Tires for Elans 1964-73

[tvacc]

Hi all,

I have a guy that wants to buy my 71 Elan. Now it is a Spyder car with 26r bodywork, so it takes 185/60/13 and 205/60/13 tires which are not so unobtainable as the 155/60/13s. But the unavailable nature of the tires has turned him off from buying any Elan . Are the 14 and 15 inch wheels available for our cars? Are there tires available at places I do not know of?

What is everyone doing about this?

[Ross Robbins]

Try Tire Rack, Inc. which generally has our tires in stock (even your race tires) and if they don't show them as available I discovered that they can find them with a little digging from overseas. I have personally had great success with Discount Tire which has a local store and can order my 155X13 tires for me. Coker Tire also carries the original Firestone style and Vredestein as well.

[Tahoe]

Ross's info is correct. Considering 15 inch wheels for a minute, the weight would be more but the choice of tires expands quite a bit. A 195/60-15 is the same as 175/70-13 I believe in diameter. Wheels are available in 15 inch with the Minilite/Panasport look. One is the VTO wheel and the other is the Rota RB. Both are 15x6 I believe, but the offset may not be correct. Other than the additional weight, it is an option if it makes a difference to the buyer. One factor is are your wheels bolt on or pin drive? Pin drive is more of problem obviously.

[Gordon Sauer]

There's also universal tire where I got my Vredestein--Hard to believe something as simple as tires is a stopper. Gordon Sauer

[tvacc]

Selling of cars is always about timing. This was enough of an issue to get him thinking about getting a Caterham again.
We shall see.

[msd1107]

Re: Tahoe and 15" wheels.

15" wheels are probably only available for bolt on wheels but you can back convert your knock-on wheels to bolt on if necessary.

Superlite wheels (http://www.superlite-wheels.com/wheelpage.asp?cat=5) have 15" wheels in 5", 5.5", and 6" widths in 26R style. The magnesium wheels are about the same weight as a stock 13X5.5 steel wheel (A current Minilite aluminum wheel is heavier than the stock steel wheel). A compatible tyre size is 185/55-15 (Elan rolling diameter) or 195/55-15 (+2 rolling diameter)

This is a reasonably pricey way to go, but your car would look very nice.