Good Morning again!
I always follow the tire threads, knowing I will be buying tires for
_one_ of my projects, sooner or later! Well, sooner is now.
Little did I know what problems were on the horizon.
The TR3B came with 5.90X15, according to BMIHT. Now, 35 years later, it
was sporting 3 165X15's and one BR78-15. (or somehting like that)
So I call the biggest tire chain in New England and ask what they have
available in the old 165X15 size. I hear silence on the phone. I say
"C'mon buddy, this is the tire that runs on most VW Bugs on the road,
you must have something."
This guy was in over his head so he passes me off the store manager. I
can hear the cabinet doors opening and closing as the old catalogues are
located. The manager finally picks up the phone.
"So, you want some tires for a Bug?"
I explain the tires are for a Triumph, and I ask if they carry any name
brands in that size. When the response was "What do you consider a name
brand?" I knew I was in for yet another ride.
So I call Coker Tire. They could sell me Michelin X's for $119 each. Or
Michelin XZX's for $93 each. Or Kleiber's (sp?) for $75 each. Plus
shipping of course. Then I get to have someone mount and balance them.
The 3B is going to be a driver, and paying $500 to get 35+ year old tire
technology for the Michelin X is not going to happen on my car. That is
$50 more than I paid to put a set of BFGoodrich All Terrain Radials on
my Ramcharger! 235-75R/15
The only solution I have come up with is so far is one tire dealer has a
set of Hercules 165X15 tires. They want $260 for the set mounted,
balanced, out the door.
What are all you TR3 owners using for tires? Anybody ever hear of
Hercules tires?
In a related note, I stopped at a local tire shop who stocks a bunch of
used tires. He has a pair of really good looking Michelin X's, 165X15 he
is selling for $30 each. Date code he thinks is '73. Lots of tread. My
car came with a pair of Michelin X's as well. Plenty of tread, a touch
of rot. No idea of age, I can't figure out the date codes. If anybody
wants to run a set of Michelin X's, email me.
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| Henry Frye E-mail thefryes@iconn.net |
| TR3B TCF1927 L http://www.iconn.net/thefryes/ |
| TR250 CD8096 L A Little Town In |
| TR250 CD1074 L Connecticut, USA |
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