[alfa] Tyres (sic) Again

[alfacybersite <acs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Beatle, I appreciate your efforts regarding the size of tyre, oops, tire 
you're using. Had hoped to hear from a 15" Duetto owner, but any info is 
helpful. Did you say you are using Yokohama Avid H4's (195/65-14)? I 
just measured a brand new one and it was just a hair over your 
measurement at 75.5 inches.

Having just been "shopping" for Spider seats in the "Original Alfa Romeo 
Spider" book, I noted the paragraph which reads: "Strangely Alfa Romeo 
opted to keep the shorter 4.55:1 (as used on the Duetto) final drive 
instead of the 4.3:1 ratio usually fitted in Europe (for the '69 
Spider), but the limited -slip differential option was still available."

This is a general question to all, but gear ratios and final drive 
ratios have always been a huge mystery to me. Sorry to have to admit it 
in print, but...: So's if I go taller (tyres / tires wise) than original 
on the '69 Round-Tail am I in even bigger trouble or am I correct that 
the Duetto, which has just been determined to have the same final drive 
as the '69 Round-Tail (and using Beatle's figure) "should" have a tire 
with the circumference of 77.8" and since this is a "shorter" final 
drive, it's okay to go a bit taller? Got that?

Turns out I have a couple of limited-slip diffs, which I assume would 
need rebuilding. Would one help or hurt my tall tire situation or not 
make a whit of difference?

Biba
Irwindale, CA USA 
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