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TR2/3/3A TR3 Spare Tire

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RedTR3

RedTR3

Jedi Trainee
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When I purchased my TR3 a couple of months ago, the PO gave me the spare tire loose, not in the compartment. Now I know why, it is a press fit in there. Anyway, is this common and how can I fit a tire in there? My spare is an ANCIENT 6.00 wide tire. Anyway, I must not be the only person around with this problem and you all probably have the solutions - thanks!
 
Yes, that compartment is tight. In the pre-60,000 cars, the biggest that you can squeeze in there is about a 5.60 tire. Maybe you can squeeze in a 150-155. In the later post 60,000 cars, they made the inside of the compartment slightly higher. They will accomodate a 160-165 (slightly larger the 6") size tire. Although that is still tight. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hammer.gif Dust the tire with talcum powder, that will help it to slide in and out. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/jester.gif It's only a spare, so whatever you can get in there is fine. Remember, most cars come with "space-saver" spares today anyway, so the TR3 was just way ahead of it's time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thirsty.gif
 
When I had my TR3, I had a 165/15 Vredestein on a stock rim. Had to deflate it a bit to get it in, but it did slide in.

Mickey
 
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/iagree.gif

Mickey's right and that's what I do! Deflate the tire a little to fit and Make sure you stow the hand pump in the trunk.
 
A can of Fix-A-Flat and a tool bag fit in there just fine.
 
"Fix-a-Flat"

messy stuff! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/nonono.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/england.gif
 
Thanks for all the good advice - It's also great to know that I am not the only one who relies on fix-a-flat!
 
I also carry a cell phone and a AAA card in case the Fix-A-Flat doesn't work.
 
Another hint -

Put a web belt through the hub and around the tire.

Makes it easier to pull out once you get it in.
 
Yet another suggestion I've heard is to scour a junkyard and find one of those temporary spares with the correct 4.5" PCD. Shouldn't be too hard to come up one, and it'll give you a good bit of extra room in the spare tire compartment for other bits you might wish to carry. Don't know as I'd go that route, but....
 
The space saver is an idea but then you would have to use a lug wrench as well as the hammer to change the tyre. I went with letting the air out of the spare and I carry a small electric air pump to fill it. The pump is about the size of two or three decks of cards and fits inside the 'dish' of the wheel
 
Aloha,

I have a 125R15 tire mounted on 48 spoke wheel that I use a spare. The overall diameter is about an inch and a half smaller than the 165R15 tire I have on my other wheels. It will fit easily into the compartment fully inflated. Other sizes available to consider are 135R15 or 145R15. I have only had to use it once to get home. I would only use this as a spare tire.

I found this tire a local store but Choker Tire Co. also has these narrow tire listed on their site.
 
I have a 135/80x15 space saver tire bought from ebay for $15. Even came with a wheel, scissors, jack and tool kit from a Prelude. I plan on mounting it on a TR wheel for the 3A. The Prelude wheel has a 4-1/2" backspace so it would interfere on the 3A .
 
I have an early TR3A and my spare is a Michelin 165-15 SR on a steel rim. It fits. During the last 16 years, (94,000 miles) and I'm on my 3rd set of tires, I've never had a flat and never used my spare but it's still able to be removed.
 
Don,
My existing spare is the 5.60x15 bias play tire probably from an old VW Beetle at some point. I just inspected it and is still holding all air and goes in and out of the spare compartment easily enough. Probably good enough in a pinch for 50 miles at least. Rethinking it, I might save the space saver for a while longer, this one's still good!.
 
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