E-Type Tyre Dilemma

Author
Discussion

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Friday 31st March 2023
quotequote all
So after 15 years off the road, it's now or never for my '64 4.2 E-Type Coupe.

I've been going to get it on the road for the past few years, and may well have asked this kind of thing before on here; if so apologies!

In the last few years I've done some of the jobs I never got around to doing properly when I rebuilt it such as professionally re-furbed carbs, re-calibrated and rebuilt distributor, new rear brake pots and 3-point seatbelts. The only thing remaining are the tyres.

Currently Avon Turbospeed 205/70 R15 (virtually un-worn, but very old). They look great on the MWS 6" rims, but the steering is heavy.

So the options seem to be:

Longstone Tyres:

185 VR15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CA67
£1344 + tape & tubes & fitting
Relatively expensive, look a bit skinny, but should improve the driving experience.

Blockley Tyres

185VR15
£744 + tape & tubes & fitting
Inexpensive, look a bit skinny, but should improve the driving experience.

205/70VR15W
£811.20 + tape & tubes & fitting
Relatively inexpensive, would look great, but a question mark over how the steering would feel.

Longstone
Seems expensive, but fairly local and they would fit them.

Blockley
Less expensive, postage costs, and I'd have to find somewhere who could fit and balance them.
Blockley say their 205/70VR15s give light steering, but I won't know until I try them.

Any thoughts, or real word experience good or bad, or advice on what to do? I'm inclined to go for the 185's, but which ones I don't know.

Thanks.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
Bump…

TrotCanterGallopCharge

419 posts

89 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
You maybe better off contacting the Jaguar drivers/enthusiasts/owners clubs, or look on their forums to see if any on same topic if you haven't already done so. Possibly go to a local club meet, or speak to your nearest Jaguar restorer/classic garage?

I had a quick look on the JEC forum, there were some threads on tyres, but no real info, & last info from 2019.

I was surprised there wasn't more info out there. Had a look on PH search & nothing there either.

Riley Blue

20,912 posts

225 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
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shout paging lowdrag...

timhum

154 posts

182 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
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Pirelli every time, 185 section on 6" rims work well and look good.

Tim

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
timhum said:
Pirelli every time, 185 section on 6" rims work well and look good.

Tim
Thanks!

Have you tried Blockleys on an E-Type?

politeperson

537 posts

180 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
I have Blockleys on an E type, I was driving it this afternoon. Here is is. They are 205s.

In fact I have 205 center laced wires on all my E Types. I just find the 185s a bit too skinny looking. I always have!
I find the steering nice and light,
One of the cars had heavy steering with 205s. The top ball joints had seized. To replace both top ball joints is less that £40 from SNG and does not take long.
Another car also had heavy steering, that turned out to be incorrectly shimmed lower ball joints. The self centering had vanished too. Best to change them to the later sealed units now.
Tyre pressure around 32 psi helps too.
My other cars have Michelin 205 XWXs. They are great, however I cannot really tell the difference between them and the Blockleys. The XWXs are expensive too.

Here I am twiddling the wheel with 205s!
James
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi-9PyV1n98

Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:05


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:07


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:09

swisstoni

16,844 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
politeperson said:
I have Blockleys on an E type, I was driving it this afternoon. Here is is. They are 205s.

In fact I have 205 center laced wires on all my E Types. I just find the 185s a bit too skinny looking. I always have!
I find the steering nice and light,
One of the cars had heavy steering with 205s. The top ball joints had seized. To replace both top ball joints is less that £40 from SNG and does not take long.
Another car also had heavy steering, that turned out to be incorrectly shimmed lower ball joints. The self centering had vanished too. Best to change them to the later sealed units now.
Tyre pressure around 32 psi helps too.
My other cars have Michelin 205 XWXs. They are great, however I cannot really tell the difference between them and the Blockleys. The XWXs are expensive too.

Here I am twiddling the wheel with 205s!
James
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi-9PyV1n98

Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:05


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:07


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:09
Are those 6” rims?

politeperson

537 posts

180 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
Hello Swisstoni,
Those ones are 6.5s above.
These ones are 6's on the silver car below.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
politeperson said:
I have Blockleys on an E type, I was driving it this afternoon. Here is is. They are 205s.

In fact I have 205 center laced wires on all my E Types. I just find the 185s a bit too skinny looking. I always have!
I find the steering nice and light,
One of the cars had heavy steering with 205s. The top ball joints had seized. To replace both top ball joints is less that £40 from SNG and does not take long.
Another car also had heavy steering, that turned out to be incorrectly shimmed lower ball joints. The self centering had vanished too. Best to change them to the later sealed units now.
Tyre pressure around 32 psi helps too.
My other cars have Michelin 205 XWXs. They are great, however I cannot really tell the difference between them and the Blockleys. The XWXs are expensive too.

Here I am twiddling the wheel with 205s!
James
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi-9PyV1n98

Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:05


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:07


Edited by politeperson on Saturday 1st April 19:09
Thanks PP.

I already fitted the sealed lower joints when I rebuilt the car. I’ll double-check the uppers.

I’ve spoken to a fellow E-Type owner, and have pretty much decided on the Blockleys. Still not sure about the widths though. I too like the wider ones (currently fitted), but I’m curious to see how much a difference 185’s make to the steering.

I also need to check the front caster angle, because that can also cause heavy steering if it’s too large. In fact I need to get all the suspension geometry checked.

swisstoni

16,844 posts

278 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
politeperson said:
Hello Swisstoni,
Those ones are 6.5s above.
These ones are 6's on the silver car below.
Ah, ok thanks.

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
politeperson said:
Hello Swisstoni,
Those ones are 6.5s above.
These ones are 6's on the silver car below.
Your videos are great! Can't wait to get mine back on the road now. Are your cars modified? The exhaust sounds nice. I've got an old E-Type Fabs system on mine (which the newer versions I believe have now been modified) - it's a bit loud to be honest.

politeperson

537 posts

180 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
In a word Yes. I converted them to throttle bodies.
The silver S2 car has 3 pairs of Jenveys for years now with a bullet proof emerald ECU. It also has a Neil Brown head, d-type cams, mahle pistons, ITG sausage filter and manifolds with a 2.88 diff.

|https://thumbsnap.com/HqoVxkUN[/url]
The grey car has a similar setup with Heritage throttle bodies and a newer ECU. I am just doing a roadster with a similar setup as well.

[url]
They all run in tank pumps at 50psi with extra relay circuits for ECUs and Pumps. They have been really reliable and very quick too.

I have a few boxes of unused carbs and manifolds!

dr_gn

Original Poster:

16,140 posts

183 months

Saturday 1st April 2023
quotequote all
Very nice!

I’ve actually gone the other way, on the minor modifications I made, for example re-converting from electronic ignition to mechanical. I’ve got a lightened flywheel (wish I’d not bothered), and the sports exhaust (ditto).

Anyway thanks for the feedback on the tyres.

Philip0

329 posts

112 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
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Pirelli Cinturatos every time. Blockleys are a much harsher ride. Tell Dougal at Longstones you want as discount - he'll do so especially if ou're in an owner club.

Take a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...

Purosangue

877 posts

12 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
Philip0 said:
Pirelli Cinturatos every time. Blockleys are a much harsher ride. Tell Dougal at Longstones you want as discount - he'll do so especially if ou're in an owner club.

Take a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...
questo


swisstoni

16,844 posts

278 months

Sunday 2nd April 2023
quotequote all
Do wires require these tyres to have inner tubes?

OLDBENZ

397 posts

135 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
Auto Bild Klassic magazine seems to do the most comprehensive comparative tests of tyres aimed at classic cars - I have found a few in English translation with a quick google. One summary attached.


Stephanie Plum

2,775 posts

210 months

Monday 3rd April 2023
quotequote all
I have Blockleys on my 4.2 OTS - a very good tyre for the price.

bumskins

1,334 posts

14 months

Tuesday 4th April 2023
quotequote all
Philip0 said:
Pirelli Cinturatos every time. Blockleys are a much harsher ride. Tell Dougal at Longstones you want as discount - he'll do so especially if ou're in an owner club.

Take a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...
Would have been useful to know a few months back, dealt with Mr Majzub when buying a set of 4 tyres for a Climax Elite and not one % of discount was offered or given! hehe Can't say I blame him, the tyres are good and if you believe in your product then it should sell itself at the price-point imo.