[TR] 1960 Triumph TR3A tire questions

[Randall]

---- Ann Carletta <anncarletta at yahoo.com> wrote: 
> So I think it's time for new tires for my TR3A-1960.  The current tires are Michelin 165 SR 15 on wire wheels.  
> As a kid, I seem to remember that the tires had inner tubes. How do I determine when I need tires, if they need new inner tubes?     

Usually just a visual on the tubes will tell you, assuming they still hold air.  Any signs of deterioration, like cracking around the base of the valve stem, is cause for replacement.  Also pinch a fold of tube in your fingers and see if any cracks show up that way.  

There's actually something to be said for just replacing them every time, depending on how often you change tires.  Lots of people don't drive their TRs enough to wear out a set of modern radial tires within a decade, and tubes don't live much longer than tires do.  Just like the tires, the tubes get old even if you don't drive the car.

Randall