TR5/TR250 TR-250 Tire Size

[Triumph G. I.]

In 1968 I bought a brand new Jasmine yellow TR-250. Well I owned many cars over the years but the 250 never left my mind. A few days ago I bought a restored white TR equipped with many restored areas. The car has a new set of Goodyear tires along with a new set of bolt on Panasport wheels. Wheels are a matter of taste but I believe the car must be equipped with wires. I bought new 4.5X15 Dunlop wires along with adapters and knock-offs. I am currently looking for redline tires which seems like a chore. What size tire do you recommend and what brand tire as well. I am very pleased to be here as we go to the U. K. almost every year. Next year we will be visiting Bletchley Park in mid summer.
Rich

 

[tinman58]

I used 185 r 15 cocker classic tires on my 250. They look nice, but the ride was terrible had to have them balanced twice. The steering was not very good. Then I went with wire wheels with some lower profile tires. The ride is much better and the steering is right on. I believe that B.F. Goodrich has redline tires but lot's of money. Check out Summitt Racing.

 

[tinman58]

Opps! Ignore the first photo. Unless you are interested in my son's birthday.

 

[Tybalt]

I would assume that the Panasports are the 15 x 6 wheels in which case a 205/70-15 would work just fine and is a reasonably close replacement for the original 185-15 tires as far as rolling diameter goes. However, if you are going to convert to wire wheels you will need the wider wire wheels (15 x 5 1/2 vs the TR250s 15 x 4 1/2) as fitted to a TR6 or a set of the Dayton wheels which are 15 x 6.

As for tires, redlines that actually ride and drive OK are not common and most of the stuff that Summit sells in redlines are from Coker. I've never done any business with these folks linked below, but here is someone that buys Michelin all season tires and converts them into redlines, mostly aimed at the C2 and early C3 Corvette set. As with any redlines, be prepared to bring money as they don't give them away by any stretch of the imagination.

https://www.dbtires.com/2015_catalog/2015_Catalog_Lo.pdf

and then go to page 13 of 44. Also take a look at their notice concerning tire certification on page 39 of 44

 

[M_Pied_Lourd]

There is also a company out there that can add a red lines to any tire.
https://www.dbtires.com/aboutus.html

It is not cheap, but it does open up a lot more tire options. I guy in our local club who own an inca yellow tr6 has red lines added to a new set of vredestein tires in the orginal size.

Cheers
Tush

 

[glemon]

If you are not wed to redlines, or can get the tires redlined (I think there are instructions online somewhere for doing it), people in the Healey world speak very highly of the Vredstein Sprint https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185-70hr15-vredestein-classic.html I believe 185/70 15 was the original size, that is the size of the very old tires that were on my 250 when I got it.

 

[Triumph G. I.]

If you are not wed to redlines, or can get the tires redlined (I think there are instructions online somewhere for doing it), people in the Healey world speak very highly of the Vdstein Sprint https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185-70hr15-vredestein-classic.html I believe 185/70 15 was the original size, that is the size of the very old tires that were on my 250 when I got it.

Thank everyone for your input! I have decided to go woth a set of 185/hr15 made by Universal. I will send photos when done.
Rich