3 Spoke Tyres?

[murph-gsi]

Hi, I am going fitting some new tyres to my 3 spokes but I have a few questions before I buy a set.
-What was the original size they came in?
-What size would people recommend?
-What size is best for look and handling?
-Would you use the standard size or different size, for putting the car back standard?

I know there's a few questions but any help, opinions and pictures would be helpful.

Thanks Chris

[Royston]

175/65/14 std

suggested sizes
185/60/14, cheapest
185/55/14

[jimbob-mcgrew]

I think the original size on those was 175/60/14

theres a lot more available choice, and better prices if you go for a 65 profile tho

175 is a guaranteed good fit.
185 width obviously gives slightly better handling, but sometimes scrubs

if its a road car, personally id go for 175/65/14 myself, and get the type of tyre that suites your needs. (what I mean is don't get slicks if you plan to use them all year round, youll prob end up crashing when the weather turns)

if your cars not lowererd much (30 or 40 mm) and you don't give people lifts often, you might get away with 185/60/14

[mowgli]

it all depends on the actual width of the rims, as there were various sizes done over the years.

[jimbob-mcgrew]

the 3 spokes are 5" wide I think

[Royston]

the 3 spokes are 5" wide I think

Early SR's @ 84/85 are 4 1/2"J

[mowgli]

a 4.5j will take a 165 tyre, but not anything much bigger.

[conza123]

My 5j ones come with 165/65 14 from factory

[mowgli]

that sounds more like it.

[conza123]

that sounds more like it.

as i my spare is still brand new with an old micheln 165/65 mx tyre on it

[murph-gsi]

Thanks a lot lads:thumb:
The wheels are the GSi ronal alloys. Think thats the 5.5j ones if I m correct?

[mowgli]

i think they are 5.5j on the gsi

[L14MNP]

I like this title.

It reminds me of when people sell tyres, and list them as suitable for a specific marque.
Or Americans. Who like to call wheels fitted with tyres, tyres. lol

[mowgli]

i don't want to be in on the pedantry, L14MNP, cos its addressed at what tyres should be fitted to 3 spokes.,

looking on the bay of E, its astounding what people call round black inflatable things for use on road vehicles.. lol

all that business about 'mud in your tire(my cousin vinny)' is another annoying thing about americans.....

[L14MNP]

i don't want to be in on the pedantry, L14MNP, cos its addressed at what tyres should be fitted to 3 spokes.,

looking on the bay of E, its astounding what people call round black inflatable things for use on road vehicles.. lol

all that business about 'mud in your tire(my cousin vinny)' is another annoying thing about americans.....

Oh yeah, it just reminded me of what some people state.

Not having a dig at the OP. :)

[jimbob-mcgrew]

I didn't know about the 3 spoke width's, thought they were all the same.

so, early 84/85 sr's ran a skinny 4.5
and later sr's and gte's ran a 5
and the gsi ran a wide 5.5

165 to 175 used widths

interesting... I guess whoevers running 3 spokes best check there all the same in that case, lol, theres prob a few people out there with odd width rims

[mowgli]

gte was 5.5 too i believe. cos the steelies were 5.5

some also got fitted to astras

[murph-gsi]

Just after checking them there. They say they are a 5J ronal alloy with 47.5 offset.
Says in the haynes manual also that they are a 5J and that the SR/SRi were a 4.5J
Am I right to believe this? What do other GSi owners have, if they still have their 3 spokes?

[L14MNP]

Not got an owners manual for the car?

[murph-gsi]

No, just checked there. I have none.
Think I will go with the 175/60 R14, they seem like a good choice.

[Royston]

To my knowledge all later SR/GTE/GSI 3 spoke alloys are all 5J x 14" 47.5mm offset

They were never 5.5J.

SR steels are 5J x 14" anthracite/silver

Cavalier Commander/Astra SR steels anthracite/silver were 5.5J x 14" they were what I ran on my SR for may years (still have them)

My early SR had 4.5J x 14" 3 spokes with 165/65/14 tyres, I got rid of them for the Cav Commander rims, which I bought new from the dealer, wrapped with Original 185/60/14 Goodyear NCT's and then later NCT2's (I have a nearly new set of these for my 3 spoke alloy rims)

[jimbob-mcgrew]

see I didn't think there were any 5.5's myself, as those 3 spoke alloys don't fit over 256 brakes

go for the 65 profile tyres murph, instead of the 60, as theres loads more choice and cheaper prices too

[mowgli]

and you could get 6j 14's in steels with the '5 spoke' design. i had a set i found in a scrapyard off a german kadett (astra mk1) and foolishly sold them to baxter....