Expert: Dan Liddy - 7/15/2009

Question
hi dan,
i came across this site just surfing and though my question presses your bounderies(as in please don't ask!)you're the best shot i've found on anwering my question. i'll accept a general direction even. well here goes!!
  i have a 1976 triumph tr6 that yes is 'street'(oh no!!)BUT i have every intention of autocrossing(?)it. my question regards tires. i would like to run maybe a +2 conversion at the least +1. although not quite an accurate +2 i would like to run maybe 255/40/17 in the front and 275/35-40/17 in the rear. i'm more than willing to roll or even flare the fenders(within reason). see i'm old enough to remember when group44 was kicking everyone's a** in that white with british racing green striped 6. i fell in love with the look of that car immediately, those flared fenders and wide goodyear eagle racing slicks. so... i want that look on my street tr6, plus i figure the extra rubber will help in autocross. just how did they get those tires up under there, i've asked all the usual suspects(clubs,tire outlets,i even tried to find a way to get in touch with bob tullius) please, please help. how did they do it?

Answer
OK  First, Bob Tulius now lives in Sebring, Florida and mostly hangs out at the airport and tinkers with his airplane collection.  I have no further info or address. I suggesst you try to respect his privacy. On the ohter hand I know someone who was very instrumental in Tulius' success, I'll try to contact him this evening and see what I can find out.  

Give me a day or two and write back for more.

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida

Hi again Eric:
I got in touch with the guy who was Bob Tulius' crew chief through the TR-4 years.  He was no longer involved in the TR-6 era but he tells me that they used stock wheel sizes , with wider rims, and the Goodyear Blue Streak tires.  To accomodate the wider tires, they flared the steel fenders with careful body hammer work. Nowdays, in Production racing , a larger wheel can be used if you use fiber glass racing fenders.

He wasn't sure where you might find them though they are available, and if not, you can always adapt something from a similar car.

When I told him the size wheel you were thinking of using, he simply laughed, saying "good luck".  We both believe that such a conversion would make the car nearly undrivable.

Now , for most auto cross competition, there are tires specifcially built for that, and your best bet for advice and product is Tire Rack (www.tirerack.com should do it.) They are the largest and most successful dealer in custom tires and wheels in the country.  Good people to deal with !  You shouldn't plan on using street tires for autocrossing, you'll just tear them up, and auto cross tires aren't suitable for wet and icy weather - - - so you will have to have two sets of wheels and tires to compete sensibly.

That's all I know on that subject. hope it's a help !!
Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida