MK3 Spit Tyre Size???

[jamie31888]

Hi Guys,

I know this is a much covered subject but i cannot seem to find an answer.

Can anyone tell me the best tyre size for standard mk3 wheels?

Wheels are currently being blasted/painted etc, they are the white wheels with the chrome hubcap.

Any help much appreciated  :)

Thanks
Jamie

[Clive]

155/80 13 std

for a bit wider 165/70 13 or you should be OK with 175/70 13

[jamie31888]

Thanks Clive!

What would be the benefit of fitting the 165/70 or 175/70?

[MarkB]

I have personally fitted 155 80,   165 70,    175  70, and 185 60 13" tyres on spitfires over the years. I think the only real advantage of the wider tyre is that they can look better. On standard wheels I would stick with 155's on a Mk3 or a bit wider on a Mk4 short shaft model. The narrower tyres avoid any problems with rubbing the rear arches or front wings, and on a road car I haven't noticed any benefit in handling with wider tyres fitted, only heavier steering.

Mark

[junkuser]

And greater loading on the vertical links when using large lock during low speed maneuvering.

[Fizzy]

what is std ? when i got my spit mk3 it had 3.5j wheels on it, but most people seem to consider 4.5j as the std size for spitfires.

[Velocita Rosso]

The MK came out with the original spec in the workshop manual as
3 1/2 D or 4 1/2 J wire wheel with 145 x 13 tyres 21 lb pressure fr and 26 lb pressure rear

Now as for what is best...may be as said.... because I have 14" ...175 x 60  

[jamie31888]

Thanks for the help everyone , I'm going to go with 155 80 13 , good point about the heavy steering and loading on the verticals

[James]

I used to have 145s on my Mk3 and it was great to drive!

Who needs road holding when you have great handling?

I remember the first RBRR I did in 2004 and there was so much standing water — never a chance of aqua planing.

[Spitfire2500]

93 wrote:

I have personally fitted 155 80,   165 70,    175  70, and 185 60 13" tyres on spitfires over the years. I think the only real advantage of the wider tyre is that they can look better.

Ditto. Been there done that as well over the years and I've just about come full circle on this issue :X I've recently changed from 185/60-13 on the Spit 2.5 to 165/70-13 and I'm loving it  :) I can actually park the thing now without tearing bicep muscles and no longer have to get all my fillings refitted after driving through Edinburgh ;D ;D

It's quite a powerful car for a Spit and I can detect a slight loss of traction but for normal road use it's virtually undetectable.

We now use the Spit almost exclusively for road work and touring (which wasn't the original intention  :B) and for that sort of use it's a much nicer car with the 165s on it.