Tyres - Again!! (Series III in particular)

[vee12eman]

Hi everyone,

I am at the happy stage where my car is now on wheels again for the first time in over 20 years (pictures available in the gallery if you are interested). This means that the tyres are that old too..... So it is time to buy new tyres and I want to sound out some opinion from the forum.

I know the subject comes up frequently, but I have never found a definitive answer, especially in respect of my own car, the Series III. These have a slightly different suspension set up to earlier cars and have wider wheels. I know the original Dunlops are still available, but at nearly ?200 a tyre (I need 5, I'll let you do the maths...!) they are out of my budget. I am nearing the end of a restoration and whilst I don't want to spoil the car for the sake of spending money, I just cannot afford this sort of money at present.

Ideally I would like to fit a readily available tyre with the correct rolling diameter that will fit in the original wheel arches. The suspension is standard except for poly bushes and I am using the standard Jaguar Chrome plated steel wheels. I am aware that a lot of the tyres available in the correct size are actually designed for off-road vehicles and are totally unsuitable with respect to design, speed rating and the like, so it appears I may have to fit a different size unless I can somehow afford the original type - not very likely! Does anyone have any suggestions? I don't mind going a little wider, as long as they fit, I am more interested in reasonable grip and pleasant handling than perfect period appearance and out and out race style performance.

Hope someone can help,

Simon
Series III 2+2

[Heuer]

Simon

I would start with a phone call to Dougal Cawley at Longstone Tyres and ask his advice. You will see they do a range of tyres to suit all pockets in 205/70 x 15. http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/search. ... %2F70+X+15 A lot of people like the Vredsteins or the ever popular Pirelli P4000 or P6000 - go with whatever Dougal suggests. They do mail order if you want to buy from them.

[Phil]

Simon,

I am also interest to know. So please share what your other findings are
and what you receive as info from Longstone.

David listed what I found so far also as info on S3 tyres.

When I purchased my car (coming from Canada) it was having the following tyre : Michelin Radial XH4 P205/75 R15 97S (with white line )

FYI the spare wheel (still there ...) was/is Goodrich Lifesaver Radial XL-200 P195/75R15

When I did fit new tyres I went for Good Year Regatta 2 P205/70R15 95S
(also with white line). I have been very happy with it so far (all season, good grip, not noisy) . But I cannot really compare.I use the car normally, no racing, some "spirited" driving and sometimes at speed (when road allows it) but who does 150 mph?


If you search on Tyretrack with 205-70-15 you will find a list of options
available and can compare.

Still looking to keep the white line (my boys do not want to loose that!)
I see the Dunlop SP 60 whit some good ratings.

David reported that in the UK you can get controlled and have troubles if your tyres do not have the correct speed rating vs vehiceul specs. so watch out for this also.

best regards

[Heuer]

David reported that in the UK you can get controlled and have troubles if your tyres do not have the correct speed rating vs vehiceul specs. so watch out for this also.

In the UK you must inform your insurance company of ANY modifications from the standard Jaguar specification and this includes fitting lower speed rating tyres. I have just put my insurance with Footman James and they warn you the call is being recorded and the answers given will be part of the policy schedule in the event of a claim. I fessed up to Borrani wheels, 5 speed box, s/s manifold, bigger brakes and blue printed engine, none of which affected the premium (?227 unlimited mileage, agreed value) so not worth taking the chance.

[Moeregaard]

David, your insurance rates are a bargain by U.S. standards. My E-Type policy is bundled with the policy on my Toyota pickup and I'm paying roughly $1200 per year, with the Jaguar listed as a secondary/recreational vehicle. This includes liability, collisions, fire and theft, and--essential in California--damage by uninsured drivers.

Fortunately, they were kind enough to assess the E-Type at its replacement value. What's funny is that performance modifications are ignored, but they insisted on an exemption for any aftermarket sound systems I might install.

[Phil]

Hello Simon

could you update us on your tyres choice for your S3 ?
and share your first impressions?

best regards

[vee12eman]

Hi Philippe,
Many thanks for your interest and I am sorry to take so long to answer. I can't really be of much help, since I have not yet selected any tyres. I was trying to find out which ones to fit prior to moving abroad and not knowing what availability I would find when I got there. In the end, the timescale and expense of moving just got in the way and as I write (on Christmas Day morning no less!), I am E-Type less as the car is currently on board a ship making its' way to my new home in Australia. It still sits on the original, 20-25 year old Dunlops, annoyingly, still with tread, but far too old to trust. I will start looking again when it arrives, but still have to receive the car and move house to a new permanent residency,so restoration is taking someting of a back seat at the moment.
I will let you know what I find when I find it. In the meantime, I did contact Dougal at Longstone tyres, who was most helpful. His recommendation was that the Michelin Tyres are the best, the Avons and Dunlops a close second, Vredesteins a good compromise and the Pirelli 4000 a relatively poor last, but OK if economy was everything. His opinion is that the P4000 is too modern and rigid for the 1971 suspension, which has more side to side movement than modern geometry, which is designed for vertical only motion. This concurs with advice I received many years ago for Triumph suspension, even before the current trend tolow profile whell/tyre combinations.
As to other size tyres, he had no real thoughts and I believe he feels the originals are the best. All the above makes were recommended (or othrwise) in the original size. I asked about white wall tyres, which look great, but he advised that he was not aware of any suitable for the power of the car, also in the UK, tyres fitted to any car must conform to manufacturers recommended rating, as most of the tyres of this size are actually now fitted to 4WD vehicles, they are no way legal in UK, no matter how fast or slow you drive.
My original post was aimed at making the car driveable, but within my budget, as I want to se the car and not be fraid of how much value is being scraped off the rubber each time I drive. It may seem a bit tight, but the car is really being restored on a budget and I don't want to do all that, then find I can't afford to use it. My thoughts at the moment are that I will probably use the Vredesteins if I can find them, otherwise it will be the Pirellis, which I hope to find over here. I am not intending to throw the car around too much, especially on strange roads and with a Police force rightfully intent on stopping "hoons" (as they call them here) from annoying, disrupting, injuring and sometimes killing right minded people. I will obviously have to investigate the local market first.

Thanks again and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all.

Simon