Wheel and tire sizes for the 3000

[Legal Bill]

I purchased the 5 inch wide 72 spoke chrome rims for my 65 BJ-8 some time ago. Now that I am looking for tires, it seems my selection is very limited. I do not want the tires to stick out beyond the fenders, and I do not want the tire to rub on anything.

That said, it seems 175s are not available and 185s in a 70 series are quite hard to find. I am finding that there are plenty of 185 65 series available, but it looks like they are too low. So I figured it was time to open the discussion here. My questions are,

Do any of you run 185 65s and if so, how is that working out for you?

Have any of you found a 185 70 other than the Vrederstein?

Do any of you run 165s on 5 inch rims? Would that cuase a problem?

Do any of you run 195 65s, and if so, what rims are you using and do the tires rub against anything in the wheel wells?

Feel free to ask your own tire questions here. I don't mind if this gets opened up into a broader discussion about tires and wheels.

Thanks.

Bill

 

[bighealeysource]

Hey Bill,
Check out the wheel and tire size chart that Moss has when you pull up
their wire wheels. Believe it shows you overall height with various sizes
as well as suggested tire sizes, etc.
Regards,
Mike

 

[AJAX50]

I run 185 70 Avon CR6ZZ's on 5.5" rims, no clearance problems, they look quite period, grip and handling are exceptional. Don't know if the extra half an inch of rim width is important. They're motor sport tyres, Avon have a comps dept who will give advice I'm sure. Suggest you also check that they are road legal in the US.
If you can't get them in the US companies like Dennis Welch will supply, I've just replaced mine and found DW competitive. GBP139 each in the UK, about USD220, you might save VAT (17.5%) to help with shipping costs.

 

[Randy Forbes]

I have 195/65s on 6" rims, but you won't like them, based on your sentence #3 above.

 

[Legal Bill]

I quickly checked the Avon site and could not fine 185 70s. Maybe they have another site?

 

[AJAX50]

Try this site:
https://www.avonracing.com/road_legal_page.aspx

 

[Legal Bill]

AJAX, do the Avons stay inside the fenders, or do they protrude beyond the fenders?

 

[AJAX50]

They stay inside, I'll see if I can post a photograph tomorrow.

 

[Wings]

the healey is shod w/195/60 on 6 inch daytons
exposure beyond the fenders is ever so slight.. but there
more of an issue for me w/low profile tyres was, the excessive (4x4) wheel well aesthetics. i had to cut a coil out in the front and roll out an inch and 1/2 on the leaf springs to be rid of a look that was hard for me to live with
or i could have change tyre profile
stretched out the bilsteins a bit
ride did not improve. but handling did