HEALEY TIRE CHOICES
I am frequently asked the question, “ What tires should I put on my Healey”? With the modern sizing system and constantly changing availability of tire sizes, this is an elusive question.
The tires on our Healey`s were a bias ply size of 5.60x15, which is no longer the way tires are sized. The modern sizing is metric, and the 5.60x15 translates CLOSELY to a P155-80-R15.
The second part of the elusiveness, is availability of sizes in tires. Manufacturers are not considering Healey`s when they create tire sizes, they look directly at new cars and what sizes they will need in their one change lifetime. This creates a very dynamic/changing tire availability for us.
For instance, just 5 years ago, there were only 2 tire choices available that would fit a Healey, both were in the Kuhmo brand, and they were only in the sizes that were the upper limit of what would fit a Healey.
Today, there are at least 30, in sizes from the original P155-80-15 to the maximum size that I think will squeeze in, P205-75-15, and in names we recognize, like Goodrich, Bridgestone and Pirelli. There is a nice price range available too, from the Kuhmo at around $75 each, to the Vredestein`s at around $140 each.
Tire marketing and sales have changed too. Now, almost all tires are made outside the USA, and your local dealer uses TIRE RACK online as a supplier, in addition to the brand name flag they may fly. My local choice for tire service will buy from TIRE RACK, bring them in, mount and balance, or I can order them and have them mount and balance for me. They are glad to get the very competitive business any way they can, and I want a trusted local source for service and warranty claims assistance.
Now for the real question that started this article, “What tire should I put on, and what size will fit?”
How do you use your Healey? First, answer this question: What is your main driving habit, do you race, rally, high speed highway or 2 lane country road at the posted limit?
Tires are rated at various speed ratings, which starts at 106mph for the minimum, and goes up from there. So for a generalization, tire quality will go up with price and speed rating, but even the lowest priced tire will be suitable for our Healey`s at below 107mph!
Next, what brand name will you be comfortable seeing on you tires? Does the Vredestein name give you the feeling you want, or can you be confident with a name you may not have heard on national TV? I run Kuhmo tires on most of my own British cars, and am very pleased with the performance and service they give me. When I bought them 4 years ago, that was the only brand in a size that fit that I could get, and I`m not unhappy with the choice.
What size? Well, our cars are hand built, and therefore each car has differences in room available in the wheel wells. Here are some more generalizations: The stock size of
P155-80-15 has no problems fitting. As you go up in height and width, the rub seems to start at P195-60-15, and get more pronounced as you get to the “maximum” P205-65-15. This is based on my observations of Healey`s that come through my shop. The rubbing occurs on the inner fender wells, usually at 9 and 3 o’clock on the front, and 9 and 3 o’clock with additional clearance problems with the bump box mounting bolts at the rear.
Two things to watch for at the rear: ensure no sheet metal screws from the upholstery are protruding into the wheel well! Second, sometimes the 2 flat head screws that hold the bump box to the well have been replaced with standard head bolts, and rub almost any size tire on rebound.
The final approval is up to you, brand, cost, quality, tread pattern, speed rating and most importantly, clearance in the wells! Make sure you check or have that checked immediately on mounting to the Healey.
Last bit of info; tire age. When do I replace them?
If you drive a lot of miles, you may get to actually wear out the tread! Most of us won`t , because the DOT has set safety standards for tire age at 10 years. The rubber compound that holds the tire together decomposes with age, whether or not it ever sees the sun and ozone. After 10 years, the tire compound becomes unstable and can come apart at any time without outward indications of trouble!
Each tire made must have a date stamp on it. That stamp is located on the sidewall on one side of the tire, and is inside an oval border. There will be 3 or 4 digits in that oval, like “0911”. That code means it was made in the 9th month of 2011. “089” for instance, would mean the 8th month of 1999. No code on the tire means it`s really old! Made before the mid ninety`s when the rule took effect.
Don`t be tempted to run your deep tread tires longer than the date stamp of 0903, ten years old!
Motor on!
Steve Day