alanh Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 I hate tyo bring the subject up as I'm sure its been covered before, but I did a search and couldn't see anything. The thing is are there any recommendations (manufacturers rather than sizes) for standard tyre fitment for a TR2 on steel wheels? What makes are others using? I've had my car for a month or so now and the existing Dunlop SP Sports 165/15 are between 12 and 14 years old and showing it. Thanks in anticipation. Alan 1954 TR2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrtr2 Posted September 14, 2004 Report Share Posted September 14, 2004 Hi Alan I run Dunlop SP 20 AS Metrics on my TR2, same size. I don't think the 155-15 are availible anymore. My spare is an old 155 that I keep because I have wires. (165 on wires don't fit well in the spare compartment). I am happy with mine, they are Dunlops and have a reasonable tread pattern. By the way, what is your com # mine is TS4629LO. Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alanh Posted September 15, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 15, 2004 Hi Brian, Thanks for your response, I'll look into those. Any more suggestions anyone? I just noticed a couple of tyre topics in the general forum. People seem to like the Vredesteins (SP?) too. My 2 is TS2018 and I'm in Devon. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrtr2 Posted September 16, 2004 Report Share Posted September 16, 2004 Hi Alan Good luck on the tyre quest. So you are a long door. Is she on the road? Been restored? I also live in Devon. Devon, Alberta. Tis a small world. Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Lay Posted September 17, 2004 Report Share Posted September 17, 2004 Hi Alan, You have probably seen some of my threads with the restoration of TS952. I am also in Devon - up north close to Bideford. Regards - Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alanh Posted September 19, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 19, 2004 Brian, I [/i]knew I should have qualified "Devon" with "England" as soon as I typed it! Found pics of your car on your MSN page. Looks good. I would have liked wires, but I like the look of painted steel wheels too. I've been running on aero screens in the recent sunshine. Did you ever find your picture of original TR aero screens? Nigel, I copped out and bought my car restored, I know I would never finish a restoration. You have my unreserved admiration for taking it on. I'm in South Devon, Plymouth in fact. Do you know Ron Farmer at Woolfardisworthy? He has a 3a, UKV569. If so say hello from me. As for tyres, I've ordered a set of Vredesteins from mytyres.com. They should arrive on Wednesday. I'll let you know how I get on with them. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Nigel Lay Posted September 19, 2004 Report Share Posted September 19, 2004 Hi Alan, Woolfardisworthy (or Woolsery as it is know locally) is only a couple of miles from us, amazing as I don't know him. I will find him and give him your regards. All the best - Nigel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Iain.F Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 I am surprised at several of the comments about tyres recently, particularly about the unavailability of 155/80/15 radials. On the net there are several sites that advertise these not to mention specialist vintage tyre supplies. Though I have not used these yet myself, I certainly intend to due to there prices (inc vat and delivery). I also question the need to fit tyres larger than 155-15 on narrow wheels? Surely this can only make a wallowy combination and make the steering heavier? The standard car/wheels/suspension were designed for 5.50 - 15 crossplies with 155-15 Michelin X's as an option - Have you seen how wide these tyres actually are! As for fitting tubes into tubeless tyres - I think it is safe to say that most moderrn tyres are tubeless anyway so we probably have little alternative if you have wires. I certainly would appreciate any comments as my TR3A -TS22045 - VDU 565 is still in the rebuild stage and pretty soon I will need to order tyres to get it up to a rolling chassis stage. Thanks Iain.F Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alanh Posted September 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Ian, This is uncanny, but literally as I was reading your post, mytyres.com called to say that the Vredesteins I ordered are not available...They "may" be available in 2 weeks. We'll see. I went for 155's by the way. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Iain.F Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Thanks Alan, mytryes also advertise Firestones which is the type I will most probably try. Iain.F Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mrtr2 Posted September 20, 2004 Report Share Posted September 20, 2004 Brian, I [/i]knew I should have qualified "Devon" with "England" as soon as I typed it! Found pics of your car on your MSN page. Looks good. I would have liked wires, but I like the look of painted steel wheels too. I've been running on aero screens in the recent sunshine. Did you ever find your picture of original TR aero screens? Nigel, I copped out and bought my car restored, I know I would never finish a restoration. You have my unreserved admiration for taking it on. I'm in South Devon, Plymouth in fact. Do you know Ron Farmer at Woolfardisworthy? He has a 3a, UKV569. If so say hello from me. As for tyres, I've ordered a set of Vredesteins from mytyres.com. They should arrive on Wednesday. I'll let you know how I get on with them. Cheers, Alan Hi Alan I did get one picture of an original Aeroscreen, but would like more if possible. Mine are Brooklands so not "legal". but they work! Brian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alanh Posted September 27, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 27, 2004 Mytyres.com didn't have the Vredesteins in stock and estimated at least 2 weeks before they could get them, so got them from Longstones in the end. I got them fitted at my local independent tyre place, £17 to fit 5 tyres including a tube repair. I got 155s to replace the existing 165s, and first impressions are "don't they look small!" They look like they're hiding away in the wheelarches compared to the 165s. There was a lot of discussion about whether to fit them with or without the tubes that the existing dunlops had. I was happy to go tubeless, but they were insistent that tubes were required for my rims, so they went back on. The inner surface of the new tyres was very smooth, so maybe there won't be any problems with chafing. On the road they feel great. A huge improvement on the (admittedly 12-14 year old!) dunlops. In fact I sort of wished I'd kept a couple of the old dunlops for the back wheels to get some of that tail out action around the local roundabouts! Alan Plymouth, Devon, England, UK. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Iain.F Posted September 28, 2004 Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Alan I am intreged at your choice of 155/15 tyre and the improvement in handling. Do you think this is from having a better match of tyre to wheel width or is it just purely due to newer tyres? As you can gather from past input - this is a dilema I have and sooner or later - 155/15 or even 145/15. I would be interested if anyone has fitted new crosssplies as these are still available from some vintage tyre supplies. I understand that although they are an old design, the new tyres are made of modern specification materials so have a much improved performance. This may be of benifit to a sidescreen car. Any thoughts on this one as I think racing tyres even F1 were crossply until recent past? Thoughtprovoking- Iain.F Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alanh Posted September 28, 2004 Author Report Share Posted September 28, 2004 Hi Iain, I'm sure the improvement is entirely due to the fact that the dunlops were way past their sell by date. I've only had the car for 6 weeks and I initially thought they had a bit more mileage in them but they appear to have been over inflated at some time in their life and the rubber was marginal in places. So they needed replacing for those 2 reasons really. As to what size, my 2 is still running on it's Lockheed rear axle and I didn't want to put it under any more strain than necessary, so went for the "standard" size tyre rather than anything wider. I was also thinking that the steering may be a little lighter. I haven't ruled out going back to 165s in the future. I intend to drive my car, so hope to wear out this set before they get too old and hard! I didn't consider crossplies. In my mind crossply=dangerous and radial=safe, but that may be outdated. I too would be interested to hear if anyone is running on crossplies and what their experiences were with them. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jonlar Posted September 29, 2004 Report Share Posted September 29, 2004 I didn't consider crossplies. In my mind crossply=dangerous and radial=safe, but that may be outdated. I too would be interested to hear if anyone is running on crossplies and what their experiences were with them. I was driving when radials and bias belted tyres were being introduced, what I found was that radials especially had more grip, particularly in wet conditions, but if they let go, it was in a big way, cross plies were much "stiffer", but very predictable - you knew they'd slide! I'd say go for radials personally. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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