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TR2/3/3A Kuhmo 165/80-15 tires will NOT fit in spare boot for post TS60000 TR3A.

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TuffTR250

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I thought I'd post a fresh forum entry on this subject for anyone else thinking of buying tires for their TR3A. I decided on Kuhmo 165/80-15's for my post TS60000 TR3A, and they will NOT fit in the spare tire boot when inflated. They will fit when totally deflated, however I don't want to be driving around with a deflated spare that I have to worry about inflating if I have a flat. I was thinking that the 165/80-15's would fit in the spare tire boot of the later model TR3A's based on a couple of articles I read about the later models have a wider spare tire boot, but I guess those articles were not quite correct.
Regards,
Bob
 
Carry a smaller spare in the boot. Most of my vehicles never had a matching tire or wheel in the boot.
 
In 30+ years of driving my TR3A I have never had an inflated spare in there. I carry a 12V pump but really don't give it much thought as in all that time I have never had a flat.

If I ever need the spare it doesn't take much time to inflate these skinny tires and I would think you could even (dark night, rain, bad neighborhood) just inflate them to 18# or so and limp along to a gas station for a top-up.
 
That's curious. I know several local people that are using that combo without a problem. But I was also under the impression that Kumho had discontinued the tire they were using. What model of tire do you have, and what wheels ?

Also, is there any chance your spare tire well is damaged, either dented up from the bottom or the trunk floor sagged? On one of my previous TRs, the trunk floor would actually "oil can" upwards and let the tire slide a little easier.
 
As per Randal...

I have encountered several TR3s that have had a floor jack placed under to spare tire cubby resulting in a squished vertical dimension. In most cases I have been able to use my Porta-Power inside the opening to expand things back to original shape though. If you do it, put a wooden board between the top jaw and the underside of the trunk.

Bob, were you speaking of the WIDTH, left to right, or the height being a problem?

On the issue of the tires being out of production, WalMart has them by the warehouse full. Just go on line, give them a credit card number and have them delivered to your local Wal-Mart store. At last check they were $52 a pop.:joyous:

Jack
 
Somewhere I have a picture of a TR3 (my brother's car) with the spare compartment open, a rope coming out if it and tied around a large tree, and then a subsequent picture with the spare tire out. After he restored his TR3 about 20 years ago he discovered he could get the 165/80 15" (forget the brand, probably no longer available in any event) into the compartment, but could not get it out, even with both of us pulling. We could get a rope around the perimeter of the tire, which we did, tied it to a tree, and used the plentiful stout torque of the rugged TR 4 cylinder motor to quickly remedy the situation. Quite fun, and think SAAB space savers pre '97 or so fit a Triumph wheel.
 
I think Randall suggested once upon a time using a compact spare on a TR rim. I was able to get a 135/15 at a recycler for $15. Nice and 'new', well never seen the sun anyway. I swapped the wheels because the compact was not the right bolt spacing. Total height is 24" on the compact and a 5.60/15 is 25.25". Not perfect but a spare that fits.
 

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...And, the compact rim has an offset for a FWD car (as I think the Saab wheel will have)
 
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Randall, I have 4 inch steel wheels. (I think the car may originally had wires and replaced with early 4 inch wheels). I have Kuhmo Power Star 758's. When inflated the Kuhmo's measure right at 6-5/8 inches wide and my boot opening between the raised areas appears to be 6-1/4 to 6-3/8 high, thus the boot is about 1/4 inch to narrow. The spare tire boot does not look as though it has been "caved" in, the floor and the top seem straight. I would like to find a new 155/80-15 at a reasonable price but all I can find is the BF Goodrich Radial T/A and the Vredestein, which are both expensive.
Regards,
Bob
 
twigworker said:
On the issue of the tires being out of production, WalMart has them by the warehouse full. Just go on line, give them a credit card number and have them delivered to your local Wal-Mart store. At last check they were $52 a pop.:joyous:

Jack
Click to expand...
Of course, this raises the question of how old these "new" tires are? $52 each might not be all that great a deal if they're already several years old. Just sayin'....
 
TuffTR250 said:
...I would like to find a new 155/80-15 at a reasonable price but all I can find is the BF Goodrich Radial T/A and the Vredestein, which are both expensive...
Click to expand...

Not sure what you think is reasonable or expensive, but these are $76 plus shipping. Though I really like the idea of the space saver noted above.
 
Thanks for the info, Bob. I'll have to compare that to what I have at home. It does appear that Kumho is once again making tires in that size. There was a report that they were moving production to a different factory, I wonder if perhaps the profile changed a bit at the same time.

As noted, I also use a "compact spare" from a junkyard, mounted on an original rim as a spare. I bought it with a wheel that had the right bolt circle and was from a rear wheel drive car (no big offset), but it wouldn't quite clear the calipers on the front so I moved the tire to an original wheel. Tire and wheel together were only about $10-$15. Works great, but I keep a rolled-up blanket stuffed in next to it so it doesn't slide around in the compartment. The blanket is handy for other things, like wrapping one of the big tires to stow behind the seat after a flat.

Another thing I like about the compact spare, the tires supposedly do not "age out" as regular tires do. Different construction entirely, no steel belts to rust or separate. Of course you should still observe the warning on the tire "temporary use, do not exceed 45 mph" but I've run mine for over an hour at 70-75 mph with no problems.
 
See something happened to my earlier photo post ... trying again. Firestone tire. Cheers, Mike

Spare.jpg
 
Randall, the junkyards around here are self help for a fee. What make and year of car uses 15 inch spare savers? It'd be good to know ahead of time what uses a 15 inch so I wouldn't have to spend a long time since they have a lot of cars. Also these junkyards keep mostly newish models.

Thanks Mike! I was wondering what brand your 145-15 is.
Regards,
Bob
 
I never knew for sure what car it came from; I just wandered around looking in trunks until I tripped over it laying on the ground. Might have been from a Nissan Maxima, but I'm not sure. And that was probably 15 years ago, so might not be much help anyway.

But a little poking about on eBay turned up some possibilities. I don't guarantee this is completely accurate (eBay being what it is), but might help:
07-13 Hyundai Accent
98-03 Mazda 3
11-13 Hyundai Elantra
99-03 Mazda Protege
95-01 Audi A6
02-06 Mitsubishi Lancer
04-08 Suzuki Forenza (I've never even heard of this car!)
00-06 Nissan Sentra
92-96 Camry
03-05 Mazda 6
08-12 Mini Cooper S & Clubman
06-11 Toyota Yaris
12-13 Kia Rio
96-06 Hyundai Sonata & Tiburon
00-11 Ford Focus
97-99 Acura CL
06-11 Chevy HHR
01-04 Pontiac Aztec
88-94 Saab 94 Turbo convertible
88 Mazda RX7
01-11 Civic
94-02 Accord

There are plenty more, but I'm tired of typing :smile:
 
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I was told that a '80 to '87 Honda Accord 15 inch space saving spare would fit my TR3A. I have not yet found one to be sure.
 
Buy the Vredestein and be happy - end of hassle. They seem to be narrower than the other 155-section tires I've seen (Goodrich, I think), and the Vredestein is also significantly lighter - I had one of each at the same time and weighed them.

A cheaper way might be to go to a tire store or gas station and buy a used 155-series tire if they have one, as used by a gazillion VW bugs back in the day. Age probably won't matter with a spare, and use a new tube to keep the air in.
 
FordFiesta said:
Age probably won't matter with a spare.
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I sure wouldn't drive very fast on a tire that old. When they fail, the damage can be severe and nearly instantaneous.

When I bought my first Stag it had really old tires on it, that I thought would be good enough to get me home ... wrong! The belt on the left rear failed and became partially detached, turning the tire into a giant flap wheel (the kind that removes paint). I of course pulled over immediately, but it had already taken off a lot of paint around the wheel well, not to mention part of the metal as well! I was planning to repaint anyway, but all that bare metal accelerated that part of the plan as the old paint hadn't been too bad before the tire let go.
 
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