Hey folks, I know that the original road wheels had a silver-gray base coat, with a quick coat of flat black on the face. But were the spare wheels the same? Or did they not have the black paint on the face?

I ask because my Series 1 came to me sans spare. I have one out of my parts car, which appears to never have been painted black. Does that sound right?

Hi Arnie:

Every original spare wheel I've seen in a 240-Z has been painted black on the outside face.

FWIW

Carl B.

Thanks, Carl. That makes the most sense to me, as I'm fairly certain that the wheels and tires were just pulled from a pile and either bolted on the car, or put in the spare well. It didn't seem right to me that they would use a special, non-black-painted batch of wheels for the spares.

On the other hand, all indications are that the wheel out of the spare well on my parts car was original to that car. Granted, it is not the original tire (has a vintage 175HR14 Michelin XAS on it), but the date code of the wheel (3-71) matches well with the 4/71 build date of the car. And even after sanding and prepping it for new paint, I can find no trace of black on it, and the silver-gray sure looks original. Curiouser and curiouser...

The spare wheel on my 70 is black as well. Still has orginal tire on too. Should probably look into updating the spare at this time.

Arne, My 73 has the original wheel and tire. The wheel is flat black on the outside and silver on the inside. Get out the spray can.

Cheers, Mike

Black it will be. Thanks, everyone!

Wait wait wait, they're black!? Mine was rust colored. I'm kidding. Just thought I'd bring fun into life, sorry.

Arne.

Since I have six Keystones wheels, Two never having had tires mounted on them. I am thinking I may just use the worst one of them as my spare.

Arne.

Since I have six Keystones wheels, Two never having had tires mounted on them. I am thinking I may just use the worst one of them as my spare.

Try it first, Jim. My car came with w 5.5" slot mag in the spare, and the wheel was too wide to fit in the spare well. The round fiberboard cover sat 3/4" above the floor. That's why I'm going back to stock steel for the spare.

Just tried it and yep I will keep the spare tire as is. now I remember why I never did this before. part of that age thing again.

Mine came mounted on a full size spare, rim painted black, and it is running a vintage bridgestone tire, that still has it's little nubs on it.

my 70 came with a toyo it too has not been used.

Even between two cars, I don't have any original tires for my spare. But I do have a pretty cool (to an ex-tire guy like me) vintage 175HR14 Michelin XAS to use as a spare. Not new, but probably 60% or better.