tyres

[RichardS]

Dougal

You don't have to apologise, and you haven't upset me.I except your views and comments as you have excepted mine for reasons given.Its important that people can talk about problems and topics without being biased ,confrontational or downright insulting.This is how we all learn.

This is what this forum is about.

Cheers

Macca

Absolutely.

[dougal cawley]

Dougal

You don't have to apologise, and you haven't upset me.I except your views and comments as you have excepted mine for reasons given.Its important that people can talk about problems and topics without being biased ,confrontational or downright insulting.This is how we all learn.

This is what this forum is about.

Cheers

Macca

Phew!

Cheers MACCA we should go for a pint some time.

[2cams70]

Note with regards to tyre and rim standards and what size tyre you can fit on what width rim there are no regulated standards. ERTO is the European Tyre and Rim association. TTRA is the American association, TRA is the Australian association and for any particular tyre manufacturer they may have something else again!
Vehicles are usually designed around either
what is “worst case” or what is common across these various reference standards on the assumption that OEM supplied tyres may be replaced by something the same size but not OEM once the vehicle is in service. The tyre and rim associations also advise recommmended tyre pressures versus tyre loadings

[dougal cawley]

Yep. Ferrari are shockers for that. the 512BB came with 9" wheels on the back and the OE tyre was a 225/70VR15 Michelin XWX.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... 512bb.html

The maximum recomended rim width for a 225/70VR15 tyre from the ETRTO is 8". Michelins recomended rim width for their own 225/70VR15 XWX is 8", and Ferrari just went and fitted 9" (it is kind of cool though).

[simonriley11]

I have a 1966 S3 DHC with standard wheel arches, a galvanised Lotus chassis, standard 4 1/2J 13 knock-ons and standard diameter rear springs.
Three years ago I fitted Michelin 155/13 XAS all round and these tyres are fantastic and have transformed the car's handling and balance. I have been driving Elans and Plus 2's since 1976 and these tyres are the best I've ever had.
I have never skimped on tyres and have always fitted what I believed were the best available at the time and these Michelin's are right up there.
Yes they are very expensive and no I haven't tried the current Dunlops or Pirellis but based on a good few years experience, if you can afford them, then I would recommend that you buy them.

[dougal cawley]

I have a 1966 S3 DHC with standard wheel arches, a galvanised Lotus chassis, standard 4 1/2J 13 knock-ons and standard diameter rear springs.
Three years ago I fitted Michelin 155/13 XAS all round and these tyres are fantastic and have transformed the car's handling and balance. I have been driving Elans and Plus 2's since 1976 and these tyres are the best I've ever had.
I have never skimped on tyres and have always fitted what I believed were the best available at the time and these Michelin's are right up there.
Yes they are very expensive and no I haven't tried the current Dunlops or Pirellis but based on a good few years experience, if you can afford them, then I would recommend that you buy them.

I would go along with that. The XAS certainly are great. I would say the Cinturato is similarly brilliant, but will have subtly different characteristics. but they are both great. we are in a good position for 155R13 tyres now, which was not the case a few years ago.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... /elan.html

simonriley11 - i am interested in why you are on the 155R13 tyres though? i think your car was on 145R13 originally i'd take a punt on the Goodyear G800?

Historically there just was not a good 145R13 tyre available anywhere for a classic car, which i think is a good reason to move to 155. After some extensive groveling from Longstone Tyres we managed to sweet talk Pirelli into makeing a 145R13 Cinturato and i think that enlightened people with these earlier cars as to how nice it was to put an Elan back onto both a proper period tyre carcass (As you have with the XAS) and a tyre in the right size. In 2020 Michelin also produced a 145R13 XAS as well so we do now have a pair of great tyres in the 145R13 size too so we are well catered for.

How ever i wondered why you are on 155?

[simonriley11]

Hi Dougal

My S3 DHC was on 155/13 Vredestiens when bought it from Paul Matty in 2013 and also my Sprint DHC which was my everyday car back in 1976 was also on 155/HR/13's at the time - I seem to recall they were Dunlop Aquajets.
Both cars never felt over-tyred so that's why I fitted the 155/13 XAS's to my S3.

[Sinbad007]

There is an outlet in Spain selling Michelin XAS at a good price compared with elsewhere I have found. They are still expensive but perhaps I will look at this? Importing to UK is a disaster now thanks to Boris's "oven ready deal" Likewise buying from UK into Europe is equally horrible. But Spain to Sweden there are no additional taxes. Perhaps this may be my best option?

[saildrive2001]

I read these posts with a touch of jealousy because I am not aware of anywhere in North America where you can purchase the Michelin or Pirelli tyres & in particular in Canada. If anyone has a source I would appreciate them letting me know.

[trw99]

Keith, I understand from posts on here that some owners in North America have ordered from Dougal at Longstone and taken the hit on shipping costs.

I'm sure he'll be along to confirm. If enough of you in N America want to buy them, it could help reduce costs.

Tim

[pianoderby]

Coker Tire in North America sells both the XAS and CA67, in theory, but doesn’t appear to have either in stock.

[mbell]

I read these posts with a touch of jealousy because I am not aware of anywhere in North America where you can purchase the Michelin or Pirelli tyres & in particular in Canada. If anyone has a source I would appreciate them letting me know.

I ordered from longstone in the UK. Free shipping and reasonably quick delivery, better prices than coker etc.

[dougal cawley]

There is an outlet in Spain selling Michelin XAS at a good price compared with elsewhere I have found. They are still expensive but perhaps I will look at this? Importing to UK is a disaster now thanks to Boris's "oven ready deal" Likewise buying from UK into Europe is equally horrible. But Spain to Sweden there are no additional taxes. Perhaps this may be my best option?

There are no additional taxes when you buy from Longstone Tyres. We arrange all of that.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/155-13.html

go through the buying process, it calculates everything. They will be shipped direct to you, you chould have them in 2-3 days. we ship laods of stuff to Sweeden.

Don't get me wrong, Brexit is an obstructive stupid idea voted for by rascists who, i doubt are involved in international trade. What it means is we have to do 4 times as much paper work. however what we do do is pay all the duty VAT and everything through our carrier, so there is no chance of them being held up by customs.

[dougal cawley]

I read these posts with a touch of jealousy because I am not aware of anywhere in North America where you can purchase the Michelin or Pirelli tyres & in particular in Canada. If anyone has a source I would appreciate them letting me know.

Well amazingly we only charge 60 smakkers to ship to Canada for a set of tyres!

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/155-13.html

In the grand scale of things that is pennies.

Just go through the buying process. you can delete it all if you dont like it. you wont get any nagging emails or intrusive trash from us. that isnt the way we oipperate.

[dougal cawley]

Keith, I understand from posts on here that some owners in North America have ordered from Dougal at Longstone and taken the hit on shipping costs.

I'm sure he'll be along to confirm. If enough of you in N America want to buy them, it could help reduce costs.

Tim

The official distributor for the Pirelli Collezione range in the US is Lucas Classic Tires.

https://lucasclassictires.com/tires/155 ... rato-ca67/

that is direct to US source. in fact he received his first delivery of the 155R13 Cinturato CA67 on Friday. so fill your boots.

If it XAS you want we ship them to the US free of carriage charges. it usually takes a bit less than a week.

https://lucasclassictires.com/tires/155 ... rato-ca67/