AC Owners Club Forum

AC Owners Club Forum => Ace, Aceca & Greyhound Forum => Topic started by: pjbowman on November 16, 2009, 02:18:08

Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 16, 2009, 02:18:08: It's time for a new set of tires for AEX127, and was wondering what my compatriots might recommend for spirited road use. I had Pirelli's on the car (185R16s), and they were not bad. I have Vredesteins on my E-type, and am pretty pleased with them also. Have not had good luck with Michelins in the past, they were too hard and did not grip well.

   What are forum members using for their road cars?

   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on November 16, 2009, 09:17:42: Hi Peter

   Many ACOC members in the UK & Europe run their Ace's and Aceca's on 165HR16 (550x16) AVON TURBOSTEELS.

   I've done some 16,500/17,000 miles on mine (BEX333) including Various Sprints, Races and Hillclimbs ....... still plenty of tread.
   Front tyres scrubbed on outer edges, but swapped to the rear.

   Road holding and comfort far superior to sets of Dunlop Racing Tyres I used for years before suitable Road / Track tyres were available.

   Avon also manufacture 15inch version in softer compound, ideal for racing, However not sure if the softer compound would last long on the Road.

   Have you modified your rear wheel arches to accomodate 185 x 16s, or have you altered the rear spring to give negative camber? Most 185 cross section tyres foul bodywork or burn off paint, especially when two up or really motoring and enjoying open sweeping roads.

   Cheers

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 16, 2009, 12:51:52: Thanks Keith. No mods to anything on the car, have never had any issue with tire rubbing with the 185s. But I don't get 'crazy' on the road either, and don't race it. But maybe I'll look at the 165s too. Thaks for the feedback!

   Cheers.

   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pls01 on November 16, 2009, 17:25:16: Hi Peter

   I have 5.50x16 Michelin Racing Radials on BEX375. They were the only radial available in the original size about 10 years ago. They are not the "X" style radial that was originally on the car. They grip very well but seem very heavy.

   The original 5.50x16 Michelin X is now available from Longstone tire. Given the age of my current tires, I am considering these to see how the car originally handled.

   I've heard good things about the Avon Turbosteels and they are a bit less expensive
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 16, 2009, 23:01:55: Turbosteels at $350 each are less expensive than Michelins??? Didn't know I was going to have to cash out my retirement fund just to get tires!

   Are the Michelin Xs available in the USA anywhere? The Avons are, but I haven't found much else in 165 size.

   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: Gus Meyjes on November 17, 2009, 01:29:19: Hi Peter,

   I have the Vredesteins on my aceca. I chose those primarily because I just wanted a decent road use tire for a decent price. I don't know how spirited you want to call an AC engined Aceca, I don't drive sluggishly, but I have been pleased with these tires and they were a lot more affordable than 16 inch Michelins (The car had 16 inch wheels). I switched to 15's from Dayton wire wheel.

   Gus
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 17, 2009, 02:49:34: Thanks Gus. I agree, the 15's are MUCH cheaper, and readily avialable. I must admit I like the looks of 16s on the cars, but am keeping my options open.
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: Robin A Woolmer on November 17, 2009, 08:00:22: Avon Turbospeed Tyres are £137 plus VAT in the UK inner tubes are £30

Robin
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 17, 2009, 18:22:50: Unfortunately, here in the US they are $350! Unless anyone knows where to get them at a more reasonable price here in the Colonies?

Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: aex416 on November 18, 2009, 02:25:18: Peter,

   Coker Tire has the 550-16 and the 185R16

   Prices vary depending on manufacturer! They are a great source!

   http://store.coker.com/

   Will
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pls01 on November 18, 2009, 22:28:56: Peter,

   Yes the Avons are expensive here. They are substantially less from Longstone in England, about $229 at todays exchange. The Michelins are $262.

   According to the Longstone website, delivery for four tires is about $100 to the USA.
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 19, 2009, 03:07:56: If that's all the delivery is, it's still cheaper to buy from Longstone and get them shipped. That's a good option. Hard to understand why they are so much more expensive here in the US, sounds like gouging!

   Thanks for the tip!

   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: aex125 on November 19, 2009, 04:32:44: Peter,
I run Cooper Cobras on my Ace (and all my other cars) and am pleased with them as a street tire. However, my wheels are 15" and a bit wider than stock so I am running big tire at 205/70-15. Not sure if Coopers come in your size, but they are reasonably priced if they do come in the correct size. The down side is they are not great on mileage (they last ~20k miles with my driving) but I believe that is because they are bit soft to provide good traction.
Jay
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 19, 2009, 12:39:49: Thanks Jay, I'll check thme out too. 15 inch tires are a lot more abundant and a lot cheaper, that's for sure.

Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on November 19, 2009, 21:33:34: Peter

   Longstone Tyres can be contacted on :

   Tel: 0044 (0) 1302 711 123
   Fax: 0044 (0) 1302 710 113

   email: sales@longstonetyres.co.uk
   web; www.longstonetyres.co.uk

   When I bought my set of 165HR16 Avon Turbosteels from Longstones they were giving ACOC members a 5 or 10% discount, worth asking after they have confirmed price inclusive of delivery.

   Bill Griffiths fitted Avon Turbosteels to his Ace and did the Tasmanian Rally a couple of years back and was duly impressed over tyres used in previous events. rated them as suiting the Car and really took some hard driving.

   My preference, Keep with the 16 inch wheels, The Ace looks so much better with the tyres filling the Arches. Ground clearance is also better for general road use.

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 20, 2009, 01:45:45: Thanks Keith! And I agree on the 16s as you can tell from my posts.....


   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on November 30, 2009, 14:02:44: Longstone does indeed offer a discount to ACOC members, and I have placed my order for 4 of the Avon Turbosteel 165HR16s! Even with shipping, it's cheaper than buying them here in the US...go figure. Looking forward to seeing how the car rides and handles with them on. Thanks for all the recommendations!

Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on December 01, 2009, 00:02:39: Peter
   Seriously you should find the Avons do suit the Ace and Aceca. Good Choice, glad they are cheaper inclusive of carriage than in USA.

   Over the past few years I have experimented with tyre pressures with the Avon Turbosteel and find for fast road use, I run the following pressures:

   Front 28Lbs. Rear 30lbs
   Track use increase pressure by a few lbs.

   22lbs & 24lbs as per AC manual for crossplys results in tyre squeel, much too soft for Radials.

   Bill Griffith in Tasmania tried various pressures and came to similar conclusions.( about 30psi )
   My Ace BEX333 is fitted with a TR6 antiroll bar up front, is your Ace /Aceca similarly equiped? No rear anti roll bar fitted, Andy Shepherd runs anti roll bars (Swaybars) front and rear on the track with 15 inch rims, but not comfortable for road use.

   Why buy 4? Do you not carry a spare? Or do you carry tyre levers and puncture repair kit. Touch wood even in Germany last year 2141 miles in 8 days I didnt have a flat, but A few members have had punctures 300 / 1000 miles from home. Better safe than Sorry.

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pls01 on December 01, 2009, 16:07:57: Peter,
   I assume you bought new tubes and rim strips/tape also.

   Check the size of the stem. When I replaced mine, the new stems were much smaller than the hole in the rim. I was concerned about chaffing. The vintage tire supplier had special grommets that are specifically for this problem. The grommets are made from plastic and have a smooth radius to protect the tube from the edge of the hole. Don't want a stem getting cut. The tire will go flat quickly at the most inopportune moment.

   Longstone seems very well versed in vintage tires. They probably have this all sorted

   Peter S
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pls01 on December 01, 2009, 16:15:25: Keith

   I concluded that the manual has a typographic error. Instead of 22 and 24, it should read 32 and 34.

   Peter S
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on December 01, 2009, 20:59:26: Keith - my spare is basically new, so trying to control costs a little! I'll get new tubes/rim bands/etc. over here, they're easy to come by. There's a wonderful shop not too far from me that is known conytry-wide for its wire wheel experence, they shave and balance the tires and wheels, removing all shake at any speed. They've done several sets for me in the past, once the tires arrive they'll go to the shop to let them do their magic.

   I've always run my radials at 30 psi,and have been quite pleased with the reults. May have to experiment a little with the Avons to see what works best.

   Thanks agian to all!

   Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: Gus Meyjes on December 01, 2009, 22:19:35: Just a little extra comment on tires here: My rims are Dayton and they are suited for tubeless tires. Like I said I have the Vredesteins and I have them inflated at 45 pounds with Nitrogen. They have been great and have not lost any pressure in 2 years.

Gus
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on December 01, 2009, 23:19:50: quote:
Originally posted by pls01

Keith

   I concluded that the manual has a typographic error. Instead of 22 and 24, it should read 32 and 34.

   Peter S



   Peter S

   No typo, Cross-plies were always run at much lower pressures, different construction and different characteristics especially regards to side wall flexing.

   Gus

   Dayton wire wheels, interesting that you don't need tubes, how do they seal the spokes to the rim ??
   45psi ?? I would have thought you would ware the centre tread out PDQ and skit all over the road.
   A different driving experience....... In England the Roads are too bad to run that hard and negotiating roundabouts would prove entertaining to say the least. mind you it would be even worse on French Roads.

   I'll stick to the well tested 30PSI, thank you and leave you paying your dentist to refill your teeth every few weeks.

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on December 01, 2009, 23:23:07: Peter S

   I use Racing inner tubes, expensive at £30/£35 a piece but they are really well made and have large brass and rubber reinforced valve stems, never leak or chaff.

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pls01 on December 02, 2009, 14:34:50: Keith

   You have a point on the tire pressure typo. For comparison, I checked an old Jaguar XK120 manual. On 6.00x16 Dunlop RoadSpeed crossplies, the normal tire pressure is 25psi. For "maximum handling", it recommends 35psi. The Jag is a much heavier car on only slightly larger tires so crossplies do seem to need less pressure.

   Wasn't the Ace always on radials? Mine was delivered new with Michelin X's. Did they neglect to update the manual?

   The racing tubes sound like the ticket. I remember original tubes had metal threaded stems with metal reinforcement at the tube wall and lock nuts. I could not find them 10 years ago in the proper size.

   Peter S
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: AC Ace Bristol on December 02, 2009, 18:12:43: Racing tubes should be available from Longstone or equivelent, make sure you buy correct size tubes for the tyres being fitted and tighten the lock nut on the valve stem to rim firmly in place after tyre is inflated, movement of valve stem during inflation ensures correct seating and releases trapped air.

   Fitting too small a tube they arent working as intended and fitting oversize they will crease and chaff inside the tyre and eventually overheat and fail. (Caution reference aspect ratio / tyre cross section)

   Talc Powder or similar also stops the tube sticking to inside (Galvanised rubber) of the tyre again when tyre flexes especially on cornering the heat generated or chaffing will result in failure of tube, deflation and potential accident / incident = ££££$$$$ and heart ache.

   Keith
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: Gus Meyjes on December 03, 2009, 02:13:36: I have had no problems with rattle, wear, or any of the above. The care rides very well that way. You might be surprised. Although it appears that a friend of mine had more problems with his teeth resulting from his ride in my car....(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p222/AEX674/image002.jpg)
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: nikbj68 on December 03, 2009, 07:57:15: Oh dear, Gus... I hope you`re not one of his 'indiscretions'...and this is the start of a megabucks Kiss'n'tell campaign!!!
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: Gus Meyjes on December 03, 2009, 14:40:02: Nik BJ?

I rest my case....[:)]
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: nikbj68 on December 03, 2009, 16:51:42: Bernard John!!!!
ROFL!
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: pjbowman on December 04, 2009, 16:21:32: Merry Christmas to me - 4 new Avon Turbosteels arrived via Post today from Longstone. Those guys are great, and the shipping from the UK to the US was probably faster than it would have been if I ordered them here! I highly recommend them to anyone thinking abot new tires. Next, it's off to the wire wheel specialist in Greensboro, NC for shaving, truing, mounting, balancing, the works!

Peter
Title: Tire Selection
Post by: nikbj68 on December 04, 2009, 17:07:58: quote:
Originally posted by pjbowman Merry Christmas to me - 4 new Avon Turbosteels arrived via Post today from Longstone...

WOW!!! 5 days from order to delivery, that`s fantastic!
This really IS what the ACOC Forum is all about! International assistance at it`s best.