Radar Dimax tyres - any feedback?
Author
Discussion

geoffd

Original Poster:

104 posts

218 months

Saturday 9th March 2019
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I need some new tyres for my DB6. The Pirelli 4000 that I have at the moment are no longer made. I was looking up prices for Avon CR28, and noticed Radar Dimax classic tyres which are much cheaper.

I've never heard of them before. If anyone can share any experience with them I would be interested to know if they are good (or not!)

Geoff

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Saturday 9th March 2019
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I've never heard of these at all, but a quick google tells me the tyres are 205/70VR15? Now I've used Blockleys for 15 years now and love them on the E-type (mine are 185/15) and I have their crossplies on the XKSS but same principle. So I had a look and this might be of help:-

https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/205/70VR15

No allegiance etc but hope this might help.

Riley Blue

23,205 posts

255 months

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Sunday 10th March 2019
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The OP asked about lower cost tyres. You suggest Cinturatos at £383 and I suggest Blockleys at £179. That's a hell of a difference and unless the car is being driven extremely hard I doubt that there would be much difference. I've used Blockleys on track and road and am satisfied on both counts. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good tyres out there, and I wonder just where the difference lies given the price difference. Anyway, the OP will decide one way or another. I hope he lets us know.

Edited by lowdrag on Sunday 10th March 17:42

geoffd

Original Poster:

104 posts

218 months

Monday 11th March 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for your comments. I was hoping to spend less rather than more! I have reservations about Blockleys after I bought a "new" one that was five years old.

I will let you know what happens.

Geoff

aeropilot

40,526 posts

256 months

Monday 11th March 2019
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Just get some dodgy old Linglong Ditchfinders then, its only an old DB6 after all......


Riley Blue

23,205 posts

255 months

Monday 11th March 2019
quotequote all
lowdrag said:
The OP asked about lower cost tyres. You suggest Cinturatos at £383 and I suggest Blockleys at £179. That's a hell of a difference and unless the car is being driven extremely hard I doubt that there would be much difference. I've used Blockleys on track and road and am satisfied on both counts. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good tyres out there, and I wonder just where the difference lies given the price difference. Anyway, the OP will decide one way or another. I hope he lets us know.

Edited by lowdrag on Sunday 10th March 17:42
Yes, poor example but another tyre outlet that OP might not have contacted.


Edited by Riley Blue on Monday 11th March 19:35

Norfolkandchance

2,121 posts

228 months

Monday 11th March 2019
quotequote all
aeropilot said:
Just get some dodgy old Linglong Ditchfinders then, its only an old DB6 after all......
Though, I suspect even cheap modern tyres would be way ahead of any 60's tyre.

NomduJour

20,620 posts

288 months

Monday 11th March 2019
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I replaced P4000s with Dunlop Sport Classic - expensive (although bought via Germany, they were cheaper than here) - they’re an awful lot better in terms of grip and traction, especially in the wet.

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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This is not a criticism - far from it - but as a reflection on the comment above it does deem rather silly trying to save a few quid on a car worth several hundred thousand pounds, and especially a saving that is very safety important. I am the first to admit it, but I guess we all try to make economies although in my defence I spent quite some time at table with Julian and he convinced me to try some of his tyres and I have found them quite satisfactory even in hard usage. Yet some dislike them intensely and others swear by Vredestein, especially for racing (but they don't make them for the OP's car), I know people who do very little mileage in each car, having quite a few, and whose tyres are probably at least 10 years old at the very least. Last week 'er indoors had her car MOT'd and the comment was made that even though the car is ten years old she still has the originals on the rear, even at 60,000 miles. Being FWD and a runabout they do no work and have tread even now, but - are they safe? We are all guilty of it I guess.

droopsnoot

14,622 posts

271 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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I've spoken to the chap at Blockley several times while I was waiting for him to do a 185/70x13, unfortunately the car needed tyres before his was available. His philosophy on tyre pricing was not about how much he could get away with charging, rather what he could make and supply for. At the time, his competition for vintage tyres wanted something like £300 per corner for my tyres, and his comes out at a much more reasonable £100-odd. Now I check Longstone they have one for around the same price, so if it's introduced some price competition then that must be a good thing. I haven't used either, and as my car is for road use only and is a lower-performance vehicle than the OPs, any comparison would be largely irrelevant.

I ended up using Uniroyal which were even better priced, and had my insurance company accept that the car is on a lower speed-rating than it would originally have been - though in this case the T-rating is ample for the vehicle, and probably would have been specified by the manufacturer had it been available in 1976.

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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Julian started Blockley because Michelin stopped making a number of tyres for pre-war cars, so he decided to make them himself. The now almost standard block pattern used by Blockley is to be seen on most pre-war cars today it seems. Having started off with pre-war, he moved on to post-war and you will find them on C's and D-s and of course for road cars the ubiquitous 185/15 radial although I believe his are the only ones to have the V rating. Might be wrong there though. For my Lynx D-type the size is 650/16 for the rear and they are £380 from Dunlop, and they lasted no time at all if used as intended, whereas the Blockleys are £204 and last twice as long. Now these Dimax may well be the same but I can't comment on something I have never seen or tried. Maybe someone will come along and comment.

Mellow Yellow

907 posts

291 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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I'll probably go for Vredestein Sprint Classics when I'm ready to replace my P4000 Super Tourings, They're available with a higher speed rating (W) than the Blockleys, shop around and you should be able to get 205/70 R15 96W for under £200 each.

NomduJour

20,620 posts

288 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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Sprint Classics seem to suffer from sidewall deformation (TADTS).

geoffd

Original Poster:

104 posts

218 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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This is an interesting discussion. I'm going with Avon CR28, which I have some experience with.

Thank you all for your input.

Geoff

lowdrag

13,181 posts

242 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
quotequote all
Given all the discussion, you've probably made the right decision. You have to feel comfortable at the wheel, and if you are not, your driving suffers. Anyway, if you are like me you bite the bullet and suffer a while, then a month later wonder why the hell you were worried in the first place!

Paracetamol

4,267 posts

273 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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NomduJour said:
Sprint Classics seem to suffer from sidewall deformation (TADTS).
can you explain this further..I just fitter.a set to my 72 Porsche!

NomduJour

20,620 posts

288 months

Tuesday 12th March 2019
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They had radial depressions in the sidewalls, apparently from tight cords in the carcass - May have been fixed by now.