E-Type Tyre Dilemma
Discussion
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
Are those 6” rims?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
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
Thanks PP.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
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.
politeperson said:
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.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!
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!
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...
Take a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...
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...
questoTake a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...
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! 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.Take a look at this test; www.cinturato.net/images/test-classic-tyres-0716.p...
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