Avon Turbospeed tyres

[exkay]

Hi Folks,
Thinking of putting 185R/15 Avon Turbospeed on my E Type, anyone used them out there ? or maybe have some they want to sell ?

[neutral 3]

Wouldn't be my choice for an E Type . Pretty sure they were Original equip on luxo barges like the Silver Shaddow etc.

SP Sports i believe are now available, they were Allways very good on several of my MK 1 3 Litre Capris and were also Orig equip on an E Type

[lowdrag]

I'm using the new Blockley radials, and apart from a bit of road noise find them very comfortable and plenty of grip. However, I know loads of people who swear by Vredesteins and they are even cheaper than the Blockleys.

[bmwcsl]

I used to have these on a merc and found them lethal in the wet and also after a few years one had a big split in the side wall so not a big fan personally.

[tog]

lowdrag said:

I'm using the new Blockley radials, and apart from a bit of road noise find them very comfortable and plenty of grip. However, I know loads of people who swear by Vredesteins and they are even cheaper than the Blockleys.

That's interesting, I didn't know Blockley now do radials. How noisy are they, and on which car? I'm looking for new 15" tyres for my Bristol, which would have had 185s when new but is currently on 215/70s

[lowdrag]

It's an E-type roadster, so there is wind noise, but even with the hood up I don't hear them over 40mph and it's bearable under that. Far better than the C or D-types which on Blockley crossplies make a lot more noise. What also astounded me, when I changed from Michelin XAS assymetrics, was just how light the steering became - just as though power steering had been fitted. Much cheaper than Michelins or Avons too, and tubeless if you have the modern MWS wheels to go with it.

[exkay]

Its just that i have them on my 3.8 roadster and find them excellent...anyone out there want to get rid of four ? also there might be someone who has some 5 inch chrome wires to fit an E Type they want to sell ? maybe upgrading too 6 inch... it seems that a lot of people dont like the skinny ones but i prefer the "period" look, if anyone has some decent condition 5 inch by 15 inch i`d be interested.

[lowdrag]

I rteckon that I am on the fifth set of tyres at least, probably more. In the old days I used RS5 crossplies, then Dunlop radials, which held the road but wore out fast. Then I tried Avons, then Micheling XAS and now Blockleys. I can't say what tyre today is best, because I haven't tried them all, but what I have I am satisfied with at the price. Perhaps you wouldn't be plesased with the Blockleys, but then we are all different. All I can say is that wet and dry they hang on like limpets, and at the price I'm happy

[Dougal Cawley]

The Blockley and Vredestein are OK if you are buying just on price, but the Michelin XVS and Pirelli Cinturato are genuine period tyres made by top tyre manufacturers. they are both presently on offer on the youngtimertires.com web site. If you put the term RubberGoods in the discount code section of the shopping cart it will calculate a good discount for you.

[lowdrag]

Douglas, I have no axe to grind, but please declare your interest here. You ARE Longstone tyres!

[decampos]

lowdrag said:

Douglas, I have no axe to grind, but please declare your interest here. You ARE Longstone tyres!

Indeed. Both Longstone Tyres and Vintage Tyres speak rather despairingly of Vredestein and Blockley for reasons which are never clear to me. I've just bought a set of Sprint Classics (not from Longstone or Vintage Tyres) and they are superb. I intend to buy a set of Blockleys next year when they introduce their 14 inch range.

Regarding Avon Turbospeed. I've had nothing but bad luck with them. The ones I had on my BMW E9 were noisy as heck – really ridiculous, maybe they were just too old. And on my E24, one of them blew out bigtime on the M11:

[graemel]

Given that the Avon Turbospeed are OE equipment on the Bentley Turbo R, has anyone any alternatives that they would recommend.

[a8hex]

tog said:

lowdrag said:

I'm using the new Blockley radials, and apart from a bit of road noise find them very comfortable and plenty of grip. However, I know loads of people who swear by Vredesteins and they are even cheaper than the Blockleys.

That's interesting, I didn't know Blockley now do radials. How noisy are they, and on which car? I'm looking for new 15" tyres for my Bristol, which would have had 185s when new but is currently on 215/70s

I've currently got the Blockley radials on my XK150 and they have none of the noise character of the crossplies. I didn't drive too far on them but they seemed very quiet.