Black circles - (Tyres)

Pete Sparrow · January 23, 2006, 23:48:10

I have been asked by a couple of people what the situation with tyres is so far this year.
There is rumours of some people having Firestones left for sale,if this is true could we know who they are if they want to sell some.
Also Michelins.I have heard that they are difficult to find.If we know where they can be found please let us know.I'm also unsure as to whether the club will be buy some in bulk to sell out at cost.I know this was spoken about but obviously the first outing is growing ever nearer.
Any info will be put on the fantastic parts list for all to see.

Paul Robertson · January 24, 2006, 11:51:04

Michelins available from Longstone tyres 01302 711123 or Vintage tyres 01590 612261

Nigel Hollis · January 31, 2006, 18:25:21

We have a contact in the Milton Keynes area who in the past has been able to supply us tyres at a fairly keen price.Last season he could still provide Firestones without a problem although with a price hype from £25 to £45 so we (foolishly in hindsight) declined. He now cannot find one anywhere but can supply Michelins without trouble but at £62 + vat !!!
Is the best price around still £49 + vat or are Michelins now rapidly disappearing as well or perhaps our contact is not so good after all?
Does anyone know what 145-15 tyres were originally made for?

As an aside there's a firm on the Web advertising 145-15 tyres made in the original Firestone moulds they have aquired- trouble is its in Australia. Anyone visiting Melbourne ??

As a matter of interest what's involved in getting a particular tyre approved for racing?

Pete Sparrow · February 03, 2006, 20:44:12

Nigel
The tyres were originally for Citroen GS's
The Austrialian thing might be interesting especailly if the club buys them.
Can you find out any more about this?

Trevor Williams · February 06, 2006, 08:49:36

My brother may still be going to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games, not competing, just providing the motion control cameras. Get details of this to me and I will see what the chances are of "piggy-backing" on their transport home

Trevor

Marc Fenner · February 11, 2006, 11:29:39

I may have found a couple of places for firestone tyres. One guy reckons he can get me a few hundred if the club was interested.
He thinks he can get me 8 for certain. Anyone else interested if i can pull it off?

Marc Fenner · February 12, 2006, 11:25:28

Just had another idea! :? Smart cars run 145/65 R 15 on the front. Would they be any good for next season?

Trevor Williams · February 12, 2006, 14:52:03

Marc
Get details of the Firestone tyres to me asap.

Smart car tyres are NOT allowed at all, as they do not meet the crireria contained within the Regulations

Trevor

Chris Yates · February 13, 2006, 09:26:17

I think what Marc may be suggesting is the club look at allowing Smart tyres in the regs for next year, provided they're suitable for running on 2CV rims.. (?)

Marc Fenner · February 13, 2006, 09:33:50

Thats what i was thinking. There easy to get hold of too.

Trevor Williams · February 13, 2006, 10:57:06

These were discussed by the tech committee last year, and tested I think at Croft. The decision was that they were not suitable for our cars without MAJOR works to front arms as well as bringing in problems with gearing.
Regards
Trevor

Marc Fenner · February 13, 2006, 11:18:12

Dont know which tyres have been tested but i been on the phone all morning trying to see what tyres are available. Both Contiental and Bridgestone do 145 x 15's. No luck with firestones at the moment. Found Michelins at £49 +vat if over 20 ordered.

Trevor Williams · February 13, 2006, 11:29:50

Marc
Bridgestone, Continental and Pirelli all do tyres for Smart Cars in the size 145 x 15. Howevre, they are 65 rather than 80 aspect ratio(?). Which means that major modifications would have to be done to the cars suspension arms. There would also be the problem of gearing due to the smaller circumference. All of this was taken into account by the Tech Committee in their recommendation not to allow these tyres.

A LOT of investigation was undertaken on behalf of the club to find an alternative tyre to the Firestone F560, and the only one that we could find was the Michelin. Michelin themselves then undertook to get this tyre approved by the MSA for motorsport use.

PLEASE, if you have found someone who can supply Firestone F560 145x15 80s, let me know the contact details and the club may coinsider a bulk purchase. The only problem with that is storage

Regards

Trevor

Paul Robertson · February 13, 2006, 12:09:50

Ispent ages looking into tyres for this season the smart tyres and the michelins were the only viable alternatives it was decided that as the smart tyres required everyone to change thier arms and also would mean over 7000 rpm in top at snetterton that they were not really a suitable replacement for the firestone although cheaper .
Michelin had already heard of our predicament of not having a tyre to race on and had the XZX reintroduced specifically for our series.The tyre is part of their historic range and available from their historic stockists as listed previously.

Derek Coghill · February 14, 2006, 23:33:10

Paul, I picked up Michelin's "vintage" tyre brochure at Retromobile at the weekend and the 145 is the XZX. They also do a 135 ZX, is this getting the same approval treatment? Just asking because my car has 135s at the back.

Black circles - (Tyres)

Paul Robertson

Paul Robertson