5.5" x 13" ET18 Wheels

[beex64]

I found an excellent GB-Racing wheels with 165SR13 Pirelli P3000 tires on this wheel. Wheel size is 5.5"x13" ET18.(4x98mm.)
Does this wheels suit to Spider 2000-79 ?.

[bwilson27]

Wow, today must be wheel day on the forum.
I'd say if the bolt pattern is 4x98mm they should work.
Nice wheels!

[So Cal Mark]

what's the offset? The problem with 13s these days is the very limited choice of tires. Those tires on a 2000 Spider will look quite small, especially if the car hasn't been lowered

[beex64]

Offset is 18mm. I belive 165SR13 is original size for 1979 Spider.

[So Cal Mark]

that offset would be okay, but those tires are tiny. That's an 80 series tire so you'll barely get 4 inches of tread on the ground at each corner

[Redline]

A 5.5" wheel will take a 185/70-13 tire. This is what is on my Coupé and the grip is more than enough, while the handling is playful. Nothing wrong with skinny tires, and to be honest, the compounds used in today's tires, as long as they are not Chinese off-brands, are still better than high performance tires from 10 years ago. Yes, you won't have Yoko A048 levels of grip, but more than enough.

[So Cal Mark]

Chinese off-brands? Do you realize all of the US mfgs build their tires overseas now? I have 185-70-13s on my Spider and they do work very well (even though they are off-brands!) but he is talking about 165-13s and those are far different. They will work just fine if all you do is cruise around shopping mall parking lots. But for any spirited driving they will be lacking

[Ken]

Goodyear still has 8 plants in the US and owns Kelly, I have Kelly Chargers on my Spider, Cooper is also in the US

[So Cal Mark]

there are only 4 US tire mfgs that have plants here. All of the rest have moved overseas. Expect those 4 to move the balance of their tire-building soon

[beex64]

I looking for originality more than racecar handling. I just like cruising in a sun by original Spider. Anyway tires are original size Pirelli´s, not any cheap tires from China.
When snow is melted i put GB´s on and snap few pictures so anybody can see how they looked.

[stefhahn]

Well, if you're looking for originality you should look for other wheels....

[pope]

There are 100 companies that build tires in the U.S., but 75% of the tire production comes from the 4 big ones. Most of the tire plants are on the east coast.

[beex64]

Yeah,
Wheels has been made in 1983 so Spider is only few years older. Quite original.....

[stefhahn]

Quite is not original, or?

[htchevyii]

I think he's going for "period correct".