TR4/4A Spare Tire Won't Fit in TR4A Trunk

[CinneaghTR]

I replaced my old painted wire/XZX spare with a chrome wire/Vredestein Sprint + and the trunk board won't lie flush over the wheel. Go figure, I guess the + is wider than XZX.

I am thinking about adding strips to the undersides of the trunk board like the TR250 has to raise the height. Anybody know what the height will be?

 

[bgbassplyr]

You could let the air out of the tire to decrease the width...or....

lay a straight edge (yard stick) across the tire and measure the gap between the YS and the pan.

 

[Geo Hahn]

I have to deflate the TR3A spare to get it in the compartment (and carry an air pump everywhere) but I like the idea of the spacers/strips to raise it a tad.

On my '4 I build a little box in the boot to store the top at the bottom of things w/o damaging it:

Held in place with the existing snaps:

Just to give some idea of alternatives you may have.

 

[HerronScott]

Is that the 165SR15 just so I know how it will work in my TR4A when I get it back on the road (someday....)?

Scott

 

[Andrew Mace]

What's the wheel: 60- or -72 spoke? I can't imagine the tire being the cause of the problem here.

 

[Geo Hahn]

Is that the 165SR15 just so I know how it will work in my TR4A when I get it back on the road (someday....)?

Yes, it's a 165/15 on a steel wheel.

Looking squinty-eyed at the wire wheel pictured, I think I see 12 sets of (3) spokes in the front half of the wheel -- making it the wider 72 spoke & thus not a fit in that well.

 

[CinneaghTR]

That is a good question about the tire and wheel size/spokes. I should have said that earlier. Actually, mine is 60 spokes and the + is 165R15. I fussed with it today and got it all to fit pretty much, but nothing near the way it was. It will be a work in progress for a while.

I'll get a photo of the trunk board and see what you guys think of it regarding originality. The front (near the gas tank) stiffener is rubbing on the tire and rear stiffener was sitting on the tire until I pushed the tire forward a bit, which makes the tie down hardware sit at a slight angle now.

I think this is a unique problem for me unless all the other 4/4A owners with Vred +s and 60 spoke wheels have not fessed up yet.

 

[Tomster]

Nice tray you built !

 

[Simon TR4a]

Apart from the fitting problem, or possibly related, the board is wrong.
It should cover only the area in the middle of the boot, and should have a strip of rubber each side to prevent rattles. It should clip in place either side with press studs attached to a short strip of leather.

The original ones have a metal finishing strip and are made of a material much like MDF, and are quite thin.
Simon.