BN6 Wheel/Tire Combo

[prb51]

I presently have the 48 spoke wires on the car and the seller is replacing the older tires... are the 165 80r 15's the appropriate tire and height...I don't want to lose any ground clearance and want an original 'feel' ...or are there other options?
Any brand recommendations are appreciated too.
A 185vr15 will give about 26.5 Diam as opposed to the 165 80...is that an option and a fit?

 

[John Turney]

Original tires are 5.90 x 15 bias ply. 165/80R15 are the closest radial tire. Often, they are shown as 165R15 as the aspect ratio is 80 either way. The diameter of a 185/70R15 will be close (24.2") and a bit wider.

Vredesteins are very common. They have a low treadwear rating (160 - 220), but most people don't drive their Healeys enough to wear them out, but they age out. Vredesteins have a low temperature limit of 20F, which may not be a problem in Arizona. There are not many tire choices in these sizes.

 

[prb51]

Thanks John...I did see where some 185 VR 15's I found are about an inch taller at 26.5 and that extra might be handy... I am assuming they'd fit too in the wheel wells.
Are all of the 48 spokes wheels 4" deep?

 

[prb51]

Well will go with some 165 80 15's Nexen's and wally world has them. Probably a good replication of the old Bias ply in adhesion and I'd enjoy that less is more aspect. Also are all season which is nice.

I actually do a search before I query but often nothing really related comes up.... and I know I've asked some very basic AH related questions but I suspect I'll continue to do so.

Appreciate those that answer queries that have been answered prior and often.... search engines don't always perform.

 

[Editor_Reid]

I presently have the 48 spoke wires on the car and the seller is replacing the older tires... are the 165 80r 15's the appropriate tire and height...I don't want to lose any ground clearance and want an original 'feel' ...or are there other options?
Any brand recommendations are appreciated too.
A 185vr15 will give about 26.5 Diam as opposed to the 165 80...is that an option and a fit?

165/80R15 is a good choice for maintaining the original "stance" of the car, but if you're serious about the original "feel," you must buy bias-ply tires. The difference between the OE tires (bias ply) and radials is night and day. Most current Healey owners have little idea how these cars handled when new.

P.S. Don't buy bias-ply tires unless you are really, really committed to experiencing the handling the way it was when new. Bias-ply tires are not the right choice for most people.

The Nexens are fine. Just put a set on the 100-Six BN6 that will be for sale next year. Don't overlook amazon.com for buying tires - you may be surprised at the variety of options you'll find there - and of course there is www.longstonetyres.co.uk and www.vintagetyres.com/tyres and www.blockleytyre.com has some interesting options. Even www.simpletire.com may yield results.

 

[prb51]

Thanks... I've had Bias ply on a hot rod once.... you steer, they steer...I'm not that much of an originalist. The Nexens are very reasonable, and I doubt overly 'sticky' so somewhat true to form. Nice that there are options. The nice thing is they are available at the Wallyworld near the shop that has the car so I can but and ship them there and Amazon will supply the tubes.
Thanks for the Mag.

 

[Bob_Spidell]

I bought a set of Nexens for my BN2 at Walmart a few years ago. For all the grief Walmart gets the guys in the tire dept. at their Pleasanton store went out of their way for me, special-ordering the tires and calling me when they came in. I got there right as the tire shop opened, they helped me load five tires in my '08 Mustang, and the manager opened the register early so I could get back to work (you can't get tires scanned by the regular checkers ). I got new Vreds and MWS wheels from Tom Monaco a couple years ago, and I gave all 5 wheels and tires away to a guy from Chico (it turns out his wife was a professor in the comp. sci. dept. I attended).

 

[Michael Oritt]

PRB--

In your original post you said "I don't want to lose any ground clearance".

165's would approximately yield the original ground clearance but if you wanted to gain another 1/2" or so you could put on 180 Michelin XAS's which have a taller aspect and are a great performance tire, though they might be a bit too much for 48 spoke wheels.

Whatever the size radial you buy you will not be replicating the handling (or braking ability) of the original bias-ply tires that do not have the road-holding capabilities of radials and break away gradually but at lower speeds. They're de regueur for road racing as they promote drifting but really are not suited for normal driving as we have come to know it--plus they do not track near as well and will follow cracks/seams in a road rather alarmingly.

When I bought my 100 it had on a set of bias-ply tires and the drive home from Western Maryland was frightening. I thought I had made a big mistake until I put on a suit of 175 Michelin XZX's (and 60-spoke Dayton's) which changed everything for the better.

 

[prb51]

Thanks Mike.... I thought about that but then about the 48's too and erred on the side of safety. I suspect, when I do a front disc brake job, I will go to 60's and then have that option....presently I've spent enough dough for the moment (wife says) so will get to know the car for a bit prior to major changes.

 

[prb51]

Lol, bought 5 Nexens for the normal cost of one Porsche tire...got some great insurance rates too today...all good.

 

[Jerry]

https://www.performanceplustire.com/products/ts:tiresizeshort-185-80-15:ty:Tire/

Bought these for a 64 Healey. Price is good, 400 tread wear. So far, good on the road. They are back ordered a lot. I think they are from a division of Yokohama.

Jerry

 

[Legal Bill]

https://www.performanceplustire.com/products/ts:tiresizeshort-185-80-15:ty:Tire/

Bought these for a 64 Healey. Price is good, 400 tread wear. So far, good on the road. They are back ordered a lot. I think they are from a division of Yokohama.

Jerry

Never heard of Vitor or the tire store. Thanks for the Intel.

 

[Michael Oritt]

Never heard of Vitor or the tire store. Thanks for the Intel.

It is spelled V-I-T-O-U-R

https://www.performanceplustire.com/products/ts:tiresizeshort-185-80-15:ty:Tire/

 

[prb51]

That 185 Avon would look correct but a bit pricey...don't want a WW but one can reverse them.

 

[John Turney]

I recently bought a set of Pirelli P6000s from https://www.performanceplustire.com/tires-for-sale/pirelli-tires/p6000-n3/. The price is way below the price elsewhere.

 

[twas_brillig]

We're running Vredestein's on 72 spoke wires and will stale date the tires long before they wear out. We have a 48 spoke rim as a spare, and it surely does look a wee bit spindly - our BJ7 came with the painted 48s as original (my goodness! where the heck did I store the other 3 or 4?) but I wanted the increased strength and wider fottprint that the 72s allowed. Plus I'm a tasteless bum and wanted the additional bling.

 

[Legal Bill]

We're running Vredestein's on 72 spoke wires and will stale date the tires long before they wear out. We have a 48 spoke rim as a spare, and it surely does look a wee bit spindly - our BJ7 came with the painted 48s as original (my goodness! where the heck did I store the other 3 or 4?) but I wanted the increased strength and wider fottprint that the 72s allowed. Plus I'm a tasteless bum and wanted the additional bling.

I too have the 72 spoke. Mine are chrome. They look great on the BRG BJ-8.

 

[prb51]

I've always liked the look of the 72's and don't think it looks 'busy' but business like instead. When I upgrade I don't know which way I'll go 60's or the 72's. .... and, with the red top/black coves I may go black wheels lol.... so, if I went 72 black wheels, I'd be on double secret probation!

 

[John Turney]

I too have the 72 spoke. Mine are chrome. They look great on the BRG BJ-8.

72-spoke chrome do look nice on BRG Healeys.

 

[Jerry]

John needs 72s because he drives fast !