Will Michelin XAS 155 R13 fit an unmodified S3 SE?

[Stevie-Heathie]

Hi guys and girls,

Please could anybody let me know if a set of Michelin XAS tyres in size 155 R13 will fit on an unmodified S3 SE with original wheels, without fouling? My car is currently running on 155 R13 Vredsteins, which only just fit (<5mm clearance to rear wheel arch), and I want to change to XAS now. From factory the S3 was on 145 R13. I know that 155mm is 155mm, but in practice the manufacturers use different profiles, so although a Vredtstein 155 fits ok (just), I'd like to know whether I can get away with 155 in the XAS or do I need to go down to 145. I'd prefer 155 if possible.

Thanks in advance everybody!

Steve
Thames Ditton, UK
1967 S3 SE

[TBG]

155/70 or 155/60 or 155/whatever. This makes a huge difference. I run 165/70/13 with no problems.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks for taking the time to respond, TBG,

However I’m not sure I understand your point . The Michelin XAS tyre in question is 155 R13 which is an 80 profile. I know it fits ok in the S4 and Sprint models, but what I’m trying to ascertain is will it also fit the S3 and in particular the S3 SE?

Thanks again!
Steve

[elans3]

My standard '68 S3 S/E runs 155 x 80 x 13" Michelin X Energy tyres. Miles away from rubbing at the front, at least 15mm away at the back.
Dougal Cawley at Longstone tyres will measure the width of an XAS for you if you give him a shout,
Hope that helps
Steve R

[Fred Talmadge]

I have them on my S2, so they should do fine on a S3

[StressCraxx]

Hello Steve,

The answer is, "It depends."

There is some variability in bodywork among the S3s, along with previous repairs in it's life. How the body is mounted to the chassis can also allow that one side in the rear will have more clearance than the other. The front wings are susceptible to hits from the top of the tire at full bump, such as entering a car park.

With your existing tires, can you put your fingers between the tire sidewall and the lip of the rear fender/wing?

I just bought a set of Michelin XAS tires for my late S3. The body is at the paint shop so it will be a while before I install them. When I bought my Elan years ago, it had 155/13 Pirelli Cinturatos that fit fine, but there are differences in tire section width tolerances from brand to brand. I'm putting bump stops on the top of the front dampers to prevent contact.

My apologies that I could not be more definite on whether or not they will fit without interference.

Best regards,
Dan Wise

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks all.

@ Dan: Plenty of clearance on the front but no I can’t fit my fingers between tyre and rear wheel arch. It never rubs (no witness marks) but it’s mighty close with the current Vredsteins.

Best
Steve

[awatkins]

They tore the lip of my S3 right side fender and rubbed at the front of my left wheel well.

[Stevie-Heathie]

@awatkins yes I saw that you had mentioned that on a previous post. And yet others are running wider 165s with no problem. As was stated above I guess no two cars are the same at this point . . .

[TBG]

Steve - my point is that the profile makes a big difference to fitterability! You did not mention the profile in your original post.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Ahhh TBG yes, got it now. Sorry I should have said in my original post the XAS 155 R13 is 80% aspect ratio.

[billmoore42]

On my 67 FHC with an 9 year old Spyder chassis, it originally had 12 year old 155 R13 Vredsteins when I bought it two years ago, and I fit Michelin XAS 155-13 tires and they seem to fit the same - they look like a tight fit, but do not rub.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Thanks, Bill that’s very useful indeed.

[Stevie-Heathie]

Ok folks I have the answer .

Width: The XAS is significantly narrower sidewall to sidewall than I had imagined. On the wheel, fully inflated, it’s c143mm rather than 155mm as indicated. The Vredstein is about 152mm as opposed to the 155mm indicated. Strange but true.

Height: The XAS is about 10mm taller than the Vredstein although they are both indicated as 80 profile and 155/R13.

Conclusion: the XASs in 155/80 R13 do fit an unmodified S3 SE, there plenty of room on the front but it’s very tight on the back.

Case closed ) Thanks again all.

Best
Steve

[Andy8421]

Ok folks I have the answer .

Width: The XAS is significantly narrower sidewall to sidewall than I had imagined. On the wheel, fully inflated, it’s c143mm rather than 155mm as indicated. The Vredstein is about 152mm as opposed to the 155mm indicated. Strange but true.

Height: The XAS is about 10mm taller than the Vredstein although they are both indicated as 80 profile and 155/R13.

Conclusion: the XASs in 155/80 R13 do fit an unmodified S3 SE, there plenty of room on the front but it’s very tight on the back.

Case closed ) Thanks again all.

Best
Steve

I have been looking at fitting the XAS to my new Sue Miller wheels as a birthday treat (to both me and the car). I am however a bit surprised about the tyre width. I had thought that the '155' referred to the width of the contact patch, but from what I can see on the web you are quite correct, the '155' refers to the bulge to bulge dimension of the sidewall in a correctly inflated tyre. I would feel a bit cheated if my 155 tyre was in fact a 143 - that is quite a difference.

Does anyone who is a tyre expert know if this is normal? or just a quirk of the XAS?

Thanks,

Edit: Thinking about it, the wheel width would also be a factor in this, does the '155' reference a specific wheel width?