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Aftermarket Tire/Wheel Information

Listed is the results of the October 2000 Quik Quiz. It should give an idea of sizes and brands of tires/wheels that will work on Spitfires and GT6's.

Note: this page is not meant to recommend or discount a particular tire brand. EVERY listing on this page is one owner's opinion only. The sizes are meant to give a GENERAL idea what will fit on a particular sized wheel or if (or how much) it rubs.

Also note that because a tire will fit a wheel, it may nor may not be the best choice for handling or safety. Triumph engineers made specific size recommendations based on many factors. Tire technology has made huge strides in the years after the cars were made. Tires grip much better than engineers ever imagined when your Spitfire was designed. What kind of effect does this increased grip have on a 30 year old car? Was your car's suspension designed to withstand the higher cornering forces?

Information about factory wheels and tire sizes click here.

Category Notes:
The reason for this column is to get an idea HOW the driver uses his tires. If you use your Spitfire for cruising a race tire will have an uncomfortable ride and will be expensive. If you race, a "cruising tire" will hurt your lap times.

touring=car is used for relaxing cruising with rare or occasional hard cornering
sport=a balanced combination of cruising with often hard cornering or occasional autocross
racing=rarely, if ever, driven on public roads

Tire Brand

model

size

wheel size
*=aftermarket

category

rubbing?

buy again?

comments

Aurora

K103 TL

195/50/15

6'' x 15''*
(Superlite)

touring

no

yes

A very good tyre and budget price

Avon

ZV1

175/70 13

"factory"
4.5 x 13

sport

no

yes

Very very very good...

Avon

ZV1

175/70 13

4.5 x 13 *
(Superlite 3 piece modular )

sport/racing

no

yes

Very Light & good performance

Avon

ZV1

195/45/15

6'' x 15''*
(Compomotive ML 8 spoke)

sport

no

yes

very good

BF Goodrich

Radial T/A

175/70-13

4.5 x 13

touring

no

yes

Great looking tread, very affordable upgrade with good handling and visual results

BF Goodrich

Radial T/A

175/70-13

5.5" x 13

sport

yes

maybe

On a '65 Spit they rub quite a bit in the front. Tires are awesome, but have chewed the edges pretty badly with the rubbing

BF Goodrich

n/s

185/70-13

5 x 13

sport

no

yes

wheels are from a 79 Spit

BF Goodrich

Radial T/A

195/60 R13

5.5 x 13*
(brand n/s)

sport

no

maybe

n/s

BF Goodrich

Radial T/A

205/60

5.5 x 13*
(brand n/s)

sport

no

yes

Looks awesome

BF Goodrich

Radial T/A

205/60 13

6.5* (Panasport)

sport

no

yes

Slight front fender lip flare for clearance

BF Goodrich

Targa

155/70 13

4.5 x 13

sport

no

yes

Excellent wearing tires, and they grip good too.

BF Goodrich

Touring T/A

175/70R13

13x5.5J * (American Racing)

touring

no

yes

Good all round road tire

Bridgestone

Potenza

175/70/13

4.5 x 13*
(Panasport)

sport

no

yes

The wet braking is great, and the way they let you slide, but not out of control around corners is great!

Bridgestone

Potenza

175/70/13

5.5x13*
(Cosmic alloy)

sport

no

yes

wheels are 28 yrs old

Bridgestone

RA1

185/60/13

"factory"
5.5 x 13 (GT6 option)

racing

yes

yes

great for vintage racing

Ceat

-

155x80 R13

"factory"
4.5 x 13

touring

no

yes

Excellent

Cooper

Cobra Radial

205/60/13

6 x 13*
(Panasport)

sport

no

yes

only rub on sway-bar under extreme parking maneuvers (full lock)

Cooper Cobra GT 205/60/13 5.5 x 13*
(Western wheels)
sport no yes rear only. 175/70's in the front

Cooper

Trendsetter

185/80/13

5.5 x 13*
(TR7 wheels)

touring

yes

yes

Easy to correct minimal rubbing and gained (or lost) 450 rpm at 60 mph, is this a 12% "overdrive"? Easy to "chirp" tires into 2nd gear!!!

Continental

c51

165x13

"factory"
4.5 x 13

touring

no

maybe

what is available in chrome in 13in beside wire wheels?

Continental

sportcontact

165/60/R14

"factory"
4.5 x 13

sport

no

maybe

these are so hard and the traction of these tires in water is not so perfect and the sides of tires are somewhat weak

Custom

Deluxe

155/80 R13

"factory"
4.5 x 13

touring

no

maybe

I say maybe because they do give a good ride, but performance wise? like pulling shifting down to 2nd around a corner is not good at all with these tires

Custom
photo

Deluxe

155/80 R13

"factory"
4.5 x 13

touring

no

no

Cheap, Cheap! Smaller contact patch than other 155's I've seen. The very soft, thin tirewalls produce a comfortable ride; who wants a comfortable ride in a sportscar?

Dunlop

n/s

160/80 14

"factory"

touring

no

yes

ok

Dunlop

n/s

185/60/14

14x6*
(U.S Mags)

touring/sport

yes

yes

custom drilled to match original bolt circle.Modern styling 5 star. made in Mexico. Ordered from Discount tire Co. circa 1994. Soon to appear in Spitfire Magazine? (purple Spitfirossa).

Dunlop

GT Radial Qualifiers

205 60 R13

"factory"

touring

slight

yes

fantastic in the dry, slippery in the wet. A little wide looking for the rims

Dunlop

SP20 A/S

155/13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

-

Dunlop

SP20 A/S

165/70 R13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

British cars should be shod with British, or at least European tyres.

Dunlop

SP40

n/s

5.5*
(TR7)

sport

yes

no

The tires are too close to the wheel lip openings, especially in the front. This makes tight cornering on anything other than a totally flat road a tire rubbing event!

Dunlop

SP40 a/s

P175/SR-13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

Spitfire rims ARE Dunlop rims! Wouldn't go any larger than 175's!!

Dunlop

SP Sport 2000

185/60R13

5.5 x 13*
(Dunlop 5.5"J Formula Ford)

touring

no

yes

Great grip, no rubbing. will also fit 1" lowered uprated springs in front. also slightly better acceleration due to the smaller diameter. Pressure 28lb rear, 26lb front.

Dunlop

SP Sport 8000

195/55 14

7 x 14*
(n/s)

sport/racing

yes

yes

Roll the front fenders, and get the necessary negative camber via the upper ball joint/a-arm location

Dunlop

SP Sport 9000

225/40ZR16

16x6.5 *
(Koenig Racing)

sport/racing

no

yes

Are you kidding? My cheeks are still stuck to the side windows.

Enduro 70

Runway

185/70 R13

"factory"

n/s

yes

no

They repel the road!

Euro Tech

Metric A/S

185/70 R13

5 x 13*
(Minator)

sport

yes

yes

Rubs front with extreme turn, rubs rear with two people on a big bump

Falken

ziex

185/60H13

5 x 13*
(Minilite 8-spoke)

sport

no

yes

excellent grip, wet or dry

Falken

ziex

185-70

"factory"

sport

no

yes

Got all four for fifty bucks at a salvage yard off a Fiat X19. Great sticky tread, good in rain, aggressive look!

Firestone

F570

185/70R13

"factory"

touring

yes

maybe

Light weight, wide 6.6" tread. low noise. Good dry/sand. Poor wet.

Firestone

F560 and F570

185/60-13

5.5J x 13*
(mk4 style)
brand n/s

touring

no

yes

fitted onto a mk3 haven't had any problems. 20psi front, 25psi rear seems ok.

Firestone

Triumph

P 155/70 R13

5.5 x 13*
(Panasport)

touring

yes

yes

wanted tire that says "Triumph" on my Triumph!

Firestone

n/s

P 165/80 R13

"factory"

touring

yes

maybe

prefer a lower profile tire

Federal

n/s

185sr13

"factory"

touring

yes

maybe

nothing special but cheap

General

n/s

170/13

"factory"

touring

no

maybe

n/s

General

Ameri TE

175/70 R13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

n/s

General

400SL

175/70 R13

"factory"

sport

no

yes

n/s

Gislaved

Speed

175/70SR13

4.5 x 13

sport

no

yes

Anyone know a supplier?

Goodyear

Allergra

P155/80 R13

"factory"

touring

yes

maybe

Great Price, Good Tire.

Goodyear

Corsa GT

155/80 R13

"factory"

touring

no

maybe

These tires slide a LOT due to sidewall rollover at factory recommended pressure, but are OK on the autocross when inflated to 40PSI. Next time will try 175/70 13.

Goodyear

Eagle Ventura

185/60x13

aftermarket
(Minilite)

touring

no

yes

Excellent tyre but perhaps a little wide for the rim.

Goodyear

Eagle

20x8x13

aftermarket

racing

no

yes

Racing Slick

Goodyear

Gran Prix S

165x13 82

5J*
(Wolfrace)

sport

no

no

can anyone tell me any other makes of European car which use a 14 inch wheel suitable for a Spitfire?

Goodyear

GMetrics

155

"factory"

touring

no

yes

n/s

Goodyear

GPS

185/60 14

14*
(Superlite)

sport

no

yes

cut uper control arms for right camber

Goodyear

GT70

175/70 13

5.5J x 13*
Dunlop

touring

no

maybe

Tyres have been fitted for some time - the car has hardly been in use for 10 years! Tyres are probably obsolete, but grip pretty well. Wheels are steel, same pattern as Mk 4 Spitfire, with wider rims. As used on "Formula Ford" single seat race cars back in the 1970s.

Goodyear

TMetric

175/65 13

4.5J x 13

touring

no

maybe

no problems

Goodyear

Viva 2

155/80R13

5 x 13*
n/s

sport

no

maybe

All around good tires!!

Goodyear
photos

Wingfoot HP

185/70-13

5-1/2 x 13*
(American Racing Spector)

sport

yes

maybe

Inexpensive tires, too "greasy" for autocrossing but fine for daily driving...

Goodyear

n/s

155/80 R13

4.5 x 13

touring

no

maybe

Tires were on car at purchase. I am replacing soon, hopefully with Michelin 155R13

Grand Prix

Radial GT

175/70SR13

6 x 13*
(brand n/s)

touring

no

no

the tyres the previous owner selected. They are in no way to be considered agressive. Any sort of spirited driving far exceed their limits. Admitedly this is a large contact patch for such a Spitfire but the compound is simply not up to the job.

Handcook

Vectis

195/45 15

7 x 15*
(brand n/s)

racing

no

yes

Had the wheels cast and machined to the correct offset

Hoosier

R33

20x8-13

6 x 13*
(American Racing)

racing

no

yes

good grip, poor life

Hoosier

R45 Cantilever

20x8-13

6 x 13*
(Revolution)

racing

no

yes

New R45 better than old R45 or old R33 - Kevlar belts

Hoosier

R45

20x8x13

6 x 13*
(Panasport)

racing

no

yes

Switced from Goodyear to Hoosier in 2001, and will never go back to Goodyear. The Hoosiers like a little more camber, and a bit higher pressure, but the handling difference was notable.

Kumho

ECSTA V700

175/70 R 13

"factory"
(4.5x13)

racing

no

yes

very good autocross tire, if you calculate the real size from the width and section height they are 190-50-13. They are a bit pinched on the 4.5 inch rims and really should be mounted on 5 in or large rims. However they stick like glue in the corners and are great for autocrossing.

Kumho

ECSTA Supra 712

185/55 R 14

?x14*
(Compomotive)

sport

no

yes

hard to find tire size-1010tire.com only one that can get this size

Kumho

771

175/70 R 13

"factory"
(1980-5x13)

touring

no

yes

very grippy and look good

Tire Brand

model

size

wheel size
*=non-factory

category

rubbing?

buy again?

comments

Michelin

Pilot Sport

225/35ZR-17

9 X 17*
(brand n/s)

racing

no

yes

These tyres are the best ever! A bit expensive at £160 ($230ish) but well worth every penny! They look mean, are great performers and have a very, very large contact surface (as you can imagine) buy them now!

Michelin

Rainforce

185/70-13

"factory"
(1979-5x13)

touring

no

maybe

good grip, ok price

Michelin

MXL

175/70-13

"factory"
(1980-5x13)

touring

no

yes

good all-around tire

Michelin

MXL

175/70-13 Frt 185/70-13 Rr

5.5 x 13*
(TR7)

touring/sport

no

yes

tire size is ideal for adequate ground clearance and cruising speed but the TR7 rims are very heavy

Michelin

Wheather Wise

155/80R13

5 x 13*
(brand n/s)

touring

no

yes

Great deal last summer. $50 rebate and $38 each (then the rebate) Good looking factory size tires. Run good

Michelin

Wheather Wise Sport

n/s

"factory"
(4.5 x 13)

sport

no

yes

look good and meaty

Michelin

Wheather Wise Sport

175-13

"factory"

sport

no

yes

look good and meaty

Michelin

X Metric all season

175/70 13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

work well for an every day driver. Fairly inexpensive at $45.00 each

Michelin

X Metric all season

175/70 13

5.5 x 13*
(American Racing)

sport

no

yes

I've run 185/60R13s, but I like the better highway gearing I get running the taller tires. The handling is better than the stock 155/80s, but not quite as good as the 60 series.

Michelin

XLX

155 SR13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

a great balance between inexpensive, roadholding and period looks

Motomaster

Predator

p175/70R13

"factory"

sport

no

yes

n/s

Nankang

n/s

185/60R13

5.5 x 13*
(Wolfrace)

sport

no

yes

Very good "budget" brand from Yokohama. Good in both wet and dry

Nitto

n/s

185/60R13

5.5 x 13*
(Panasport)

sport

no

yes

reasonably priced, looks good on the Panasports

Pirelli
photo

Cinturator P3

155 SR13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

Great balance of classic looks, low price and good grip. I do not know if they are still available.

Pirelli

P4

165/70-13

"factory"

touring

no

no

tire rollover at low presure,will go to 175/70 next

Pirelli

P4

165SR13

"factory"

touring

yes

no

Rubs in the rear of the GT over large dips

Pirelli

P400

175/70-R13

5 x 13*
(Panasport Replicas)

sport

no

yes

Very quiet, Excellent grip, and really long tread life. I will buy another set for my '79 Spit

Pirelli

P400 Touring

175/70TR13

"factory"

tourning

no

yes

Fantastic! Quitness & ride are 10 thousand % better than stock size Michelin ZX's I've used for years! Like a new car!

Pirelli

P600

195/55-R13

*
n/s

racing

no

yes

pirelli do not make them anymore. Must be careful not to blow out a tire

Pirelli

P2000

185/60x14

6 x 14*
(Compomotive)

sport

yes

yes

modify wheel arches to minimize rubbing

Pirelli

P3000

175/70x13

5.5 x 13*
(Cosmic)

sport

no

yes

Fill up the fenders nicely with the 6J13 rear and 5,5J in front

Pirelli

P6000

195/50/15

6J15 *
(Panasport)

sport

no

yes

these wheels are for the tr-7 application and have slightly larger diameter wheel lugs

Pirelli

P6000

195/50

15" x 6"*
(OE MGF Alloys)

sport

no

yes

MGF Alloys a good fit, Tyres Very Good

Pep Boys Performance House Brand

86S series 60

205/60/13

5 X 13
"factory"

sport

some

yes

The front lip needs to be rolled to fit with no rubbing. Great on dry pavement but light car big tire's when wet, Slow Down!

Performance
(Pep Boys)
photo

Radial GT

205/60/13

5 X 13
"factory"

sport

no (on rear only)

maybe

Since these were on the rears only, rubbing was not an issue.
They look too wide for the wheels for my taste.

Roadstone

n/s

155/75

4.5 x 13

touring

no

yes

excellent for touring

Sears

Guardsmen

185/70 R13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

n/s

Sears

Roadhandler

175 R13

"factory"

touring

no

maybe

factory wheels and skinny tires always make the spitfire handle better; fat tires=spin out

Semperit

Sportlife

195/55 13

"factory"

sport

no

yes

As wide and as original as you can go on a Mk1,2,3, bodystyle car

Sumitomo

HTR100

185/60 13

13" x 6"*
(Diamond Racing Wheels)

sport

no

yes

diamond wheels make several wheels with our bolt pattern, affordable!!!

Sumitomo

HTR200

195/60R13

5 X 13
"factory"

sport

no

yes

Great autocross tire

Sumitomo

n/s

185-60hr14

6 X 14*
(Chevoid)

sport

no

yes

the best to go 14 inch. A much better ride

Sumitomo

n/s

205-60 13

6 X 13*
(Hayashi)

sport

yes

no

Much too wide as the fender sliced the left front tire through to the cords on the first drive. The other three also rubbed as I have not "rolled" the inner lip of the wheel opening

Tire America

gt+4

195/65-r13

13x5*
(American Racing)

sport

yes

maybe

Front- rub inside when steering locked/ Rear- DON'T GO BACKWARDS WITH ANYTHING IN THE TRUNK-- other than that great looking and sticky

Triumph

n/s

155/80 R13

"factory"

touring

no

no

really really cheap tires

Wal Mart

Guardsman

155/13

"factory wire wheel"
4.5 X 13

touring

no

yes

pencil white wall!

Wal Mart

Ulysses

R155/80 R13 M&S

"factory"
4.5 X 13

touring

no

yes

cost $24.00 Cdn(=$16.00 A)

Yokohama

A008RSII

185/60-13

5.5 x 13*
(TR7)

sport

no

yes

Excellent dry grip; dicey when wet. Wear rate acceptable for moderate street use. Difficult tire to find anymore.

Yokohama A008 175/50-13 5.5 x 13*
(American Racing)
sport no yes Can't get them anymore (darnit!)

Yokohama

A509

165/60HR-13

"factory"

sport

no

yes

Have previously used Dunlop, Goodyears, Hankook and Sime tires. Yokos give better grip in the wet than any of these did in the dry. Amazing. They are also very predictable and progressive on the limit.

Yokohama

A520

185/60HR-13

5.5 x13*
Revolution 4 Spoke

sport

no

yes

very good in dry less understeer very good brake performance neutral handling, scary in the wet

Yokohama

AO 32R

175/60HR-13

6 x 13*
(n/s)

racing

yes

yes

minor rubbing easily fixed; excellent on both wet and dry tracks

Yokohama

AO 32R

175/60/13

5.5 x13*
TR7 wheel

sport

no

yes

totally awesome. grip is astounding, cut 10% off lap times, Use car ocasionly in summer only and with light car tread wear acceptable for street use.

Yokohama

AO 32R

185/60 HR 13

13 x 6J*
(Superlite)

racing

yes

yes

n/s

Yokohama

AO 32R

185/60 HR 13

6x13F 6.5x13R*
(Superlite Ultralite 3-piece)

racing

no

yes

Yery Good

Yokohama

AVS

185/60-14

6 x 14*
(n/s)

sport

not after modification

yes

Very good traction. Had to turn up the front fender lips for clearence

Yokohama

AVSi

185/60-13

5.5 x 13*
(Hayashi)

racing

no

yes

No longer available from what I can tell

Yokohama

A008

185/60R13

5.5 x13*
(Panasport)

racing

no

yes

Difficult to find now. Toyo radial can be used as replacement but must be shaved for racing

Yokohama

A008RSII

185/60

5.5 x13*
(Panasport)

sport/racing

no

yes

excellent

Yokohama

H Rated

175/70 HSR

"factory"

sport

no

yes

This is my 4th set of these tires, & I love em. They work great in the rain too.

Yokohama

H Rated

P205/60R14

14 x 6*
(Panasport)

sport

yes

yes

Only trouble in the front. Could alleviate by rolling the inner fender welds or dropping down on tire height.

Uniroyal

Rallye "280"

155 SR 13

5J x 13 "factory 1980"

touring

no

maybe

Original factory tires: 20% worn with 30K Km. Still contain factory air, also unused spare as new

Uniroyal

Tiger Paw

165-13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

n/s

Uniroyal

Tiger Paw

165-13

"factory"

touring

no

yes

Excellent in wet weather, good smooth ride

Uniroyal

Tiger Paw GTS rwl

185/70frt
195/70rr

13 x 5.5*
Opel GT rims

sport

no

yes

Nice handling, crisp response, even rolling, sure feeling, very appealing looks

Viper

TR

195/60

"factory"

sport

no

yes

Good Price/Holds the Road


n/s is information not supplied by submitter

Comparisons:

This is a visual comparison between 155 SR 13, 155/80 R13 and 205/70 R13 tires on my car and parts car. All tires are mounted on stock 4.5" wide Spitfire wheels.
All my measurements were "eyeballed" with a tape measure and not exact but should give an general idea.

tire brand

size

tread width

tire width

sidewall height

diameter

Pirelli Cinturator P3

155SR13

4.25"

6.25"

4"

22"

Deluxe Custom

155/80 R13 R+S

4"

6"

4"

22.5"

Performance Radial GTH

205/60 R13

6.5"

8"

4"

22"

Size: the size stated on the sidewall
Tread width: the width of the contact patch
Tire width: the overall width at its widest point
Sidewall height: the distance between the edge of the tire and the edge of the rim
Diameter: the width measured from the front of the tire to the rear

Pep Boys Performance Radial GT's (left) and Pirelli's (right)
Custom Deluxe (left) and Pep Boys Performance Radial GT's (right)

Thoughts (my opinions): The Deluxe tires are very thin in both looks and handling with very soft sidewall. They are a little too "toy like".

The Pirelli is a good balance between period looks, low price and decent handling. They look like the belong on the car.

The Performance Radials just look too wide to me. Sure they grip well (in the dry) but the also rub in the front and slightly on the rear.

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