Hi Jim
jimj wrote:I`m very interested in Dougal`s opinion, so what do think to this?
I`m using Rain Experts 155x80 (Uniroyal?) on an S3 and a Sprint with inner tubes, as recommended by a few on here. Without back to back comparisons, who knows? but to me wet weather is when you`re most likely to need extra grip on the road.
I think there are a lot of tyre recommendations based on price and the misguided idea that a modern tyre is just better. If you have a modern car, it can take advantage of the differences that a modern tyre offers, if you have an old car those differences are derogatory.
The car industry has moved on and produce a different product, which demands a different tyre. The tyre industry has moved on and made some developments that have allowed the car industry to make developments to take advantage of the new tyres.
If the XAS and Uniroyal did back to back testing on modern tyre testing machinery, it is possible that the Uniroyal might win under modern testing environment, but that would not mean it is better on your car because the modern
testing machinery would be using the geometry that modern cars use.
However all that considered i would still expect the 155HR13 XAS FF to win, because of the quality of it's carcass and it has some pretty clever compounds in there. I have raced on them, they are fab.
jimj wrote:There doesn`t seem to be a consensus on using inner tubes but the wheels don`t have that extra beading for tubeless tyres.
When in doubt fit a tube
jimj wrote: I`m mindful that the ribbing on the inside of the tyres may rub on the tubes and, especially so, as we`re going to Poland in the S3 in August. There`s a lot of motorway miles and possible punctures are a concern.
I thought that, before then, I`d see about removing the tubes or renewing them though they`ve only done, maybe 3,000 miles. Coincidentally, yesterday, I got a puncture and, sure enough, it was on the side of the tube where a little wear was evident.
Without doubt any 80% or 70% tyre should be able to run with inner tubes. However it is my view that some of these tyre manufacturers have almost forgotten about the existence of inner tubes, and started putting things on the inside of the tyre that are not ideally suited to inner tubes.
All things considered as an 80 profile tyre they should be OK with tubes, but people are probably fitting cheap crap. that is what most people do, save a few quid However just get the job right and fit a Michelin tube
https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... tubes.html Generally inner tube failures are caused (more with crossply tyres) where the tyre bead sits on the rim. As the side wall flexes the bead that sits on the rim moves and gently nibbles at the tight inner tube that is attempting to press itself into this gap. this nibbling will show up the ribs on the inside of the tyre. although i don't fully accept that these ribs are the cause, they certainly don't stop it. the cause is cheap tyres that don't fit so well, cheap inner tubes that are made of cheap almost brittle rubber that are not properly lubricated with chalk. or rims that are a bit worn.
My advice is fit a 155HR13 Michelin XAS FF
https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... /elan.html it is the best tyre in that size for a car pre 1990's. It is a tube type tyre, which means it is built to be used with tubes, the inside of the tyre is beautifully smooth.
And fit a proper Michelin tube
https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/offset ... d-v13.html jimj wrote:I asked at Selectatyre, who are very helpful, for their opinion. They couldn`t identify a different tyre suitable for tubes and were adamant that the wheel design is not suitable for running tubeless so I`ve ordered 4 new tubes.
Dougal, what do you think?
Jim
For some reason don't want to talk to the people that actually know, because they think we are just expensive. we are right hear and this is what we do 00441302711123
It is more important to us to get you the right thing and have you happy, than make a quick buck. what we will recommend will probably be more expensive. But we are playing the long game. What i want is you chaps saying, "flippin heck, those boys at Longstone know what they are on about. i bought a set of the Michelin XAS and my car feels much nicer to drive." I don't want a tube to be discussed, because the only time a tube needs to get discussed is when they fail, and a Michelin does not cause an issue. Oh yes, as a secondary issue, our tyres look better, but we are only interested in that after we have everything else right.
So next time you go to a tyre depot and they seem a little lost, just tell them to call us, we can talk them through the issue.