited) 165 on a 4 1/2" rim would be tight I imagine but should be ok on a 4" wheel. Bob Edited May 4 by Lebro Quote
Ian Vincent Posted Monday at 03:36 PM Report Posted Monday at 03:36 PM 18 hours ago, Drewmotty said: I use 165s on 5 1/2” wires but have a 155 on a 4” rim for a spare. It’s still a tight fit in the letterbox. +1 Quote
Trev Good Posted Monday at 07:18 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:18 PM I have 165s on my 3A, but deflate the spare and tie a strap around it, it goes in fine, but I need the strap to heave it out. I also carry a 12v inflator! Quote
Don H. Posted Monday at 07:25 PM Report Posted Monday at 07:25 PM 155 on 4" rim as a spare here, contrasted with 165 on 4-1/2" road wheels. Works fine -- but tight -- to take in and out fully inflated on my very late sidescreen body shell. Quote
Scott M Posted Monday at 08:21 PM Author Report Posted Monday at 08:21 PM Thanks everyone. I’ve gone with 165 on the car and will now try to get a 4” for the spare . as was mentioned the 165 and 4.5 wheel as a spare is too tight , I don’t fancy forcing it in as probably not get it out again . car is driving really well now with new tyres , I’ve sorted the tracking and greased and oiled everything that’s needed it underneath . still a couple of wee things I want to do but all usable now Quote
Trumpy3 Posted Tuesday at 01:45 AM Report Posted Tuesday at 01:45 AM Spare wheels on a sidescreen can be a worry. Most members here that go touring in their TR run a wheel/tyre combination that will not fit in the provided space. I am sure a lot of you over there do as well. I would like to know how you convince your wife/partner to stand on the side of the road (rain?) while you fit your spare and load the flat into the pax space and drive off to get it fixed/replaced. Alternatively place all your luggage etc behind the seats n the side of the road. Fortunately (lucky) I have not had to face that situation yet but it is always in the back of my mind. I tend to think I would be the one on the side of the road. Brian Quote
Drewmotty Posted Tuesday at 05:56 AM Report Posted Tuesday at 05:56 AM I’ve seen a couple of cars with the boot floor cut out to fit a wide spare. I haven’t yet plucked up the courage to do it myself. 😮 Quote
Trumpy3 Posted Tuesday at 08:01 AM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:01 AM Andrew I've seen that quoted and it would provide a solution though not one I would contemplate. Where would we pack our luggage? Remember, I included my wife's belongings. Brian Quote
Scott M Posted Tuesday at 09:07 AM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 09:07 AM My wife can’t drive Brian but like you I’m sure it would still be me left at the side of the road , she probably wouldn’t come back either . never thought about cutting the boot floor out , don’t think I’ll do that lol . as was mentioned by Ralph , a boot rack may be handy in the future..I’ll give that one a thought for my trip south to Malvern in August. There will only be me and my tent though so may get away with it Quote
harlequin Posted Tuesday at 09:51 AM Report Posted Tuesday at 09:51 AM (edited) I have actually had a flat and used the spare, my inflated 165 on a 4" rim just fits in the letterbox and fortunately so did the now flat 165 on a 4 1/2" rim much to my relief. I have also had a flat on our VW Tiguan and that was more of a problem as the enormous road wheel has absolutely no chance of going in the place for the space-saving spare. George Edited Tuesday at 09:54 AM by harlequin Quote
david ferry Posted Tuesday at 01:07 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 01:07 PM This topic is one that comes up time and time again. Here's my thoughts.... Having a puncture is enough of a day spoiling hassle, without running the risks of your car being classed as illegal/unroadworthy should you then fit a different sized spare wheel and/or tyre. Can you imagine the arguments that would follow should you be involved in an accident whilst driving with this mismatched wheel/tyre? Worse still if there's injuries involved too. Anyway, my solution to this issue on both of my sidescreen cars, both of which run 5.5" wheels, and have a 5.5" spare wheel, is to remove the boot floor. This isn't particularly difficult to do, and all of the problems of housing the spare wheel, and the wheel with the puncture that you've just removed from the car, disappear. One of the cars has a wooden 'false floor' sat just above the spare wheel - very much like the windy up window cars. In my opinion, a good solution as I remain legal if using the spare wheel, it's easy to access and I can fully utilise all of the space in and around the spare wheel too. Just my thoughts.... David Quote
rcreweread Posted Tuesday at 05:27 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 05:27 PM 8 hours ago, Scott M said: My wife can’t drive Brian but like you I’m sure it would still be me left at the side of the road , she probably wouldn’t come back either . never thought about cutting the boot floor out , don’t think I’ll do that lol . as was mentioned by Ralph , a boot rack may be handy in the future..I’ll give that one a thought for my trip south to Malvern in August. There will only be me and my tent though so may get away with it What about all the parts you are hoping to buy?!!! Cheers Rich Quote
Scott M Posted Tuesday at 06:56 PM Author Report Posted Tuesday at 06:56 PM 1 hour ago, rcreweread said: What about all the parts you are hoping to buy?!!! Cheers Rich Shushhh I’m keeping that quiet Quote
Trev Good Posted Tuesday at 08:09 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:09 PM Isn't it illegal to have tyres of differing sizes on the same axle? Wouldn't one be at a risk of being stopped if one has a puncture and used a different size spare tyre? Quote
RobH Posted Tuesday at 08:43 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:43 PM 22 minutes ago, Trev Good said: Isn't it illegal to have tyres of differing sizes on the same axle? It is legal if the tyre is a 'get-you-home' space saver supplied by the car maker and you abide by the speed limit for the tyre. There are lots of modern (ish) cars with those and the disparity between widths is very great. Whether you can do that legally on a classic is a good question but I doubt there are many people who could spot the difference between a 155 and a 165 tyre at a distance. Quote
Drewmotty Posted Tuesday at 08:45 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:45 PM Technically yes. In practice the difference is difficult to spot and you have to be really pressing on before the differing sizes become apparent. Traffic officers would rather have cars moved to a safe position than left presenting a hazard. Quote
harlequin Posted Tuesday at 08:47 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:47 PM You would struggle to find a copper around here let alone one who would grovel around looking at tyre sizes! I know space savers have type approval but it's mad that a 100ish wide space saver on the same axle as a 275 is OK but a 155 on the same axel as a 165 is not George Quote
Drewmotty Posted Tuesday at 08:52 PM Report Posted Tuesday at 08:52 PM In my mind it’s right up there with doing 75 on the motorway 🤔 Quote
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