steel KO wheel / spare tire

[rdssdi]

I have 14" alloys ( using 185/60R14) on my +2. This tire/wheel combination does not fit beneath the trunk (boot) floor as the original tire / wheel did.

What was the original tire size? (Wheel 5.5J x 13) Are the original pressed steel wheels (KO) available? Where?

Does the modern replacement 13 inch tire fit to the original wheel fit beneath the boot floor?

Bob
1969 Elan +2

[tower of strength]

original tyre size was 165/80X13. try ebay for a spare rim, be careful if you need to use the smaller spare, if on the back you will wreck your diff, if the rolling circumferences are different. Have a look at tyre bible.com, theres a calculator on there for different tyre sizes

hope this helps

Mark

[rdssdi]

The car is now running 185/60R-14. I see the diameter from original is approx. .8" difference.

The width is about 1 inch narrower.
I thought that you would wreck your ddiff with different diameter size tires only if it was a posi-traction type diff.

[steveww]

A normal open diff will be fine getting you home with different size wheels. If you have a LSD fitted just swap the spare to the front if required

[CBUEB1771]

The plywood boot floors "rocked" on the original 165/80X13 Firestone tire and wheel when I first bought 0500170N in 1977. I solved this by adding a wood perimeter frame to the underside of the two plywood panels to lift them about 3/4 inch. An easy fix.

[rdssdi]

That is interesting. I have made replacemen boot floors as my car came with one "warped" original. I was planning to add spacers to allow clearance for the current 14" wheel/tire. I decided to go to the original as the new wheel /tire protrudes from the wheel on an angle and would require more "shimming" at the rear.

Also, the raised boot floor would interfere wwith the panel that covers the fuel tank. Did you have that problem?

Bob

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

I have done the same as Russ on My S4 Elan. I put wooden spacer slats longitudinally on both remade floor panels. This kept the (reduced) height constant across the width of the boot. It was also necessary to provide a cresent shaped cut out in the (then unused) alloy fuel tank. Result, 5 off 14" alloys with identical tyres.
John

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

Ooops sorry,
just remembered the slats to adjust the height were only necessary on the part which fits on top of the fuel tank. Wood slat thickness chosen to match height of floor resting on wider spare tyre.
John

[CBUEB1771]

That is interesting. Also, the raised boot floor would interfere wwith the panel that covers the fuel tank. Did you have that problem?

Bob

Ah yes, I forgot about that detail. I did have to trim the vertical panel. I just peeled the carpet back, trimmed the panel and reattached the carpet with a contact adhesive.