Tires, Again Please

[KVH]

I have the standard 4.5 inch wide wire wheels on my TR4A. Please tell me again what size tire to use. I know the standard 165 SR 15, but I think someone here said you can safely go to a 175 or 185?

Brand: Khumo? Vredestein? Coker Michelins?

Thanks (again)

 

[tdskip]

I've had very good luck with Khumos, not the purists choice by along shot but a lot of value for the money and good size availability...

 

[TR4]

I too went with Khumos and have been very happy. Price was the driving force when I got mine. They were on sale for $29 each. Not sure how big you can go, I went with the standard size.

 

[martx-5]

The rule of thumb is that the rim width must be at least 70% of the tire width. That applies to aspect ratios 50% or greater.

In other words...

165 = 6.5" x 70% = 4.5" rim width
175 = 6.9" x 70% = 4.8"
185 = 7.3" x 70% = 5.1"
195 = 7.7" x 70% = 5.4"
205 = 8.0" x 70% = 5.6"
215 = 8.4" x 70% = 5.9"

In other words, it's not advisable to put anything larger then a 165 tire on a 4.5" rim.

Not to say it hasn't been done, and probalbly without any problems, but I don't think that you would be getting the full advantage of putting on a larger tire as you would if the rim was the correct size for the tire.

 

[CinneaghTR]

I went through this last year and ended up staying with 165s for my 15 X 4.5 wheels. The Kumhos were sold out at TireRack with no specific restock date when I was looking and I went with the Vredestein Sprint +, which the local tire store had in stock and the correct mounting equipment for wires. I cannot say how much I like the Vreds. It was $80/tire, but I will buy Vreds again 6 years from now.

The Vred Sprint Classics look like period tires and are about $20 more.

 

[3798j]

Here are two sites that I found helpful when trying to find alternative sizes:

https://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/brochure/info/tmpInfoTireMath.jsp

https://www.mintylamb.co.uk/?page=tyre.htm

I've got Kumhos on my '85 Corvette and my wife's G35(sedan). I like them very much for alot of different reasons: Price, performance, low noise.
I've got Sumitoma's on the GT6 (could'nt find Kumhos) and am quite pleased also.

 

[Geo Hahn]

When I looked a couple of weeks ago the Kumho 165s were on the TireRack site.

Locally I found that Jack Furrier's can also get them (that's where I got the set I have now) -- but cost more than TireRack. Since buying local vs TireRack means you pay sales tax & disposal fee, get mounting and balancing included and no shipping -- it is not a direct comparison.

BTW -- in the Kuhmos you have to include an aspect ratio (they are not 'metric' tires) so you're looking for 165/80/15 por exemplo.

I asked Furriers if they would mount to wire wheels. Answer: "We don't like to". I took that to be a 'no'.

My plan is to mount and balance my own when I get the next set, probably later this year. Maybe I can practice on yours?

 

[trfourtune]

Vredestein Sprint +, these ones look right with the right side wall height. The kumho's are the best deal. Neither is a super sticky performance tire and generally you won't find one in that size so to significantly go up in performance you will need a wider wheel.
I have seen tr6- 6" wheels on tr4's that will allow a much better tire selection (you can drill and re-mount your hub cap pins to the tr6 wheels to mount original hub caps to give them an original-ish look-i've seen this done)
Or just get a set of aluminum wheels.
good luck
Rob
ps-some of the aluminum minilite-type wheels are NOT very light- in fact most are not, they are stiffer though. As a comparison, a volk TE-37 15X5.5" wheel weighs 8 lbs and most "minilites" weigh between 16-18 lbs. I believe the stock 15x4.5" steel wheel weighs 16 lbs.

 

[CinneaghTR]

This is a pic of the Vred Sprint + on my wires just in case you wondered what they look like.

 

[DanB]

I updated wheels and tires last year. 165s are getting hard to get. I was able to get a set of wheels 6.5" wide I believe, and I am thinking I put 215/60s on them. I can't remember now, but I do remember doing a good bit of research to find the correct diameter. The tires I used match the original bias tire diameter dimension pretty closely. It was really surprising to see how much higher the car sits with them on there. Obviously the 165s are smaller diameter. The 185/70s were also very close, and I believe that is the original size for a TR6.

Dan B
66 TR4AIRS EFI
80 TR7 DHC

South Charleston, WV

 

[martx-5]

I wound up with Vredestein Sprint Classics on my TR3 in 185/70-15 size. I got new 15"x5" wire wheels for them. The diameter of the 185/70's is almost identical as the 165/80's that came off the car. I really like the look!

 

[swift6]

Obviously the 165s are smaller diameter. The 185/70s were also very close, and I believe that is the original size for a TR6.

Dan B
66 TR4AIRS EFI
80 TR7 DHC

South Charleston, WV

The stock TR6 tire was closer to an "80" series profile. The 185/70 is smaller in diameter.