Cheap tyres for a Series 3 on 5.5" rims? Any advice?

**iannuls** · 19th May 2017, 10:16 AM

I'm getting my Shortie 1973 Series 3 softtop road registered. It's spent 4 years running around our acreage without much issue, but I'm now fixing up all the little things to get it road legal.

Any suggestions for 5 cheap radial tyres. It's likely to get limited on-road usage, but I don't want something that's so cheap it's dangerous on wet roads. My rims are 272309's so 5.5".

I'm thinking I'll replace the bald 750 16 crossplies (they were really too big for it) with 215 85 R16 radials, but the cheapest I can find are an unknown ( to me) brand GOODRIDE SL369 SUV OFF-ROAD 215/85R16 115Q (10 PLYfor $155 a tyre. Yikes, that's almost $800 before the new inner tubes which I'm bound to want to replace as well. That'd be about a third of the cars value.

I've tried Gumtree and ebay and trading post for 2nd hand 215 85 R16 tyres without success. I've also tried British Off road on the sunshine coast for wrecker tyres, but they don't sell tyres alone any more and a set of Defender rims with tyres are too much. (Plus I want to keep it Series).

Any suggestions?

Photo attached shows the current worn crossplies which are a bit too big for the rims and look a bit leggy...

Ian
1973 Series 3 88" Softtop 2.25 petrol

**harry** · 19th May 2017, 12:46 PM

try the second hand tyre sellers, they often have cheap tyres wnd roadworthy sets,
or the wreckers.
four wheel drive wreckers have some.

**donh54** · 19th May 2017, 02:30 PM

235/70/16 may be an easier size to get. Fit ok on 6" rims, so might do for yours.

Just finished a 6000k trip fully loaded on Goodrides - no problems at all, good in the wet and dry, and no dramas on gravel or sand.

If you think $155 each is dear, it must've been a while since you bought tyres!

**cjc_td5** · 19th May 2017, 02:38 PM

205R16 are pretty close to the old 6.5R16 tyres are are a common std size on the Jap utes. You may find some on Gumtree etc as owners upgrade to blingy wheels.

$155 is very cheap for a new tyres. Most "known" brands will be $250+.

Chris

**whitehillbilly64** · 19th May 2017, 05:34 PM

Gilbert

I fitted these. Don't know what they wear like yet.

whitehillbilly

**iannuls** · 19th May 2017, 09:52 PM

I've recently bought Kumho 4x4 16" tyres on our Navara, I think they were only $195 a corner, but I could justify that for a working vehicle, the shortie is really just an indulgence, so can't really afford to spend money on it. I'll ring around the 2nd hand tyre dealers. I'd tried a couple and got nowhere, but probably have to persevere.

The new tyre places tell me the 235 85 R16 's can't be fitted legally to 5.5" rims, so I'll stick with the 215' or 205's if I can find some. The 215's are pretty close to the size of 700 16 which is what the shortie S3 could come with I think.

PS I've had to grind my bumper bar back to the steel, I've undercoated it with Bunnings 91% zinc gray undercoat, what do I paint it with to look original? Any good ideas?

Also I'm trying to find roof sticks, my softtop has neither sticks nor a softtop. I guess I could bend some galv tube to create sticks. Anyone have shop drawings?

Cheers

Ian

**iannuls** · 23rd May 2017, 06:04 PM

I just bought these 5 brand new Bridgestone Duellers 205/ R16 from Nissan parts in Salisbury, Brissie, for $50 each. Shown next to my 7.50 16 crossplies. They are left over from a ute special wheel and tyre upgrade they were running for their new Navaras. I have nothing to do with them, this is purely for info. They have about 12 left. Speak or text their parts supervisor, Chris on 0434 202 884 They are about the size of new 6.50 16's, see pics, shown next to my worn 7.50 16's.

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Cheap tyres for a Series 3 on 5.5" rims? Any advice?

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