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TR2/3/3A 1962 Triumph TR3B Original Tire spec?

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Ed Sweeney

Ed Sweeney

Senior Member
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If one wanted to make their TR3B completely concours correct what tires should be installed? I've heard that by 1962 radials were standard equipment, but what brand? Thanks!
 
The Michelin XZX 165R15 are available from Coker, and are the front runners right now. I'm glad they were at the least an option, as I'd really prefer radials over bias-ply.
 
Andrew Mace said:
...I'm not sure whether those exact tires are still available in either 155R15 or 165R15 sizes currently?
Click to expand...

My memory is a bit fuzzy (as it is with many things that happened in the 60s) but weren't tire sizes back then expressed using a different system -- e.g. 550x15, 560x15, etc?

Ed -- congrats on your decision to try for true concours. I assume you have the Triumph Register of America concours manual on hand, if not it is readily available as a PDF.
 
Geo Hahn said:
Andrew Mace said:
...I'm not sure whether those exact tires are still available in either 155R15 or 165R15 sizes currently?
Click to expand...

My memory is a bit fuzzy (as it is with many things that happened in the 60s) but weren't tire sizes back then expressed using a different system -- e.g. 550x15, 560x15, etc?
Click to expand...
Yes...for bias-ply tires. But radials, for the most part, have had sizes designated in "metric" for many years.
 
Geo Hahn said:
My memory is a bit fuzzy (as it is with many things that happened in the 60s) but weren't tire sizes back then expressed using a different system -- e.g. 550x15, 560x15, etc?
Click to expand...
Yes, but there was a gradual transition to metric, starting in the 50's. "Practical Hints" (the factory owner's handbook for the TR3) 6th edition (which I believe would have been current in 1960) lists tires (sorry, tyres) in both systems.
 
Bias-ply tyre sections were stated in inches, radial-ply in mm.
Radial-ply diameters were usually stated in inches and mm.
(13"-330mm, 15"-380mm).
That agrees with the chart above, btw!
 
Ordered 5 Michelins this morning!
 
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