TR2/3/3A Wire wheels on TR3

[bobhustead]

I have what the vin indicates is a '59 TR3. I am considering wire wheels, but don't know about the spare tire compartment. Does anyone know how to tell if the compartment is built for wire and what problems or solutions may prevail if not?
Thanks, Bob

 

[NutmegCT]

Bob - I don't think the wheel itself is the issue. It's the size of the tire. Some guys slightly deflate the spare so it fits in that compartment.

For some discussion, take a look:

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?85798-Spare-Tire-TR3&highlight=spare+tire

 

[TR3driver]

I'm not certain offhand, but I suspect that 60 spoke wire wheels will be a problem in the early well, no matter how small a tire you put on. As noted, 48 spoke should fit as long as you stick with 155 tires. I did find a 165 tire that I could force into the well on my (previous) 59 TR3A; but it was a major hassle and definitely not something I would recommend.

Coker offers several tires in 155, and you may be able to find them elsewhere (like eBay or a Vredestein dealer).

 

[Marvin Gruber]

As Randall points out, you wiil need to use a 48 spoke 4" wire wheel rim for spare. A 60 spoke can be forced in but very difficult to remove. Suggest using adapter plate spacers so you don't have to cut the lugs and lets you go back to steel wheel whenever you want.

Marv

 

[bobhustead]

Many thanks for the responses. I can't remember what tire size is on the car (car in NC, I in FL), but it is a snug compartment fit on the disc wheel. I'll give it a look when I get back to the car. I suppose that if I get a spare that fits, a flat that I would need to put into the space would, being flat, fit.

Thanks again, Bob

 

[Geo Hahn]

...Suggest using adapter plate spacers so you don't have to cut the lugs and lets you go back to steel wheel whenever you want.

That's how I roll... spacers for the wires and a steel wheel for the spare (all 165x15). Be sure to also carry four lug nuts for the steel wheel.

It would look strange with one disc wheel on there but with modern tires a flat is rare (yet to have one on the TR3).

 

[TR3driver]

with modern tires a flat is rare (yet to have one on the TR3).

You must do a much better job of staying away from industrial areas than I do, then. Just a few months ago, driving past the Mobil refinery in Torrance, I picked up a huge chunk of metal in the left rear. Looked like maybe it was originally a tie-down strap on a semi trailer or something. 1/4" rod perhaps 3" long, bent into a U shape. The tire was flat by the time I stopped to investigate the noise.

On top of that, the spare was very low. I thought I could use it to drive the 100 yards or so to the nearest filling station (right on the other side of a 6 lane street from where I stopped), but it rolled off the rim when I made the U-turn. Arggh! Fortunately, the filling station mechanic was able to put a plug in the original tire (even though he couldn't remount the spare), so I was able to get home.

Few years before that, on my way to a date with my (now) wife, I had two flat tires in the same trip! A bolt punched a hole while driving along a trucking corridor, then no more than 10 minutes later there was an accident in front of me on the freeway and I failed to adequately dodge the flying debris. Not a good way to start a date! After dinner, she drove me to buy a tire at Pep Boys.

 

[NutmegCT]

"After dinner, she drove me to buy a tire at Pep Boys."

sounds like a keeper ...

 

[Andrew Mace]

It would look strange with one disc wheel on there but with modern tires a flat is rare (yet to have one on the TR3).

It can't look any stranger than a typical modern car with three expensive factory (or aftermarket) alloys and one "Donut" spare wheel/tire!