Wheel and Tire sizes

[Earl]

What size wheel and tire is standard on a TR3? Also how much variation is allowed? Can I go to a 7" width on the a 15" wheel, and if so what kind of tires would fit? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Earl

 

[Adrio]

I don't know if you can go to a wheel as wide as 7" on there, but I will let some one else who may have tried it answer that part. My guess is that it would interfere with the car bodywork.

As to the size. The original tire was 155, and I know you can get a 165 on there as that is what I have on mine. On the stock 4" wide wire wheels. (I also used 165 tires on the 4.5" wire wheels on my TR4)

one other tire size thing to remember is the space for the spare. I can't seem to fit the inflated 165 tire into the spare tire cubby. I don't have a 155 tire to try. Does anyone know what size tire (inflated) should fit in the cubby. I want to determine if my cubby is somehow "deformed" or not.

 

[Mickey Richaud]

Hi, Adrio -

On my '57, I've got a 165 spare, mounted on a stock TR3 wheel. Had to deflate it slightly, but it squeezed in there. If the wheel is more than 4", though, I doubt it would fit.

Mickey

 

[Adrio]

Thanks for the info. If I can get away with a slight deflation I would be happy. I just don't like going around with a flat spare. Though that is better then no spare as I am doing now while I sort out my wire wheel problem on my TR4. The TR3 spare has been pressed into service on the TR4.

 

[Earl]

The company who's wheels I am looking at also produces a wire wheel that is 14X6, any suggestions of whether it will fit?

 

[Andrew Mace]

14 x 6 probably would fit, but I can't imagine any good reason to go 1" smaller in diameter than the original 15" wheel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Alan_Myers]

Hi Earl,

I had 14" wheels on my TR4 in the past, with lower profile tires (60 or 65-series, I think). Acceleration was good, but highway rpms were too high. There was plenty of clearnace at the rear, but the front tires rubbed slightly on the fenders during hard cornering. Of course, body panels are quite different than TR3 and that info might not help you much. I didn't really like the "lowerider" look on TR4 and switched back to 15" wheels.

Now I would consider 16" wheels with lower profile tires, if I were planning an upgrade to bigger front brake rotors. But, +1 sizing like this might make steering overly sensitive.

Watch the wheel offset. Many times what you are looking at with 14" wheels are actually Datsun 240Z, which use the same lug pattern, but a much shallower offset that puts the tire under the rim of the wheel well on TR4, almost surely would cause interference problems with TR3/3A. TRs in general use a deep offset, almost as might be found on a front wheel drive car.

I feel nearly certain you won't be able to fit any 15x7" wheel on your TR4. 15x6" could be a problem, too.

Keep in mind that TR3 were essentially hand built and there is some variation, though. Sometimes wider wheels are possible, sometimes not.

The rule of thumb is that up to 15x5.5" can *usually* be fitted to TR3 without problems. But, there are times even 5.5" is too wide and wheel offset continues to be very important.

15x5" with correct offset almost surely would fit.

The spare tire is certainly another issue with TR3, due to the limited storage compartment available. One solution might be a sort of "space saver" sized spare. For the spare only, use a narrower wheel and an equally narrow tire, so long as the final diameter and height of the tire are close to the same as the other four. That would serve in emergencies. Of course some care would be needed driving on it, if need arises.

FYI, early TR6 used a 15x5.5" steel wheel and later TR6 used a 15x6". You might be able to pretty easily find one or more of these wheels - to buy inexpensively or maybe even just borrow -and try on your car to check clearances, before commiting to purchasing a set of wheels.

I've recently seen a wheel that looks great on all TRs and seems reasonably priced. Check out Superlite, which is quite similar to, but a lot less expensive than either Panasport or KN Minators.

The Superlite and Panasport are only available in 15x6", with the correct offset. KN Minators can be found in 15x5.5".

Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif.
'62 TR4 CT17602L