My BJ-7 has tires that have been with it for 28 years. The size is 165-SR-15.
The tire shop I took it to said they couldn't get that tire.

Will it be necessary to replace all tires?
What sizes are appropriate?
I have wire wheels on it.

Robert;
Here are a few tires you might look at:
Arizonian, made by kelly tire- they have 165R15, discount tire can get these, if they are in your area.
Nexian Tires ( not Sure of the spelling)- they have 165R15
Kumho Tires- sizes to fit the healey
Federal tires - also a size to fit the healey
There is also the Verdesteins- spoke with a friend that has them, he was not
that pleased with them when he ran on concrete road- he said they caused the car to go from side to side, due to the tread design. Having said that, many folks like them. they are on the upper side of the price scale, $130 plus.

All these will fit the wire wheel.
Go to some one you can work on wire wheels- check first- many others will damage your wire wheels.
Also, you should replace all of the tires on the healey!!
Good luck.
I know they are out there!!!

The number on the tire is 165 SR 15 not 165-r-15. I'm not sure if this makes any difference.

Is there another, more commonly available numbered tire that any of you are using to replace the older tires?

Robert ;
The "S" is a speed designation for a tire, the max. speed rating is 112 mph for the "S".
The "R" is for radial.
The 165 number is the width of the tire in millimeters. it equates the tire to the road contact.
For example, a 215-width, 17-inch tire may look great, but all things being equal, a 245-width, 15-inch tire will out-corner it every time, because the contact patch is wider.
But that being said..... with a healey the ground clearance is the big factor.
Also the tire rub in the wheel well.
I never worry about a speed designation over an "P", because my car will never get about 93 mph....LOL

what is the tire size most commonly used now when replacing healey BJ-7 wire wheel tires?

babakahawa, i have the 165-sr-15 verdesteins on new s.s. and chrome wire wheels, after rebuilding the entire front end i did the alignment myself and have no problems on any type road surface, i think your friend should look for components associated with the front end that might be loose/worn and needs to find a place/person that can do a proper wheel alignment.

I want a modern tire that will fit my rims so I don't have to have a tire shipped to me if I need one, somewhere out on the road.

Numbers please.

Robert, if you check out http://www.mossmotors.com/graphics/products/PDF/Tire%20Sizes.pdf
it will give you some cross references for new tires to replace the original tires on your BJ-7. I recently fit some new Panasport wheels on my BJ-8, and this article helped me out a lot.
Good luck:o)

Robert,

Do not buy a 165-15 tire at a store near you just because you can get another if it blows out. One issue that has gone unaddresed on this thread is the section height. IIRC, you need a section height of 70 to 78. Todays tires are often sold in 40 to 60 profile sizes. These tires will lower the car, probably more than you would like. The profile number is a percentage of the width of the tire. So a 165-50-15 will have a profile height of about 82 mm (50 percent of the tire width). A 165-75-15 has a profile height of 123 mm. That is a big difference in height.

Robert, I understand your desire to buy a tire locally, and you may even be able to find one, but even if you can if you get it locally there is a good chance you will not be able to get the same tire from the same place next year, as these sizes are becoming harder to find, one of the post above gives a very complete list of manufacturers who make the appropriate sized tire, if you are worried about quick replacement buy 5 including one for your spare.

You can check mail order or local for these tires, most people run a 165/80-15 these are still somewhat available because they fit a VW beetle, of which a few more were built and survive than our Austin Healeys.

Also some availability of a 185/70, which some like to run, or a 175 or 185/80.

If you want to buy locally just say you want a 165/80 15" or 185/70 15" radial and let your local guy search, most any tire made now is much better in quality, grip, wear, etc, than the tires our cars had new.

I can recommend following set-up for excellent performance:
Rims 5.5x15
Tyres 185/70R15 89H Avon CR6 ZZ

They are great! Although it is rather a sportive than a budget set-up...

robert,

I just got a set of Khumos for my BJ7 I bought them off a guy on ebay in GA. they are 165/80/15s and were $216 delivered to my door

Now I'm having a hard time finding tubes for 'em, lol.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160364281346&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWNX%3AIT

they were made less than 12 months ago (nov 2008 manufacture date)

Sprocket
Let me know when you get them on and run with them... I have thought of the Khumos. It would be nice to hear your feed back.
Thanks

Fortius,

Do those tires stay inside the wheel wells, or do they protrude a bit?

i had another thread going on here about 6 weeks ago and others said good things about them.

found gr-15 inner tubes on amazon for 12.99 each. they are for 175-185 tires but I figure they'll be okay as i have kr 14/15 in my 185 sr 15s that are coming off and they are for 205-215 tires.

it'll be about 10 days until the tubes get here
I was hoping to be out and about on them today, but couldn't find them locally.

I am about to buy a set of these tires myself (for a BN2), but they will be shipped, mounted, from England. Strangely these tires are virtually unknown in the USA and I haven't even found anyone else who has heard of them, including the guys who sell wire wheels and tires for British sports cars.

I am buying them based upon strong independent recommendations from Steve Pike (Australia) and Steve Norton (England), but they will be the most expensive tires - by far - I have ever purchased. Therefore not only are they unknown here in the States, but even if they were readily available here, they are unlikely to ever become common due to cost.

Reid -

Roger Kraus handles Avon, http://www.rogerkrausracing.net/files/34184291.pdf. I spoke to Steve Pike at the SOVREN's CRC before he left for the Bonneville runs. He and I were discussing the best wet weather track tire for vintage racing, Steve swore by the Avon CR6. I'm thinking of mounting up a set to be ready for our beautiful NW race weather. BTY they're about the same price I pay for my Hoosier Vintage TD's, which I buy 3-4 sets a year.

Dougie

I have a set of Hoosier Street TD's (same as the "Vintage TD's"?) on my Sprite race car, and they cost a lot less than the Avons will.

Maybe the smaller size of the Sprite tires is the difference?

BTW, what do you do with your Hoosiers when you're done with them?

I buy my Hoosier race tires from Fred & Garth at AT Tires on North Interstate, they recycle my used up rubber. Is your Sprite ever going to see the track or just drain your checking account?

Dougie

That's where I got my Hoosiers.

I put the Sprite on the track at the AROO track day on October 18. It was the first time that it got any exercise in a long time. It seemed to be fine, but somehow underpowered (maybe my expectations are unrealistic?).

It doesn't drain my checking account when it just sits in the garage. It's when you pay for race entries and repairs afterward that your checking account gets drained. It costs me almost nothing these days...