Discussion
Its 89, one of the last made
I have the Ronals, and could bolt them straight on. But finding suitable 255/50/16 tyres which have been recently manufactured is nearly impossible. Hence the 18" wheels because 265/40/18 is very easy.
So I have the best of both worlds -- originality and driving. Too many of these cars are sitting on decade old rubber which is frankly hideously unsafe.
I'll be at the auction on saturday with the car.
I have the Ronals, and could bolt them straight on. But finding suitable 255/50/16 tyres which have been recently manufactured is nearly impossible. Hence the 18" wheels because 265/40/18 is very easy.
So I have the best of both worlds -- originality and driving. Too many of these cars are sitting on decade old rubber which is frankly hideously unsafe.
I'll be at the auction on saturday with the car.
jhoneyball said:
...Too many of these cars are sitting on decade old rubber which is frankly hideously unsafe....
Fair point.Longstone do the tyres you're after. But they're pretty pricey so if you do a lot of miles they may not suit! Somewhere like Micheldever might be able to source them more cost effectively...
Also, Toyo do a T1-R in 245/50/16. Bit narrower admittedly, but would likely work OK.
End of the day though, if you like the wheels, that's all that matters
I allways admired the look of the wheels from Steel Wings:
http://www.steelwings.com/ViewProducts.aspx?id=127
But I have to say yours look lovely. It's a very fine line between making an old car look good with new wheels, or making it look like a dogs dinner.
http://www.steelwings.com/ViewProducts.aspx?id=127
But I have to say yours look lovely. It's a very fine line between making an old car look good with new wheels, or making it look like a dogs dinner.
Edited by Valentin on Wednesday 19th May 12:03
Oops, wasn't meaning to be rude, mine's sitting on these:
http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/productPage.php?pr...
http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/productPage.php?pr...
blackcircles (as an example) have none at that size
the 265/40/18 i have on the 18" wheels -- blackcircles offer me 10 different tyre choices.
sorry, but high perf 16 and 17" tyres are dinosaurs. I had to take my Bentley RT from factory 17 to 18 wheels simply to get good tyres too.
this is a real problem
the 265/40/18 i have on the 18" wheels -- blackcircles offer me 10 different tyre choices.
sorry, but high perf 16 and 17" tyres are dinosaurs. I had to take my Bentley RT from factory 17 to 18 wheels simply to get good tyres too.
this is a real problem
jhoneyball said:
now go read the year.month code from the sidewall... -- would be interested to see what it says.
That was fun crawling around on my hands and knees in the garage - felt like I actaully was doing something mechanical! Anway the results:FRHS 1001 - 10th week 2001, and
RRHS 4505 - 45th week 2005
Not sure about the other two, it's a bit dark down there and I don't really know what I'm doing, but they seem to be older as they haven't got obvious codes, just lots of very silly US style warnings that TIRE FAILURE CAN KILL ME or other people - or bunny rabbits, I drove over one on Saturday morning as it happens.
so a front tyre is nearly 10yo, and i'd suggest that is young in the ages of tyres on these cars. Feel happy braking hard on that, with upwards of a tonne landing on that tread? Not sure I would be, to be honest.
Of course, if you car is a garage queen that occasionally goes to the pub on a sunny sunday, it arguably doesnt matter (although a tyre failure at low speeds could still make a horrible mess). Mine gets driven hard (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6Hny77PPM ) and i just wouldnt feel comfortable on old rubber.
as i said, i can go back to the ronals immediately if i wanted to. Cant see the point, to be honest.
Of course, if you car is a garage queen that occasionally goes to the pub on a sunny sunday, it arguably doesnt matter (although a tyre failure at low speeds could still make a horrible mess). Mine gets driven hard (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6Hny77PPM ) and i just wouldnt feel comfortable on old rubber.
as i said, i can go back to the ronals immediately if i wanted to. Cant see the point, to be honest.
jhoneyball said:
Mine gets driven hard (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=it6Hny77PPM )
That sounds majestic! 
f328nvl said:
...
That was fun crawling around on my hands and knees in the garage - felt like I actaully was doing something mechanical! Anway the results:
FRHS 1001 - 10th week 2001, and
RRHS 4505 - 45th week 2005...
As JH notes, the fronts are waaaaaaay too old, and the rears are getting there for a car that's unlikely to see much use.That was fun crawling around on my hands and knees in the garage - felt like I actaully was doing something mechanical! Anway the results:
FRHS 1001 - 10th week 2001, and
RRHS 4505 - 45th week 2005...
I'd very, very strongly recommend you replace them John.
I had similar vintage (10ish yrs old) tyres on the Daytona when I bought it. One let go on the M6 at speed. That it didn't end in proper brown trousers (or much worse) was mostly down to luck, but also that the side profiles were much bigger than yours (IMO). Needless to say I changed all 5 tyres immediately after that episode.
Michelin had started remaking XWXs so getting much, much newer tyres was easy enough. Am sure Longstone should be able to help.
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