AGC Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Morning allI would like your opinions please.I want to change the tyres on my Mk3 spit because I don't know their history and they are looking a bit worn. I have standard steel rims which I will be using for the next year or so and then Im changing to wire wheels when I have saved up the money. At the moment I have Goodrich 145/80/R13 on the front and firestone 145/R13/74S on the rear, do you think this is a good combination? I would like to go a bit wider but what is the maximum size I could go to so they still fit within the wheel arches?Also, as I hope to go wire wheels in the future (which will probably need tyres with inner tubes) can you suggest a make and type of tyre that would be suitable??ThanksAndrew Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorkshire_spam Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Whatever you choose make sure the rims you fit too are within the acceptable range stated by the tyre manufacturer, be aware that when you approach the "extremes" (wide tyres on "narrow" rims) some brands/types of tyre will be more forgiving w.r.t. rim size than others. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 1. Think carefully before fitting wires :-/ (unless for show purposes) Check out the various posts about the pros (looks) against the cons (a few)2. If they are standard wheels, the "best" size is probably 155/80 13. 175/70 will fit (but make sure you have the 4.5j wheels, should be stamped on them) but they are a little wide really. I have also seen 165/70 fitted, but not recently?Best makes? Usual suspects, Michelin, and I am thinking of Goodyear efficient grips. Uniroyal are good in the wet, but try to avoid the "budget" end of the market.Biggest problem with our type of cars (eg relatively low mileages) is that the tyres get old before they are worn out.Not sure there are any tyres made that are labelled as suitable for use with tubes......but people seem to fit tubes to them anyway. see above about cons.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smithy Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 cliftyhanger wrote:1. Think carefully before fitting wires :-/ (unless for show purposes) Check out the various posts about the pros (looks) against the cons (a few)Yes. More cons: Wire wheels contribute to global warming and have caused some of the trouble in the middle east. More info here on why James Bond didn't really have them on his DB6 (he had revolution 5-spokes.)http://www.mwsint.com/site/cms/contentChapterView.asp?chapter=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 AGC,I'm amazed that no one has linked you to the equally amazing "Mintylamb" Wheel'n'Tyre Comparorama website: http://www.mintylamb.co.uk/?page=tyre.htmWith that and just a ruler you can see for yourself what will fit.But remember, the wheel offset is not included in the system!Click on the Automotive button to see all the other handy caculators that James has put online for us!JOhn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piman Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hello Smithy,"More info here on why James Bond didn't really have them on his DB6"I couldn't see that in the link, but also, I don't remember James Bond having a DB6, are you thinking of the DBS?Apart from a few serious club racers I haven't seen a DB4/5 or 6 on anything but wire wheels.Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garyf Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Link to a Photo of the Aston DBS similar to the one used in the film On Her Majesty's Secret Service.http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120914180749/jamesbond/images/3/30/Aston_Martin_DBS_1969.pngI prefer the DB5 but it's still a very nice car :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGC Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 cliftyhanger wrote:1. Think carefully before fitting wires :-/ (unless for show purposes) Check out the various posts about the pros (looks) against the cons (a few)2. If they are standard wheels, the "best" size is probably 155/80 13. 175/70 will fit (but make sure you have the 4.5j wheels, should be stamped on them) but they are a little wide really. I have also seen 165/70 fitted, but not recently?Best makes? Usual suspects, Michelin, and I am thinking of Goodyear efficient grips. Uniroyal are good in the wet, but try to avoid the "budget" end of the market.Biggest problem with our type of cars (eg relatively low mileages) is that the tyres get old before they are worn out.Not sure there are any tyres made that are labelled as suitable for use with tubes......but people seem to fit tubes to them anyway. see above about cons....Thanks for the info, Im probably going 155/80........ 3.5J wheels so think this is wide enough.Re your pros and cons for wire wheels.... Will take a close look at this, thanks for the heads- up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piman Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Hello Gary, they used to be very much unloved but even their prices are high these days, DB5s, well I'll never be able to buy one again.Incidentally James Bond's DB5 was actually a DB 4 which then was worked on to become the DB5 prototype.Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 3.5 is incorrect, that is herald sized. The spitfires came with 4.5j. Worth seeking out I think.....Apart from the worries of worn splines (check that.especially if considering secondhand) the worst part is cleaning wires. Really, I know smithy likes a good bit of scrubbing, but really not my cuppa.Did I mention the wobbly side of things? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Clive, the Mk3 spitfires were 3.5j as standard.Best find some 4.5j ones if you can.Herald estate or later 13/60?CheersColin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Now that surprises me!Off for dinner with Bill now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
herald948 Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 At least for the US market, the only Mk3 that came with 4.5" steel wheels was the 1970 model; before that, they were 3.5". Wire wheels, OTOH, were always 4.5" wide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AGC Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 Been looking at pros and consFor me the pros are they are so pretty and set the car off a treat.The cons, as I see it areTHE PRICETHE CLEANING AND GENERAL MAINTENANCETHE RIDE QUALITY (POSSIBLE WOBBLE)All of the above I can live withHave I missed anything?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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