Tyre advice from Longstone Tyres
Discussion
EXKAY120 said:
On the 120 i have Blockley, which i have to say are complete s
tE !! i regret the day i fitted them, talk about all over the road, quite scary !
On the 3.8 E i have Avon turbosteel, which are absolutely excellent in my opinion, hold the road so well.
I found the Blockley crossply much better than the Avon turbospeed cross ply, but yes they hunt around on the road, I quite enjoyed this. Didn't crossplies always do this? The hunting around the road isn't anything like as bad as a new E-Class Merc I drove a couple of years back which had stupid low profiles.tE !! i regret the day i fitted them, talk about all over the road, quite scary !On the 3.8 E i have Avon turbosteel, which are absolutely excellent in my opinion, hold the road so well.
Its honestly quite scary driving along in the 120 now, especially when you hit "tramlines" in the road, i live down a narrow lane and its real heart attack material getting the car out these days !!
So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
EXKAY120 said:
Its honestly quite scary driving along in the 120 now, especially when you hit "tramlines" in the road, i live down a narrow lane and its real heart attack material getting the car out these days !!
So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
Winspeed persuaded me to put radials on when I was trying to sell the 150, I must admit they are much easier to drive, but they have less character. I've not tested them on the track yet. The crossplies were so nice to drift around on in the dry.So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
LongstoneTyres said:
185/70R13 is very much an example of a tyre that is easily available from your local tyre dealer at a really good price and you don't need the help of a specialist like Longstone Tyres.
Interesting - last time I asked at my local tyre dealer (or looked at the online people) I was met with a comment that I'd struggle to find anything other than a budget brand for that size. Most more modern stuff has either bigger wheels and possibly lower profile tyres, or stuff that has 13" tends to have narrower tyres. LongstoneTyres said:
However if you want a genuine period tyre then i can supply 185/70VR13 Michelin XDX http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185-70vr13-mi... which is a fantastic tyre. I sell very few of them, but if you do have an Alpine A310 then you want a V rated tyre with the correct profile to keep the handling right then you would be please it was available.
I also have a Avon CR6ZZ http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185-70hr13-av... which is a great road legal race tyre.
The majority of cars that want a tyre this size tend to want a budget tyre.
Sadly there is nothing you can do about tyre ageing. when they are old they are old. keeping the weight off the tyres when they are stood is good and keeping them in the dark and cool helps. I'm sorry to say it is one of the costs of classic car ownership.
OK, thanks for the information. I was perhaps imagining making the steel bracing out of carbon fibre, though I don't expect that would help bring the price down. The car is generally kept in a garage when not in use, so I might be doing all I can to prolong life. I don't have an Alpine A310, though I do have some headlamps in common with it. I also have a Avon CR6ZZ http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185-70hr13-av... which is a great road legal race tyre.
The majority of cars that want a tyre this size tend to want a budget tyre.
Sadly there is nothing you can do about tyre ageing. when they are old they are old. keeping the weight off the tyres when they are stood is good and keeping them in the dark and cool helps. I'm sorry to say it is one of the costs of classic car ownership.
I will look again in the spring and see what is best.
Markgenesis said:
S1 Lotus Elite with standard alloys, stock size is 205/60/14, only decent tyre i've found in that size is a Falken, BFG's are the ones i spotted in 215/60/14, just about twice the price of the Falken though, the 215 tyre would probably work find it hard to justify the expense of the BFG's over the Falkens.
Car currently has ancient Good Year Eagle NCT2's on the front and budget NEXEN's on the rear.
I think the thing is you've got the wrong car. Might i suggest you buy my Bond Minicar off me instead. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4ZKOPmeU7c&li...Car currently has ancient Good Year Eagle NCT2's on the front and budget NEXEN's on the rear.
you are right there is nothing around in the 205/60R14 that you would get excited about. Falken is about as good as it gets. and to be honest you are as well buying them from a local tyre dealer there would be no benefit buying them through me.
A 215/60R14 in theory should be 6mm taller in radius and 10mm wider. I'm not overly enthusiastic about the B F Goodrich Comp T/A on a car like a Lotus. more of a muscle car tyre. However some people do like them
EXKAY120 said:
Its honestly quite scary driving along in the 120 now, especially when you hit "tramlines" in the road, i live down a narrow lane and its real heart attack material getting the car out these days !!
So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
the Turbo Steel in a 16" is very different to the 15" one you have. they are very wide in foot print; therefore heavy on the steering. They are a lot smaller in diameter and don't fill the wheel arches the way they should. they are in a affect a bit of a modern wide low profile tyre, which is why i do get very satisfied customers using them for trackdays; but looks, gearing heavy steering and speedo reading are all not idea. the price is very good though. give me a ring when you want to do some shopping. So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
if you really just want to do steady driving then the Michelin X is light on the steering, it is good and tall so looks great and keeps your gearing and speedo correct. it is the cheapest quality tyre around. presently £ 10 less than the Avon (not realy for fast sporty driving though)
I will try to encourage you to spend more money on the Pirelli Cinturato for sporty driving it is perfect in every way. It costs more than other tyres in the same way that an XK150 cost more than an Allegro; because it's better. (oop!)
Here is a picture of the tyres in that size that we sell
here is a short film i made about XK tyres.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suyPUv-UX78
marshalla said:
Anything in a 215/50/15 V-rated or better ?
What car is it for?This is erring towards the modern for me. It is an unusual size. we have a range of tyres from Michelin called the TB15 fully treaded intermediate, TB5 in a front and rear compound that are semi slick and a PB20 full wet. they are about the right size for you. have a look here at the 18/60R15. they are V rated. these are staggeringly good tyres, priced accordingly. if you are going rallying or racing and you want to win that is what you fit.
http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/michelin-tb15...
Ring me for the best prices 00 44 1302 711123
EXKAY120 said:
Its honestly quite scary driving along in the 120 now, especially when you hit "tramlines" in the road, i live down a narrow lane and its real heart attack material getting the car out these days !!
So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
I'm not sure whether the Vredestein Sprint Classic is still the control tyre for the race XKs, it used to be, and is a cracking road tyre in the dry or wet too in a very powerful 150 coupe, absolutely hilarious in fact! Any more expensive tyre I feel would be chosen for brand loyalty, a need for the owner to feel they have the 'right' tyre on the car or just plain tyre snobbery. So, there coming off, and i`m putting Avon Turbo steel 185 x 16 Radials on, similar to those on the series one E which i`ve had on there for a while now and cant fault them.
If the car were an old Citroen for instance the picture would be different, as Citroen's unique suspension and steering development, tyre testing and ownership too was interwoven with Michelin's development of rubberwear, and i've never managed to make an old Michelin period Citroen work effectively on anything but the right Michelin tyre
Edited by Flatinfourth on Wednesday 29th October 18:00
My Jaguar uses 225/65 15 tyres.
Pirelli, Dunlop and Michelin made tyres in this size originally I believe - but only Pirelli seems to have made tyres of this size recently, with the P4000. They seem to be very hard to find now. Has Pirelli stopped making the 225/65 15 size P4000 now?
Pirelli, Dunlop and Michelin made tyres in this size originally I believe - but only Pirelli seems to have made tyres of this size recently, with the P4000. They seem to be very hard to find now. Has Pirelli stopped making the 225/65 15 size P4000 now?
I don't think I have ever had a crossply tyre that doesn't tramline. It's the nature of the beast due to rigid sidewalls. I've had enough R5 tyres to know, and now the Blockleys are noisier but last longer - but they both tramline! Go radial for the XK if you want and it'll disappear, but as has already been said, I like the reaction of crossplies, especially on the track. They drift and don't bite.
I've no experience of Longstone, but lads, don't bite the hand that feeds you and be grateful there is competition out there to keep prices down to the mere unaffordable instead of the pure dreaming level!
I've no experience of Longstone, but lads, don't bite the hand that feeds you and be grateful there is competition out there to keep prices down to the mere unaffordable instead of the pure dreaming level!
Edited by lowdrag on Thursday 30th October 06:58
lowdrag said:
I've no experience of Longstone
It was the look on the fitter's face when I parked in their bay at a VSCC Silverstone, in the TVR Griffith.Eh up - I don't have those in stock today....
When we opened the boot and got out two A7 chummy wheels he then understood. Although he was surprised we could get them in there. (I think Dougal was out on his practice session). Fitted while you watch the track action - we picked them up later in the day.
Longstone do their own brand A7 tyres, supplied to Chummy ladies everywhere.
Flatinfourth said:
I'm not sure whether the Vredestein Sprint Classic is still the control tyre for the race XKs, it used to be, and is a cracking road tyre in the dry or wet too in a very powerful 150 coupe, absolutely hilarious in fact! Any more expensive tyre I feel would be chosen for brand loyalty, a need for the owner to feel they have the 'right' tyre on the car or just plain tyre snobbery.
Yes the XK race series did use Vredestein, I think they might be continuing to do so, because they get subsidised pricing on them. The Vredestein used to be the cheapest tyre on the market.Edited by Flatinfourth on Wednesday 29th October 18:00
It is fair to say when you are agreeing a control tyre for a race series Saftey and Price should be the 2 main factors. You don't want a tyre to fall apart when you use it hard. As it's a control tyre, no one has an advantage over anyone else, you do not need exceptional grip. You can use the tyre itself to level the playing field. This is why the majority of historic racing is done on Dunlop Racing tyres with a control compound. so a 10 year younger car can race against the older cars.
last thing you want, In my mind, is force every one to buy the wrong size wheel; (so they look wrong) then fit a totally wrong size tyre. The fat tyre means the cars have dramatically more foot print and therefore more ultimate grip; but they loose some of the progressive handling. and a smooth corner turns into a 50 pence piece.
This is after all a control tyre for an XK Jag, we want to see lovely 4 wheel drifts the way they did in the day. It doesn't matter at what speed they drift, because it is a control tyre. You all have the same advantage or disadvantage; that's what a control tyre is for.
Personally i would rather not race historic cars that are over tyred. If you have a control tyre you set your car up to suit the tyre. There's no need for loads of grip with a control tyre they just don't look as good and you have a faster crash. Granted they chose the Vredestein because of price, but i feel, they should have stuck with the right size tyre.
If it is open racing; that is completely different because you spend more money to get an advantage. and a wider tyre will give you more grip. More grip (to a point) will often give better lap times. of course you can always over tyre a car. But this is not open racing; there is a control tyre; so if everyone gets better lap times what is the point.
Sorry that was a bit of a rant.
Vredesteins are few and far between at present. I have some on special offer at present http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185hr16-vrede... but when the ones i have got are gone, they will be back up to their normal price. I personally would not fit them. call me a snob but i don't choose tyres determined by price. I'm not saying they are bad tyres, but there are better tyres out there.
dbdb said:
My Jaguar uses 225/65 15 tyres.
Pirelli, Dunlop and Michelin made tyres in this size originally I believe - but only Pirelli seems to have made tyres of this size recently, with the P4000. They seem to be very hard to find now. Has Pirelli stopped making the 225/65 15 size P4000 now?
Hm yes tricky one that one. I think the best thing to do if you want some more Pirelli's is email us info@longstonetyres.co.uk or ring 00 44 1302 711123 and ask to be put on back order and we will contact you if Pirelli make them again.Pirelli, Dunlop and Michelin made tyres in this size originally I believe - but only Pirelli seems to have made tyres of this size recently, with the P4000. They seem to be very hard to find now. Has Pirelli stopped making the 225/65 15 size P4000 now?
For now all i have is Avon CR6ZZ http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/225-65vr15-av...
Don't get me wrong; i am not knocking Avons range of CR6ZZ tyres. http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/avon-cr6zz they are fantastic for road rallying and racing. they are road legal, But they are built to do a different job than be a road tyre for an XJS. They are motorsport tyres. However they are safe the ride will be a bit harsh and they won't last as long as a tyre designed for road use.
I will start by saying that whilst in no way criticising, I may be simply unable to afford any recommendations - sadly my hobby car costs have had to be trimmed in line with other economies due to a 40% decline in income since 2008 (not whining just saying) - and I do about 500 miles in a good year in my "summer" car.
I have a 1968 AMC that was originally fitted with 7.75 x 14 Crossplies. When I bought it it was fitted with commercial van tyres (still is) - 195 X 14 at the front and 205 X 14 at the rear.
I don't need super handing as the car isn't fast and it's very soft and wallowy in the American way, but it would be nice to get a set of 14" radials that could approximate the rolling radius of the crossplies.
I have a 1968 AMC that was originally fitted with 7.75 x 14 Crossplies. When I bought it it was fitted with commercial van tyres (still is) - 195 X 14 at the front and 205 X 14 at the rear.
I don't need super handing as the car isn't fast and it's very soft and wallowy in the American way, but it would be nice to get a set of 14" radials that could approximate the rolling radius of the crossplies.
LongstoneTyres said:
Flatinfourth said:
I'm not sure whether the Vredestein Sprint Classic is still the control tyre for the race XKs, it used to be, and is a cracking road tyre in the dry or wet too in a very powerful 150 coupe, absolutely hilarious in fact! Any more expensive tyre I feel would be chosen for brand loyalty, a need for the owner to feel they have the 'right' tyre on the car or just plain tyre snobbery.
Yes the XK race series did use Vredestein, I think they might be continuing to do so, because they get subsidised pricing on them. The Vredestein used to be the cheapest tyre on the market.Edited by Flatinfourth on Wednesday 29th October 18:00
It is fair to say when you are agreeing a control tyre for a race series Saftey and Price should be the 2 main factors. You don't want a tyre to fall apart when you use it hard. As it's a control tyre, no one has an advantage over anyone else, you do not need exceptional grip. You can use the tyre itself to level the playing field. This is why the majority of historic racing is done on Dunlop Racing tyres with a control compound. so a 10 year younger car can race against the older cars.
last thing you want, In my mind, is force every one to buy the wrong size wheel; (so they look wrong) then fit a totally wrong size tyre. The fat tyre means the cars have dramatically more foot print and therefore more ultimate grip; but they loose some of the progressive handling. and a smooth corner turns into a 50 pence piece.
This is after all a control tyre for an XK Jag, we want to see lovely 4 wheel drifts the way they did in the day. It doesn't matter at what speed they drift, because it is a control tyre. You all have the same advantage or disadvantage; that's what a control tyre is for.
Personally i would rather not race historic cars that are over tyred. If you have a control tyre you set your car up to suit the tyre. There's no need for loads of grip with a control tyre they just don't look as good and you have a faster crash. Granted they chose the Vredestein because of price, but i feel, they should have stuck with the right size tyre.
If it is open racing; that is completely different because you spend more money to get an advantage. and a wider tyre will give you more grip. More grip (to a point) will often give better lap times. of course you can always over tyre a car. But this is not open racing; there is a control tyre; so if everyone gets better lap times what is the point.
Sorry that was a bit of a rant.
Vredesteins are few and far between at present. I have some on special offer at present http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/185hr16-vrede... but when the ones i have got are gone, they will be back up to their normal price. I personally would not fit them. call me a snob but i don't choose tyres determined by price. I'm not saying they are bad tyres, but there are better tyres out there.
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