MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

TR parts and Triumph parts, TR bits, Triumph Car Spares and accessories are available for TR2, TR3, TR3A, TR4, TR4A, TR5, TR6, TR7, TR8, Spitfire and Stag and other TR models are available from British car spares and parts company LBCarCo.

Triumph TR3 - TR3 Tires

I was wondering what the general consensus of opinion was on whether to replace the original bias ply tires with radials or not? The Roger Williams book pretty well suggests making the transition. I have a used set of P165 radials on it now and an old worn out bias ply tire as a spare. I see that Coker has some 560x15 and 590x15 bias ply tires available if one would want them. The radials are too fat to fit in my 1959 TR3A spare tire area as I'm sure everyone knows. And of course the radials look modern. If I buy new tires now is the time to go back bias ply and a more vintage look. So what do most people think about this problem?

thanks
Howard
Howard Petri

Hi Howard:
I use 165R15 with an original bias ply as the spare.
Chuck

Howard:
I'm using p165R15 radial Dunlops the last five years with no problems and like the ride. I let some air out of the radial spare tire and it fits fine in the spare carrier compartment. Fine means you push as hard as you can to get it in and pull as hard as you can to get it out. Of course by doing this I now have to carry a hand operated air pump in the trunk. Not a big deal since I also carry spare tubes, patches, spokes, spark plugs, ... and almost a complete tool box minus the welder and compressor but I'm working on that too. I consider all this extra weight as break down insurance and so far we've been good. My car is a 59 TR3A driver so radials were important and not a problem to choose for me.

Just my opinion
Harry
HDW Ward

Do you want to drive it or have it look original? That shoudl give you the answer. Later cars did have radials available as an option I believe.
For the spare, you can get a modern mini-doughnut-spare thing from a wrecker and put it in your rim; then it will fit in your spare tire slot. I have a neighbour who did this with success. I think the tire size is 135-15 or something like that.
Jim
J. S. Wallace

Since 1990, I've used 4 new Michelin 165 SR 15's, 4 Kelly-Springfield 165 R 15's and now I have 4 Vredestein 165 R 15's.

I have the early TR3A (TS 27489 LO) and never lost a point at a judged national TRA or VTR concours because of these radials. I drove about 75,000 miles on the Michelins and K-S tires and have put about 7,000 miles on the new Vredesteins.

They all fit in my spare wheel well. I put the dished part down and fill it up with spares etc. To get it in I push one corner in and then "scrub" rotate the tire on the bottom on the wheel well. A bit of soap or white grease helps. To get it out is the reverse. But I never had a puncture in the last 15 years and some TR owners I know don't carry a spare. They take a can of some aerosol to pump up the flat it it should happen.

Don Elliott, Original Owner, 1958 TR3A, Montreal, Canada
TR Register Member since 1987
http://www.zen21606.zen.co.uk/Forum%20Gallery/don3a2_big.jpg
Don Elliott

Thanks to everybody for your comments on the tire problem. It looks like everyone is using the radials. I don't have a concours car and I am really interested only in driving it. So I will stick with the radials too. The spare bias ply tire I now have is really bad. I will find a better older bias ply tire to use as a spare. I never thought about one of those mini tires as a possible spare.

thanks
Howard
Howard Petri

When I bought my TR4 3 years ago or so, it had wide whitewall bias ply tires. The look is vintage, I don't know how old and hard the rubber actually is, but they are borderline unsafe, especially in the rain. When I put radials on it, the car was drastically changed for the better. I might put the bias plys back on to drive slowly to a show, but that's it.
Tom

This thread was discussed between 11/03/2005 and 19/03/2005

Triumph TR3 index