New classic tyres....where from ?

[Getragdogleg]

I am restoring a 1980 Opel Manta Berlinetta, I need to try and source a set of 5 new tyres for it, I can get various no-name brands from the local tyre place but I really wanted something that would have been fitted back when it was new. probably a Pirelli or a firestone, possibly a Michelin, or Dunlop, local tyre place cant get anything like what I want

Size is 185 70 13.

Anybody got any ideas ? I only need the tyres, I can get them fitted.

[aeropilot]

Here.....

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/

[lowdrag]

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/vintage-tyres/rad...

https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/185-70VR13

https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=11...

I've had (in 15") Dunlop (good grip, short life) Michelin (difficult to wear out but iffy in wet) (Avon (probably middle of two) and now Blockley, which have been on the car four years now. Good at most things.

[Getragdogleg]

Thank you !

13inch tyres got expensive while I was not paying attention !

The Pirellis are the ones I fancy for it, I had a set on my Manta1800 back all those years ago when I was full of hope and had more hair.

[Peter3442]

Lowdrag's list are the best suppliers.

Five years ago, I was looking for some 15inch tyres for my old Daimler Double Six. Pirelli P4000s are the usual choice. Ferrari 250GT owners were lamenting the prices in various forums. Eventually, one supplier found me some at huge expense. To add insult to injury, P4000s are not particularly good by modern standards.

Basically, you work hard to find close to OE, grin and suffer the price, or go for something that's not quite right, or change wheel size and use some good, modern tyres. If I'm in the same situation again with the Daimler, I'll buy some 16 inch wheels.

[aeropilot]

You lot should be thankful you don't have to import your tyres from USA with crappy current exchange rates (or buy from selected UK dealers at huge markup).

[RichB]

Also Vintage Tyres at Beaulieu or Bicester

https://www.vintagetyres.com/shop/tyres/pirelli-cn...

[aeropilot]

CN36's were crap tyres in 1980.........couldn't wait to get shot of 'em off my Sunbeam-Lotus at the time

[HealeyV8]

Not exactly period but good tyres and reasonable price "Uniroyal Rain Expert 3".
I put these on my Jensen Healey and they are pretty good.

[RichB]

aeropilot said:

CN36's were crap tyres in 1980.........couldn't wait to get shot of 'em off my Sunbeam-Lotus at the time

I had Pirelli Cinturatos on my MGCGT and thought they were excellent .

[droopsnoot]

HealeyV8 said:

Not exactly period but good tyres and reasonable price "Uniroyal Rain Expert 3".
I put these on my Jensen Healey and they are pretty good.

I have these on my Sportshatch too. I seem to recall Tyreleader were charging about £40 a tyre when I bought them. First tyre of the size I could see that was a brand I'd heard of. They seem good, but I don't drive the car hard. T-rated.

[coetzeeh]

Vredestein would be my first choice. The tyres get excellent feedback from classic ALfa Romeo owners.

[2172cc]

aeropilot said:

CN36's were crap tyres in 1980.........couldn't wait to get shot of 'em off my Sunbeam-Lotus at the time

Same here when I had my RS2000 which was 3 years old at the time and still on its original tyres. I got low profile Pirelli P6's almost straight away which were the hot tyre in the 80's but then some years later the CN36 became very desirable again for the concours boys for which they paid big money for them. I remember there was a copy CN36 out for a while ,I think called a Courier maybe? with exactly the same tread pattern but they were even worse than the originals.
185 70 13 in HR rating are pretty rare nowadays if that's what you need although T rated ones are easier to get. Blockley tyres do a VR rated one but if its just for the looks and originality, I'd get the CN36 from Longstone Tyres.