modern tyres for +2

[terryp]

I've just been reading this and I'm getting worried. I thought I'd just walk into a shop and get some more Goodyear GT70 185/70/13
Does anyone know the nearest current tyre to this as apart from a little rubbing on full lock I'm very pleased with them
I don't want a tyre that says "Trailer" on the side!

Terry

[stugilmour]

I saw a set of Sumitomo HTR's going onto a Triumph GT6. The size was 175/70 R13 82H. This may not be correct size for out Elans and +2's but they may be available in other small sizes. The tread and construction look reasonably modern.
Ken

This is the size I bought for my '71 Plus 2 Federal with 5 1/2" Minilites. I wrote the following in my note book, which IIRC I got off of the TireRack site. I ordered the tires through a local dealer as shipment to Canada is a bit of an issue. They were an easy order item for him.

Sumitomo HTR 200's
175/70/R13 82H
High performance summer 4.5" to 6" mounting width
22.7" diameter, 576.6 mm diameter

Not sure I did this correctly, but I figured them for 96% of stock diameter? The tire dealer told me the stock tires with no profile figure in their specification are 78 profile, but I have not seen this bit of info in the previous posts on tire sizes?


Cannot definitively speak to clearance issues at the extremes as car is presently disassembled, but static fitment looked fine and I didn't see evidence of rubbing.

HTH

[M.J.S]

I know any interesting thread will receive a lot of replies and it can be as obstructive as it is well meaning.

Based on some experience with my old MK1 MR2, I replaced my nearly new but awful 165/80 Goodyears on my 130/5 with 175/70 Firestone Multihawks, at less than ?100 a set, and the results transformed the car, as they did on the wonderful old Toyota. They were suggested by several colleagues who run very silly turbo Japanese metal.

Expensive is not always better. With their boldly lettered sidewalls the Firestones don't have the look of period tyres but they are well priced with superb performance wet and dry (given my very low mileage I cannot comment on life span) and they don't catch the arches/springs or upset the gearing too much, you still feel every pebble on the road and the handling remains Lotus sharp running 25 lb pressure.

Tyres are very, very important and I would not hesitate in spending top money on rubber even if it meant scrimping on other things, and although I admit to being an extremely fussy bugger I recommend them whole heartedly.

Mark S.


...

[dmode]

My 71 130/s is running on Firestone F630 175/70/13, They look period even down to the Firestone letters in the old style typo.. I have small problems with the space around the springs though. Only when driven hard

[kstrutt11]

I also have 175/70 13's on mine, I had to slightly flatten the outside of the rear spring perch to give clearance but otherwise they are fine.

kevin

[msd1107]

Stu,

A regular metric sized tyre (ie 155-13) is nominally 80%. However, you cannot use the tyre size figures to calculate useful data like rolling diameter or tyre rev/mile figures. This is because the tyre deforms as it rotates through the contact patch. A nominal correction factor is an increase of 3%. The real figure depends on factors such as wheel rim width, tyre pressure, and the amount of wear.

A previous post elan-f15/updated-spreadsheets-t18445.html has a worksheet with most common tyre sizes together with either manufacturer supplied tyre rev/mile figures or calculated figures. This should get you in the ballpark.

David
1968 36/7988

[Jason1]

Hi

What about white-walls? Saw this pic for sale on Ebay.

Jason