Probably a dumb tyre question

[ArnieVXR]

Before reading further, bear in mind that all I want are wheels of a certain diameter for storage purposes.

I have a dragster with 30.5" diameter rear tyres. These tyres don't like being 'stood' for long periods, so I have to suspend the rear on axle stands.

I want to keep the car on my car transporter, but the axle stand approach to preserving the tyres won't work without a quite a bit of effort. I figured that standing the rear on street tyres would save the day. The PCD is 4.5", so there's plenty to choose from. Trouble is that most street tyres on 15-17" rims are 26"-29" in diameter, which leaves me with almost no clearance when moving on and off the transporter. I've looked at off-road tyres with big profiles, but they need wider rims the offsets of which cause me problems.

QUESTION: I have a Jeep space saver - 155/90/16- that fits just right, but is only 27" in diameter. A 245/75/16 has a 30.5" diameter (by my calcs). Could such a tyre fit my space saver and hold air?

Thanks and be kind

[PhillipM]

How wide are the rims? Must be a fair bit of room back there given the width of the drag tyres?

[Bill]

Can't you place bits of 2x4 on the ramps to give you the clearance you need?

[battered]

I'd ask a tyre fitter. You don't want to go anywhere with thise tyres, just use them to get the dragster on and off the trailer. If you take the rim to the tyre fitter and ask nicely he might even have a pair of worn-out tyres in the size you need for the price of a drink.

[Bill]

235/85 16 is a common Defender tyre size btw, so can be got for not much cash.

ETA but have a look at Jimny forums as they'll probably run similar height, skinnier tyres.

[GreenV8S]

I've seen these with plywood rear wheels, I suspect for clearance in the trailer, but may be worth knocking up something of the sort just for storage and wheeling about?

[paintman]

battered said:

I'd ask a tyre fitter. You don't want to go anywhere with thise tyres, just use them to get the dragster on and off the trailer. If you take the rim to the tyre fitter and ask nicely he might even have a pair of worn-out tyres in the size you need for the price of a drink.

^^^^^^This. Try a couple of the used tyre places esp ones that have been going for years as they may have all sorts of odd stuff - for anyone near Leicester I'd suggest Abdul Tyres on Baggrave Street as first port of call. Take the space saver with you & see what they come up with.

[ArnieVXR]

Thanks guys, I'll get the wheel down to the local fitter and see what they can do with a Land Rover tyre (which is close to the perfect height).

The wheels I race with are 18.5" wide, but the wheel offset is the opposite of what you get on a modern car (very deep). I might be able to use a stock wheel, but I'm not keen on buying one to find out.

I love the idea of making my own wooden wheels! Given what my Woodwork teacher used to say about my efforts, they probably wooden work (boom boom).

[SlimJim16v]

30/9.50x15 and 31/10.50x15 are common off-road tyre sizes and can be had as remolds, so cheaper. The first no. is the diameter and second the width, they fit on I think 7" - 10" wide wheels.

[Petrolhead_Rich]

another option would be to cut the centre out of a steel wheel that fits and get it welded into a bigger wheel that gives you the clearance you need E.G. dumper truck or 4x4 wheel?

OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR WHEELS TO DRIVE AROUND ON, BUT FOR LOADING/UNLOADING AND ROLLING AROUND WILL BE FINE!