Spare tire

[ajwolf]

Hello fellow enthusiasts. I wonder if anybody has come across this issue and has a solution. I recently relaced all 5 tires on our Mark II. So they had bias belted 8.85/9.0 x15 tires on the car which were very old. I looked up a replacement tire and bought 235/75 r15 as I was told was the equivalent as the old tires. Now the issue. The spare does not allow the trunk lid to close. Yet the old bias tire worked. Did I get misled, and purchased the wrong size? Has anyone run into this before? I am unhappy to say the least. I really don't want to lay the spare down flat in my trunk. Any ideas? Thanks for reading my problem.

[Barry Wolk]

Take some air out of the tire and see if it fits. If it does simply carry a battery powered inflater.

[Roger Zimmermann]

On one of my cars, I let the bias tire as spare. I know that bias and radial tires are not allowed on the same car, but as spare I don't see a problem.

[ajwolf]

Wow. My spare was the original bias Tire. It has a wow in it where it rested against the trunk lid closer latch so that is not an option. Thank you for the reply. It is a good idea.

[ajwolf]

Thank you Barry. I will try that next.

[rlafash]

I too have radials mounted and the "original", bias ply, still inflated with 1956 air, in the trunk.

[Egenolf]

Hello,

the original tire size of a Mark II is 8.0 x 15 or 8.2 x 15 (with AC).

A tire with the dimension 235/75 15 is about an inch wider than the original tire and do not fit in the trunk.

[Barry Wolk]

I've had 3 different brand 235s in my trunk for 23 years and have never had a problem. The best fit is the Auburn radial that's sized as an 8.20R. I put them on Al's car, too.

[ajwolf]

Hi Barry. I have an Auburn premium 235/75 r15 and it does not close the lid. So now i am realy stumped.

[awags]

Not sure why my phone keeps deleting my reply, but.
Alexander, Holger is exactly correct. The 235 is an inch too wide to fit down in the spare tire holder properly.
8.2x15 is 29.5 dia and 8.3 wide. While the
235/75-15 is only 28.9 dia but 9.3 wide.
If you look above the drain hole under the spare tire, you probably still have at least an inch and a half that the spare tire can come down. An original spare tire will fit directly on the bottom. You can play around with a tire calculator, or contact your tire supplier directly and explain your situation, they should be able to come up with something.
For example a:
205/85-15 is only 28 diameter and 8 wide. A little smaller than your other tires, but at least you know it should fit in your spare tire spot and it can still safely be used as a drive tire if needed.

[awags]

Keep in mind your spare tire cover probably will not fit the 235 tire properly either.

[ajwolf]

Yes you are absolutely correct.

[Barry Wolk]

I can't imagine why yours won't fit. My tub is unaltered. Take some air out. Tighten the wheel wing nut with forward and downward pressure on the top of the tire. Tires are just balloons. I had to take a little air out of the rear tires on the Porsche before they will go on the rear hubs.

I'll check Al's '57. I procured the Auburn 8.20R-15s and I'm sure there's one in the trunk.

Photos don't lie.

32675

32676

32677

[Barry Wolk]

I checked Al’s car and his is a 235, also. It’s tight bur it does fit. Who made your Auburn?

[ajwolf]

You know Barry I'm not sure I just think it's in Auburn. I bought it cuz it was on clearance and I just needed a white wall tire to match the other four that I bought brand new. I'll have to look and see are there different manufacturers of Auburn?