Wheels and Tires Selection

[Bonneville Don]

I have a 1965 Austin Healey 3000 that I have owned for 30+ years. I am finishing a restoration and need advice on wheels and tires. I have painted 72 spoke wire wheels that seem to be true. (I spun them on the car and used a fixed point to watch the run out. I did not measure any anomalies, but they seem good to me.) The old tires are P195/75R15 "Classic Radial" (maybe Coker?). Coker has nothing in stock and 2-3 months out for new ones.

Questions:
1. I have considered cleaning and painting myself. I live in Florida. Does anyone know of a quality wire wheel restoration service. I got a bid from "Wheel Repair Specialists" in Deerfield Beach, Florida for $160 per wheel to true and paint. I can buy new chrome ones from British Wire Wheel for $416 each that can be run with tubeless tires. Comments?

2. I've read most of the posts on tire selection and it seems to me that the best tires available are the Michelin 180 HR 15 XAS. My Tirerack guy is quoting me the Michelin XVS for $232 each. Whats the difference? What is the best size to buy? Some like the Verdestiein 195/65 R15 91H. They are about $118 each Anyone with experience with these?

3. If I buy new tires above, can I run them on my wheels without inner tubes? I have wraps on the existing wheels over the spoke ends. Michelin inner tubes are $40.

4. I do not have a spare wheel. I saw a thread that the spare tire needs to be a Verdestien 155 to fit in the trunk area? Anyone have a good spare wheel to sell?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[MikeAH100M]

I would highly recommend Hendrix Wire Wheel in Greensboro. > Hendrix Wire Wheel <. I used them for my 100M. I do not know if they paint wheels but they true the wire wheels (adjust the spokes) and true the tires to match (shave.) The result was excellent and went a long way to eliminating my "skuttle shake" issue. They provided the Vredesteins and recommended the correct tubes. No leaks since 2019. Service was very friendly, helpful and quick.

 

[Editor_Reid]

It depends. I'll give you my take, which may not be the same as yours.

Life is too short to clean and paint wire wheels. You probably won't like the results anyway. Buy the wheels you want.

Michelin XAS tires are, in my opinion, an excellent choice. That's what I have on my BN2. Michelin XVS and other more modern models of Michelin tires don't have the appropriate vintage look, in my opinion. You're probably not going to drive your Healey hard, so you don't need the latest tire technology that produces the best skid pad numbers.

The tire seller I usually buy from, www.longstonetyres.co.uk, seems to always recommend running tubes. However, the last time I had tires mounted, my tire guy forgot the tubes and so we decided just to see how it goes. It's going fine. Of course, I have solid wheels on my BN2. Not sure how you'd fare with wire wheels. Probably better to follow the advice of the guys who do that for a living and use tubes.

The spare tire in your BJ8 sits on the boot floor. There's no limit to the size. No need to chase some skinny tire that will fit into a spare tire envelope like there is with the BN1/BN2. Not an issue for you.

One more thought to offer: Vredestien tires are basically the default choice for these cars. They're not expensive and I don't know of anyone who doesn't like theirs. However, I prefer a more vintage look that is period-correct for the cars. Healeys came with tall, skinny bias-ply tires, and low and wide tires may be fine for improved handling - which you scarcely need since you're not likely driving your Healey at the limits of adhesion - but they diminish the overall look and stance of the car. I'm probably in a small minority that cares about this, and while you don't have to go all the way to the extreme and get skinny bias-ply tires, something with plain blackwalls and a relatively tall, narrow profile just looks a lot better, at least to me.

Happy shopping.

 

[Michael Oritt]

BD--

I've been doing business with Alen Hendrix since I got my Healey in 1999 and have always come away happy. While you may find others who service or sell wires and tires I think Allen is your best choice as he has a lot of Healey-specific knowledge and experience and supports our Marque and clubs.

As to tire recommendations I am on my third set of XAS's and I think they are great, if expensive. I agree wholeheartedly with what Reid says and though others' opinions may differ I think that Healeys simply look wrong with anything but a relatively narrow aspect, tall tire. The XAS's not only have the right look but they also provide good handling and roadholding in both wet and dry. BTW I use tubes.

 

[Healey Nut]

The spare tire in your BJ8 sits on the boot floor. There's no limit to the size. No need to chase some skinny tire that will fit into a spare tire envelope like there is with the BN1/BN2. Not an issue for you.


Not true if you fit wider wheels and tires to suit then the boot lid (trunk lid ) will not close ,you have to remove or reduce the wood stop block at the back to make the tire/wheel go further back in the boot (trunk)
I had 5.5” wheels on all my Healeys with 195/65 15s and had to modify the wood blocks on all of them so the boot would close correctly .

 

[twas_brillig]

We have a 1962 BJ7 - original wheels were painted, 48 spoke, 15x4.
We now have 72 spoke chromed 5.5inch (for decades!), with Vredestein Spring Classic 185/70 HR 15 80H. (one of our restoration chaps recommended them; but he's also a Vredestein dealer). We're happy with them; the tread pattern is fairly aggressive, so pick a brand that you like the looks of and that others have recommended. Keep It Simple! And we run tubes, and carry a spare tube as well as a spare tyre.
Our Healey is in storage (about half an inch of snow last night, with a howling wind. And the sand/gravel won't be cleared from the streets until late May. The Healey and the Buell motorcycle come out about the same time) so I can't advise what we use for a spare - it isn't the original size, as the hold down system doesn't quite fit. Probably the optimum spare would be a solid knock-on, with the original rim width and tyre size. Oh, for infinite wealth!
And - to open a different kettle of worms/can of fish: we run 30-32 front and 28 psi rear; and truly don't want to be on tyres older than 9 years - preferably a max life of 8 years. So - don't go all expensive, as your tyres will age out before they wear out.
:Last note: I purchased the magic wheel balancing kit from AH Spares, but the tyre shop we deal with chose not to use it when balancing our wire wheels. I don't know if that reflects negatively on our local chap, or AH Spares, but respect both of them. Can anyone make recommendations?
Later, Doug
PS: based on the weather forecast, I'll be out shovelling in a couple of more days, but wearing shorts while I do it....

 

[Editor_Reid]

The spare tire in your BJ8 sits on the boot floor. There's no limit to the size. No need to chase some skinny tire that will fit into a spare tire envelope like there is with the BN1/BN2. Not an issue for you.

Not true if you fit wider wheels and tires to suit then the boot lid (trunk lid ) will not close ,you have to remove or reduce the wood stop block at the back to make the tire/wheel go further back in the boot (trunk)
I had 5.5” wheels on all my Healeys with 195/65 15s and had to modify the wood blocks on all of them so the boot would close correctly .

Thanks for confirming exactly what I said: "No need to chase some skinny tire." Even your rather extreme 195/65 - and don't tires that wide rub on the inner fenders? - fits in the boot with the trivial chore of modifying or removing a wood block.

 

[Healey Nut]

No rubbing even with lowered suspension .

 

[Michael Oritt]

Healey Nut--

You said: "No need to chase some skinny tire that will fit into a spare tire envelope like there is with the BN1/BN2."

With the judicious use of a scissor jack I was able to slightly increase the height of the spare tire aperture on my 100 to accommodate a Michelin 180-15 XAS. The upholstered pocket provides a snug fit and I use plastic laundry bags to slide the tire into place. It's a tight fit but it allows me to have a true spare tire, not something of a lesser size.

 

[Healey Nut]

Healey Nut--

You said: "No need to chase some skinny tire that will fit into a spare tire envelope like there is with the BN1/BN2."

With the judicious use of a scissor jack I was able to slightly increase the height of the spare tire aperture on my 100 to accommodate a Michelin 180-15 XAS. The upholstered pocket provides a snug fit and I use plastic laundry bags to slide the tire into place. It's a tight fit but it allows me to have a true spare tire, not something of a lesser size.

It was actually Reid’s comment but I’ll forgive you I don’t own a BN1/2

 

[Michael Oritt]

HN/Reid---

My mistake....sorry.