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Shopping for tires

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Hello Glemon,

Thank you for chimming in about finding new tires for my BJ8, Your Right! Wal mart has the Nexen SB 802 165/80R15 Tires. WoW.. $52 dollars each! No Shipping or anything charges! Just $52 Dollars Flat...Takes only 2 days to get them! Mounting and balancing are dirt cheap as well! Now if i can figure out which is the proper inner tube to fit? Have any ideas to size and source? By the way, I did do alot of research on the Nexon 165/80R15 Tires..... They got rave reviews from everyone who bought them. Including owners of Healeys, Triumphs and Mg's. At $52 bucks flat! I broke down and ordered a new spare tire as well! Thanks So much Glemon...
 
Be sure they have the proper balancing equipment for wire wheels. The standard cone configuration is not suppose to work on wire wheels. Tune the wheels and true them for round before they mount the tires.
 
Hello Yoda,

I am still running my original wire wheels, All the spokes are still tight except for one after 42,000 miles! Not too shabby! However i will have the old tires dismounted and i will take them back home for inspection before i let them remount the new tires. I have some V blocks and a Dial indicator i will use to check the T.I.R on the O.D. and side to side. To be honest, I don't think i will be able to turn any of the spokes even if i wanted to because of there age. But i will give it a try at least if needed. I am sure after all these years of service hitting bumps in the road they are no longer in spec... the question will be how far off they are and are they still useable? After hearing the complants of people buying new wire wheels.... I am in no rush to run out for new wire wheels... To be honest, I had my old wheels and tires balanced between the cones last year and they where just fine at all speeds. Before that my car was bouncing really bad at 50 to 65 mph. My only problem now is finding tubes for my new tires! do you know the proper tube size by any chance? I bought the Nexen 165/80/R15 The tires are coming in in just 2 days and i am running around trying to find out the proper size tubes and local source to buy them? Thanks for your advise. Michael.
 
You want a KR14/15 with a TR 13 valve stem. Old rims have a big hole for the stem that fit a TR 15 valve. If you have this size older hole then you want them to put in a valve stem gromment. We carry race tubes tha are the 14/15. That size means that the inside of the tube is 14 and the outside is 15. That way the tube fits the inside of the rim tight and fits the outside at the tire right. If it is a standard 15 it will be too large on the inside and will crease over when mounted and inflated. This crease can cause a flat.Do not forget to have them remove the labeles from the inside of the tires as this also can wear through a inner tube with time.
Wheelguy
R.Allen Hendrix
 
Thank you very much Allen, If i find my old original wheels are too much out of true and i can't adjust the spokes anymore i will contact you for repair or just order a new set of 60 spoke wheels from you. At least i know the wheels will be right! Thank you again Allen. Michael.
 
Bring some baby powder to the guys who mount the tubes in the tire. They may not have any these days and it serves as a lubricant against he inner side of the tire.
 
Allen gave some good advice on the tubes, I know one time I got new tires bck when they were a little easier to find, and had the shop I bought them from install them, after a few flats a different shop said they had used the wrong sized tubes, and it had pinched.

I would talk to the guys at Walmart and get a feel for their knowledge and experience with wire wheels and tube tires. I found a local regular modern car/tire shop that seems like they know what they are doing with wire wheels and tubes, but I have run across a few that don't seem to have the necessary experience.
 
Hey all,
Just got back from having a set of the Nexen tires installed for my 100M. The Cooper tires I had still had good tread depth left but were almost 10 years old and rode very hard or stiff. So figured if I waited, the Nexens would follow the lead of Kuhmo and stop importing the 165/80 x15 and got 'em while I could. Had my little local tire shop mount them up and balanced with stick on weights on inside rim and watched them do the entire job. Took their time and have worked on my two last Healey's and always pleased with their work. Still my intention to either send the wheels,drums and tires up to Allen Hendrix in the near future or maybe drive up to Greensboro. But for now, very pleased with the ride quality, tires look correct for the Healey, and do not have to worry about 10 year old tires maybe giving out on me without any warning. Highly recommend them.
Regards,
Mike
 
Hi Mike, I picked up my new Nexen tires at Walmart the other day, It took only 2 days to get them. I had NTB take the old tires off the wire wheels so i could Blast,prime, paint and clear coat the wire wheels before they mount my new Nexens. I even bought a new spare tire. At 52 bucks why not!I was reading many reviews about the Nexens, and everyone who drives old British cars really like them. I understand that many drag racers use the 165/80r15 on the front of there cars as well.I bought the proper inner tubes for nine dollars each from Summit Racing so i am ready to hit the road soon! I just hope Nexen keeps making them! Michael.
 
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