Blockley vs Michelin

Talk about the E-Type Series 1

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LeffeBrune
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#1 Blockley vs Michelin

Post by LeffeBrune » Thu Mar 31, 2016 8:31 pm

I am looking into a set of 185VR15. I don't like the current set up with 295/65. I am hesitating between the Blockley radial or the Michelin XWS. The Blockley are cheaper, but considering the overal costs of the car, the difference is not huge. I read the Blockley handle very well (like Michelin with power stearing) but are noisy at low speed. Anyone driving Blockley's here?

Thanks.

Georg

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Heuer
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#2

Post by Heuer » Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:03 pm

I have the Michelin XVS and they are superb. Incredible handling but their very sticky composition does mean I tend to get through a set of rear tyres after 10,000 miles :twisted: Would I fit Blockleys? No, you just need to look at the heritage and reputation of Michelin and make your decision from there. How much do you think Michelin spend on R&D each year?
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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vikla
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#3

Post by vikla » Thu Mar 31, 2016 9:54 pm

I have Blockleys on my car and am very happy with them.

However I profess no great knowledge about tyres and certainly don't drive my car anywhere its limits.
I think it very much depends on how much you drive your car and also your style of driving.

In the UK the only retail outlet for Blockleys is at MWS Wheels, where I had mine fitted. They are specialists in wire wheels.
They sell large numbers of them and I believe would not offer them unless they thought them to be excellent tyres.
Steve
S1 4.2 FHC 1966

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#4 Michelin

Post by cactusman » Thu Mar 31, 2016 10:02 pm

I have Blockley 185/70 VR 15 on my 3.8. Not noisy at low speed..can't comment on how they would compare to Michelin but then most of our cars are driven at fairly sedate speeds on usually dry summer roads...at least mine is....so does a Michelin provide that much difference...I don't know. They might spend huge amounts on r and d but I rather doubt they spend huge amounts on r and d for niche market tyes for older cars...their spend is on tyres for high performance modern cars and 4x4's where they make most of their money.
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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arron
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#5

Post by arron » Thu Mar 31, 2016 11:41 pm

Hi.

I just looked up the pricing of Michelin XVS, ?214ea from Blackcircles, is that about right??? That's nearly as much as the rears on my 911 Turbo!

Arron

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#6 Michelin

Post by cactusman » Fri Apr 01, 2016 6:42 am

If it is ?214 Inc vat then yes. If ex vat no. Longstone tyres do them for ?199 plus vat. Might get free delivery too! You will probably need tubes and possibly tyre bands too to cover the spoke tops.
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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Heuer
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#7

Post by Heuer » Fri Apr 01, 2016 10:09 am

Michelin produced the first radial tyre in the early 1950's and they were the first to produce an asymmetrical radial in the 1960's. They have established a department to concentrate solely on the production of classic car tyres: http://www.michelinclassic.com/en/Classic-Tyre-range That is a dedication to their product worthy of any company - compare that to Dunlop!

I have Dunlop SP Sport on my FHC and XVS on my OTS and whilst the former is nice to drive it has none of the confidence the latter inspires when pressing on. Straight line stability at high speed is excellent with the XVS whereas the Dunlop tyres tend to make the car wander. So if you like doing high speed runs through France and exploring the deserted back roads the XVS are the ultimate, but if you just want to potter around on our congested streets I doubt you would see the benefits. The only thing I would say is that whatever else you may do to the car the end driving experience will be determined by those four patches of rubber that kiss the road!
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
1997 Porsche 911 Guards Red

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richard btype
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#8

Post by richard btype » Fri Apr 01, 2016 12:19 pm

I believe the biggest problem with recommending tyres is the vast differences between driver requirement, how the car is used (fast/medium/slow). Type of roads where majority of journeys take place (motorways, a/b roads). Dry only driving or mixed weather conditions. Mostly I personally want a tyre that telegraphs messages and for my everyday car it has to be a Michelin or where sizes do not match their range then Continental who seem to fill in non Michelin spaces. Because my usual e type driving will be weather related I'm not too worried about wet grip (although this would become a factor if I were touring abroad) and would be very happy with the RS5 cross plies - the feel is brilliant.

I have currently fitted Blockleys with new wheels from MWS (convenient at the time) and have driven in both dry and very wet conditions and I could not fault them. I hope the RS5's will make a reappearance but if not I would be tempted to fit the Michelin next time round just so I can satisfy my curiosity. I believe Blockleys are to bring out a tyre for the 10" Mini size and would have no compunction to fit a set. I would say that the Vredenstein are the worst tyre I have ever tried on an E type.

The only true way to find out this answer would be to meet at a venue such as Bruntingthorpe or Bedford and be prepared to swap around various sets amongst ourselves?.
Chassis no: 860403
DOM - 11th April 1962

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keith Portsmore
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#9 Tyres

Post by keith Portsmore » Sat Apr 02, 2016 3:09 pm

I am facing this question also, but would like to add Pirelli into the mix.

I have been asking opinion and have been given the following:
Blockley - weak sidewalls, noisy but otherwise excellent.
XVS - Seems to have a good rating from all except perhaps the cost. However I agree that considering all things performance is more important than cost.
Cinturato - As above but probably not so good wet weather running, not so hard wearing and are to most expensive.
keith portsmore

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#10

Post by LeffeBrune » Mon Apr 04, 2016 12:24 pm

Thanks for all the responses. I don't drive the car hard. I mostly drive on dry roads but, as I also use (or intend to use) the car on longer trips, it will be driven on wet as well.

I am leaning towards the Blockley although, in the grand scheme of things, the difference is not that big.

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#11

Post by PeterCrespin » Mon Apr 04, 2016 3:56 pm

Being totally realistic, i.e. putting aside our collective delusions of talent behind the wheel, my bet is:

90% of respondents could not tell a difference between brands in hard driving, because they would not approach the true limits of the car and tyre combination, other than momentarily passing through them on their way backwards into a hedge.

95% of respondents including me could not tell the difference or would guess wrong in a blind tyre test over normal relaxed summer driving.

99% of respondents could tell the difference in cost between brands.

1% could extract meaningful value from fitting the most expensive or most high-performing tyres on a road car, and if they did so on a regular basis they would lose their license.

"I'll get me coat..."
1E75339 UberLynx D-Type; 1R27190 70 FHC; 1E78478; 2001 Vanden Plas

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#12 Tyres

Post by cactusman » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:12 pm

I agree with Peter 100%....unless you are planning on exploring the cars limits...on a track obviously!!!!....I think you will find Blockley tyres absolutely fine. Have them on mine and they feel fine to me both in the dry and the wet.

Given the probably gentle life your car now enjoys the tyres will life expire due to age not wear.
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#13

Post by LeffeBrune » Mon Apr 04, 2016 5:17 pm

Peter--Too bad they don't have a thumb up on this forum.

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#14

Post by Heuer » Mon Apr 04, 2016 6:13 pm

Hey, just call me Mr One Percent! :twisted:
David Jones
S1 OTS OSB; S1 FHC ODB
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#15

Post by LeffeBrune » Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:42 pm

On Saturday, I met Julian from Blockley at the Technoclasika in Essen. A very nice chap. Very approachable (much more so than the 3 guys standing at the Michelin stand). He had the 185 VR 15 there. Anyway, he said: "Try my tire for up to 1,000 miles. If you don't like it for whatever reason, return it and you get your money back. No questions asked." So I decided to go for it.

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#16

Post by dougal » Wed Apr 13, 2016 1:30 pm

I would suggest you would really notice the marked improvement a Michelin XVS makes to the directional stability of your car at cruising speeds. it is noticeable and you don't need to be on the ragged edge to benefit.

With the Cinturato you get the benefits of a genuine period tyre that was offered by Jaguar as an option. So aesthetically it can't be beaten. You will find it's progressive handling in the corners superb. I haven't done a back to back test, but i would expect the Cinturato to give excellent wet weather performance. When discussing the compounds with Pirelli when they were first reproducing the tyres, i said that getting maximum mileage out of the tyres was not as important as getting plenty of grip out of such a small foot print compared to other cars on the road, and their performance in the wet was more important than longevity.

I think that often the tyres you are driving on feel fine, until you try a comparison.

It is only when you change you notice the difference for better or worse. Even then it is difficult to truly gauge, because you are often taking off old rubber, which makes a comparison unfair.

I think Michelin and Pirelli have not earned the reputation of being 2 of the worlds best tyre manufacturers for nothing. High quality tyres just cost more than budget tyres, where tyre brands farm out to which ever factory will make their tyres for a good price. the Cinturato is manufactured by Pirelli and the XVS is manufactured by Michelin.

I think the bbest prices for these tyres are here
Cinturato http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/se ... urato.html
XVS http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/18 ... n-xvs.html

The price for the Cinturato sets of tyres is as good as it gets on the web site but the Michelin XVS; if you ring up and haggle currently we can offer a little discount & yes Michelin and Cinturato are predominantly shipped free of charge.

Things are good for e-types at present you have 2 fantastic high quality tyres and plenty of budget tyres too to choose from which is a good position to be in. More thoughtts on e type tyres here http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/jaguar-e-type

Cactusman 185/70R15 tyres are far too small in diameter. you need a full profile 185VR15 and you really should have the V speed rating
Chain Gang for ever

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#17

Post by Quattrofrank » Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:13 pm

Not to heat up the discussion but even if you dont track the car, the tyre with better grip will always be the best choice.
The reason behind this is that when it comes to emergency (braking, obstructions on the road etc), its always better to have more margins for error. And with a car costing 100k ?, I would its stupid to to try to save a couple of ? on tyres when the risk is that you park the car in a ditch somewhere

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#18 Tyres

Post by cactusman » Wed Apr 13, 2016 2:23 pm

Hi Dougal...they are 185/70VR15 as fitted by MWS on the E while I waited. New tubes. New rim bands... The lot. They replaced a set of ancient vreidsten tyres that were on there when I got the car. HR rated. Tons of tread but perished and fit only for the recycle!

They seem perfectly sure footed at speed to me....not that I am about to race or anything....cars worth too much!!.... For my driving style and ability at least a perfectly good set of tyres.
Julian the E-type man
1962 FHC
1966 MGB....fab little car too

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#19

Post by richard btype » Wed Apr 13, 2016 4:01 pm

Dougal

I did call a wee while ago to have a chat about tyres - I think it was your day off.

Do you think it is possible that the Dunlop RS5 6.40 x 15 will ever make an appearance again? (would be my first choice).
Chassis no: 860403
DOM - 11th April 1962

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#20

Post by KingRichard » Thu Apr 14, 2016 9:12 am

How about the Retro Classic 001 185/80 R15 93H. Is a Chinese copy of the XVS, formerly known as Nankang. They got good reviews on some of the Citroen DS forums. Costing less than triple the price of XVS.

http://www.bandenprijzen24.nl/cgi-bin/r ... nl_beslist.

I now have Vreds mounted and have no complaints. But my favorite is the Michelin XVS, just for looks and tradition (not price).

Richard
E-type series 2 2+2 RHD 1969

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