New tyre options (UK)

[dunclentdr]

Any advice on best Elan tyre options for fast road use on standard 13 inch wheels?

I had used Vredestein previously but believe these are no longer available.

Thanks

David

[billwill]

When you decide on what tyre, you might contact these guys to obtain or to fit them. They come to you instead of you going to a tyre place.

https://www.event-tyres.co.uk/

No connection to me save as a satisfied customer for a tyre on my mundane.

[661]

I'm looking too.
It seems to come down to 3 choices so far, Rain expert or Blue earth on the cheaper side, or go all out with the Michelin XAS FF.
I have A drive's on there presently which seem to have morphed into the Blue Earth . The A drives are a bit hard. ( and old!) I have rain experts on the BMW 635CSi which I'm really pleased with.

[vincereynard]

Cheaper than XAS and original equipment once -

http://www.vintagetyres.com/item/117/16 ... --road--tl

They certainly look the part!

EDIT -

Apparently dearer than XAS!
http://www.vintagetyres.com/search?qs=L ... +1968-1973

[HampshireMush]

I have been running Vredestein Quatrac 3 all weather tyres for 3 years now and they have been excellent.

Great grip and good wear properties. I use my S4 all year round and so went for an all seasons tyre.

They are available in the UK in both 155 and 165 x13 (I am running 165s).

They seem readily available and are under ?50 each.

John

[umbyfer]

Rear Tire, size problem using new modern tires. I used to use Dunlop SP10 155 13 in my sprint in original setting without any problems; now the SP10 are dicontinued and replaced by the Dunlop SP Streetresponse 2. Here the problem on the rear: they are wider than SP10 about 7 mm. The "shoulder of the tire" is more round; The SP10 was straight. The consequence is that the tire touchs the rear plate supporting the spring of the suspension.
I am looking for tires with straight shoulder. Thank you for any info from your experience.

[umbyfer]

Rear Tire, size problem using new modern tires. I used to use Dunlop SP10 155 13 in my sprint in original setting without any problems; now the SP10 are dicontinued and replaced by the Dunlop SP Streetresponse 2. Here the problem on the rear: they are wider than SP10 about 7 mm. The "shoulder of the tire" is more round; The SP10 was straight. The consequence is that the tire touchs the rear plate supporting the spring of the suspension.
I am looking for tires with straight shoulder. Thank you for any info from your experience.

Here some pictures showing the problem of new modern tires (too round shoulders) on S4/Sprint with original rear springs.
I used to use Dunlop SP10 without any problem; when discontinued and replaced by Street Response the problem appears, still usful at the limit by SP Streetresponse and not usful by the last actual Street Response 2.

My spare tire in the car boot is Dunlop SP strettresponse when the 4 new tires on the car are Dunlop Street Respons 2. I put the two wheels down with the external face on the floor. So I put an aluminium bar L-shape straight on the internal side of the wheels. (see picture 1)

I discovered a gap of 4 mm (see picture 2 and 3 where calibre shows 6 mm minus 2 mm of the thickens of aluminium bar)!!
The scretch circle on the new street response 2 tires caused by touching the spring plate is max 1,42 mm in deep. (see the pictures 4 and 5)
it means that a difference in tires of 2,6 mm is enough to be in trouble.
See also pictures 6 and 7 showing an evident gap face to face from the two models of dunlop tires.

[rady32md]

I would consider Michelin. It's pricey but known to have longer tread life.

[m750rider]

I'm in the US but we have similar problems getting proper tires.

I was running a set Sumitomo HTR200 175/70-13 that was probably 10-12 years old.

The Sumitomo fit, barely, inside the wheel arch, but required some "adjustment" of the rear spring perch to keep the tire from rubbing on it.

I am using Panasport wheels, and replaced the Sumitomo with Michelin XAS FF 155HR13.

The Michelin ride well, handle very well, restore the look of the car to original make the speedometer accurate.

The Sumitomo were old and worn and the new tires feel much better. I have no way to measure the difference between the XAS and current 155x13 tires that we have available here. I had experience with some Kumho tires on a small truck - they were awful, no traction, poor braking, poor handling. I imagine these other brands of inexpensive tires (Cooper, Kumho, UnirRoyal, etc.) are better than what was available in the 70s, but I just couldn't put them on the car.

I remember running Semperit M401 back then, in fact still have one on my spare, flat, of course. The Michelin seemed closest to that tire.

I am very happy with them. Expensive, yes, for a small tire. If you can afford it, my advice is the Michelin.

[Grizzly]

I was a little shocked how much the Michelin XAS FF were..... I would try them if they weren't four times the price of a good equivalent.

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/15 ... as-ff.html

[Quart Meg Miles]

I was a little shocked how much the Michelin XAS FF were..... I would try them if they weren't four times the price of a good equivalent.

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/15 ... as-ff.html

SP Sports the same, I loved them in 1969 but not at today's price.

I'm currently running bog standard Michelin 145/80s and they are secure and progressive in wet and dry.

[Grizzly]

I was a little shocked how much the Michelin XAS FF were..... I would try them if they weren't four times the price of a good equivalent.

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/15 ... as-ff.html

SP Sports the same, I loved them in 1969 but not at today's price.

I'm currently running bog standard Michelin 145/80s and they are secure and progressive in wet and dry.

Interesting... I didn't know they still made Aquajets (only in 165's though)

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/16 ... uajet.html

[Certified Lotus]

I just bought these from the U.K.

[Grizzly]

I went to a show at weekend and bumped into an old Customer who owns a Triumph Vitesse, he showed me an article in their club magazine that was all about tyres..... Seems the tyre that came out on top was the Michelin Energy E3B...... the two things that stood out was the wet performance and it had the squarest side wall.

Another one to look at if your in the market.

[Quart Meg Miles]

..... Seems the tyre that came out on top was the Michelin Energy E3B...... the two things that stood out was the wet performance and it had the squarest side wall.

Another one to look at if your in the market.

That's the very tyre I'm running and I guess the square side wall helps keep it inside the wheel arch!