Tire size on an E30 steelie as a 2002 spare

[Gordon]

What size tire should I go with for an E30 14X5.5 steelie spare that will fit in a 2002 spare tire well?  That is, if it will fit with no modifications to the trunk floor boards. I have five E30 steelies.  The steelies on the car will have 195/60-14 tires.

[Mike Self]

While a properly sized tire (i.e. same rolling diameter as the OEM 165/80 x13 tire) would fit horizontally when placed in the original spare tire well, I can't think of a combination that will fit in an unmodified 2002 spare tire well vertically.  You're gonna have to raise the trunk floorboards an inch or two (similar to what the factory did to the Turbo's trunk) for the proper sized spare to fit in the spare tire well. 

 

Of course, if you have to replace a rusty spare tire well, that would be your golden opportunity to increase the well's depth.  

 

mike

[Pablo M]

The 195/60/14 is nearly exactly the same as the stock 185/70/13. Only difference is the width is 10mm wider. The wheel is also 1/2" wider so it would stick up vertically in the well by just a bit. I would check how much clearance you have with your stock wheel/tire setup to verify. 

You can take one of the 4 for the car and stick it in the spare wheel well to verify if it'll fit. Ideally you'd want the same size tire as a spare. 

[Longstone Tyres]

Well it might have a very similar diameter, however being a 60% profile tyre it will have a very different carcass structure. It won't handle very nicely. You can slam the car on the deck, stiffen the springs and add adverse camber and turn it into a race car. That will increase the grip, but without that you are just making it tricky in corners. I beleive they were originally 165R13. then top spec sporting models were on the 185/70R13 Pirelli Cinturato CN36. this tyre still handles really well because it has a perioid carcass designed to go with your geometry. However there is an increase in foot print so the steering is heavier, but your chissis is capable of keeping that foot print on the road.

 

A 195/60R14 however is a very different beast all together. It will put dramatically more footprint in contact with the road ont the straights, but not in the corners. It is a much more modern tyre designed to compliment a more modern chassis set up which cleverly keeps all that foot print in contact in contact with the road in the corners. The shape of the tyre is very different.

 

If you could get a 175/70R14 classic tyre that might work nicely. but i don't think there is one.

 

can i ask why you want to fit 14" wheels?

 

[2002iii]

A 165/70r14 is the closest to the same diameter as the 195/60r14's and should theoretical fit in the same space as the factory spare. Good luck finding tires in that size made by a company you've heard of.

[SydneyTii]

My experience has been if you want an available 14” tyre on any 14” wheel in the trunk you’re going to have create the Turbo style board blocks to lift the trunk floor, happy to hear different, it’s not a hard job and you get a night storage area at the rear of the trunk😉

[visionaut]

Not a lot of options. Ideally you’d want same tire diameter for a spare. But you’d want a narrow tire width to fit the spare in the tire well. The only 14” that’s close in diameter (~6mm) that’s narrower might be a 175/65-14 but I suspect it’s width might still be too much for the well height.

 

A 165/70-14 or even better a 155/75-14 would be ideal as a spare for 195/60-14s but they don’t seem make those sizes now.

 

Edited May 2 by visionaut

[Gordon]

4 hours ago, Longstone Tyres said:

Can i ask why you want to fit 14" wheels?

 

I do not have any 13" wheels. I went +1 in 1983 to E30 bottlecaps and then basketweaves and now 15x7 ET 25 wheels with 195/50-15 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires. I like the look of E30 steelies and am willing to go back to 14".  Decent 13" tires have gone the way of the dinosaur in the US market.  To obtain quality 13" tires, I would have to order them from outfits like yours.  Sorry, I'm not a purist. If I owned an early roundie, I would be inclined to keep it original. I own a US spec square tail light 02 that is a restomod special. 

[Longstone Tyres]

18 minutes ago, Gordon said:

 

I do not have any 13" wheels. I went +1 in 1983 to E30 bottlecaps and then basketweaves and now 15x7 ET 25 wheels with 195/50-15 Yokohama Advan Fleva tires. I like the look of E30 steelies and am willing to go back to 14".  Decent 13" tires have gone the way of the dinosaur in the US market.  To obtain quality 13" tires, I would have to order them from outfits like yours.  Sorry, I'm not a purist. If I owned an early roundie, I would be inclined to keep it original. I own a US spec square tail light 02 that is a restomod special. 

Hi

 

A few things spring to mind.

 

• Those wheels look a little difficult to balance without putting the wheel weights on the out board bead seat. If you try to dynamically balance them with the weightsd all inboard expect dissapointing results.
• As long as you are aware that fitting 15" wheels is an aesthetic choice. It will noit improve the cornering grip unless you do some dramitic alterations to your geometry. I have a bit of a bugbare about people recomending these changes without a full explanation of the effects it has on the balance between grip and handling, tracking, ride quality etc. Big wheels look cool buyt dont ride or handle as well. this is also true on modern cars, but they do have better suspentsion and cleverer geometry to overcome the problerms. but modern road cars fit big wheel because they look cool.
• what is wrong with buying tyres off outfits like ours? we sell you better tyres for your cars.
• you can get the proper 185/70R13 Pirelli Cinturato in the US from the American distributor Lucas Antique Tires.  
• 

  185/70VR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN36 - Lucas Classic Tires

  LUCASCLASSICTIRES.COM

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  185/70VR13 tires. Buy 185/70 R13 tires. Classic 185/70 VR13 tires for the Ford Escort RS, Mexico, BMW 2002, Opel Manta. 185/70VR13 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ CN36

[bergie33]

Anything that is a 165 should fit under the truck board. Use a tie size calculator to see what height is close to the 195/60-14 that's available. Remember, it's going to be used infrequently, for short distance, so it doesn't need to be a name brand tire and doesn't need to be an exact size match.

[Longstone Tyres]

I think the Alpina version fitted 185/70VR13 Pirelli Cinturato CN36. However was that also on the spare? and did it fit properly?

[visionaut]

17 minutes ago, bergie33 said:

Use a tie size calculator to see what height is close to the 195/60-14 that's available.

Just did that, summarized above…

[Pablo M]

1 hour ago, bergie33 said:

Anything that is a 165 should fit under the truck board. Use a tie size calculator to see what height is close to the 195/60-14 that's available. Remember, it's going to be used infrequently, for short distance, so it doesn't need to be a name brand tire and doesn't need to be an exact size match.

It’s the width that’s important since the spare is sitting on its side. 195 vs 165. 

[Dave3x72tii]

I've found that 165 tire width and 5 1/5 wheel width are the most the unmodified well can handle, verified on multiple cars. 

[Longstone Tyres]

yep 5.5" wide rims are the maximum recomended rim width by the ETRTO for a 165R14. Though people do also fit them on  a 6" rim and they are fine, In the UK our rules about what tyre you fit on what rim are very open. You couldnt do it in Germany.

 

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