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Spitfire 79 Spitfire tires

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Dudly

Dudly

Jedi Hopeful
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Hello all, hope everyone is doing well getting back on the road. I am asking Spitfire owners to tell me what tires they have installed and have the most faith in.
I will be mounting my spanky new Minators in gray that I scored from Scott at Team Triumph. I want a tire that compliments the rims and provides good performance. Of course I also don't want to break the piggy bank, so low(ish) cost is a plus.

Thanks
 
I just went looking for tires myself for my '65 Spit, as the dry rot on my current set is a bit excessive. Been a while since I looked for tires this small. Seems like the market has kind of dried up. In 155/80R13, Tire Rack only lists a set of Kumhos and some Firestone winter tires, and nobody else seems to have much better. Used to be able to get the Michelin XZX or Pirelli P series tires...
 
Jeremy's right about 155s, but there's a bit more available in what I feel is a nearly ideal size: 175/70R13. I say ideal in that it's still pretty close to the diameter of the original tires. Not much else without going to 14"; since you've already got those nice rims, you'll probably want to keep them, huh? :wink:
 
I bought a set of 155/80's at walmart for $28 per tire for my 70 spit. I agree that the 175's give more of a selection of tires but one thing to be careful of is rim width. The stock 4.5" rims are IMO just a hair narrow to be putting 175's on.
 
I picked up a set of Michelin 175-70 X 13 tires through Big "O" out here in Calif. Also just called a local Les Schwab tire and they a 155-80 X 13 made for them by Bridgestone. America's tire store carries Kumho tires, so they they should have, or be able to get you a set of Kumho 155-80 X 13. Cocker Tire also has Vredestein tires in 155-80 X 13 I beleive. The Les Schwab and Kumho tires will be the least expensive. Performance wise I would guess that each of these tires would have been considered a good tire back in the day. Today just so-so, compared with the high performance tires being put out. Size wise I have had a 1969 Mk 3 Spit with 155-80-X13's and a 1972 Mk4 Spit with 175-70-X13's. The 175's were very stable, great grip, but the car felt a lttle heavy. The 155's less so across the board, but the steering was light and I could chuck that car around corners. Good luck.
 
$169? WOW, they've gotten expensive! :crazyeyes:

Heck, I used to get them right from the Dunlop store locally for about $25 or so...but that was 1970. :wink:

If I'm going to pay that much, I think I'd toss in an extra dollar and go for some nice 2" BF Goodrich radials in 155/80R13 size, but only on a very, very early Spitfire (or, uh, Herald)!
 
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