S3 Whitewall tyres

[v12 man]

I have now seen a few threads on this forum about whitewall tyres for the series 3 e-type. The original tyres are no longer available in whitewall form and there are a few alternatives on the market, but these are speed rated to 112 MPH which may be a problem in the event of an insurance claim as the tyres fitted to these cars should be of V rated of above ( 150mph )

From my searches over the past couple of years , the only tyre which comes close to the requirements is this.

The Runaway Enduro 205/70 HR 15 .

The HR denotes 130MPH MAX SPEED but at the moment this is all that available in any sort of good speed rating , but check with your insurance company and get it listed on the policy that you are running these tyres.

This is how they look for real !






I do not know what these tyres are like to drive on as I am currently restoring my car but they can't be any more frightning than the 35 year old ER70 I last driven this car with.

I hope this is of use to other series 3 owners wanting whitwall tyres on their cars.

Thanks for reading.

Matt.

[Heuer]

Matt

Thanks for the pictures - those tyres really do look good.

Hopefully the Insurance Company will allow the speed rating modification and list it on your policy. - a very sensible precaution to take. I have spent some time researching tyres and their technology and it is a hugely complex subject. Apart from tread and rubber composition there is also the question of whether they are steel or rayon belted (try driving a Lotus Elan on steel belted tyres), pressure, aspect ratio and tubed or tubeless. Unfortunately modern tyres are designed with modern car suspension in mind and are optimised for variable camber geometry and front wheel drive. This is why I like and use Michelin rubber as their 'les pneus collection' are retro designs using modern rubber compositions. It is also apparent the speed rating has an affect on the way the car handles in corners - higher speed rating tyres have different side-wall structures. Basically the tyre is a complete package to match the all round performance of the car.

Going back to the Lotus Elan the classic Michelin tyres present a different problem - the XAS FF tyres I use on mine are perfectly optimised for the car but the modern rubber composition is a lot stickier. This puts extra stress on the steel wheels which can crack.

[MarkE]

They can crack the chassis as well David...but that's another subject!

This speed rating thing has me a little confused.

Firstly, if the car is vandalised when left will the insurance company refuse to pay up because it has the wrong speed rating tyres? I doubt it!

If you bump into something in town doing 10 or 20 mph, I can't see them having a case to not pay based on the speed rating, and surely that must be the case if you're doing 60 or 80mph too, as it's all within the limits of the lesser rated tyre.

I can understand them making a case if you have a blowout at 140mph on 130 rated tyres, but chances are, you're not going to be around to claim anyway!

I know that insurance companies will try and wriggle out of any claim on any grounds they can, but surely they would have to prove that a tyre rated for 130mph wasn't fit for purpose at, say, 60mph, if that was the speed you were doing when having the accident?

I guess that none of us would like to put it to the test though!

Mark

[Heuer]

Afraid not Mark. The Insurance Company ask if any modifications have been made to the car - you must answer correctly and all calls are recorded for this purpose. By your argument I could fit a 500bhp engine to my car but as long as I was not using all that power at the time of the accident they would agree to pay up! Alloy wheels and spoilers on standard cars incur additional premiums because they are perceived as more at risk of theft. Loss Adjusters always interrogate the ECU on modern cars to see if they have been chipped (hence the new generation of 'stealth' chips ) As I said earlier the speed rating also affects the car handling and dynamics so arguably that low speed accident could have been avoided if the correct tyres were fitted. If the car is stolen there would of course be no evidence of the type of tyres fitted and you could argue the thief fitted new rubber if it was recovered.

Bottom line is that faced with a ?1,000,000 third party disability claim the loss adjuster is going to look for any opportunity to mitigate their loss. Telling your Insurance Company about the different tyres is the simplest thing to do. I told mine insurers about the 5 speed box, VSE02 engine, 2.88 diff and Borrani wheels - made no difference to the premium but the modifications are on record.

[marsh]

Matt

Your wheels look immaculate - did you get them re-chromed locally?

Lee

[carlv12]

Hello Matt,

I have 225/60 R16 98W Michelin Primay WITH whitewall made specially from a german tire dealer - they have patented their system, so that you can choose 10mm, 15, or even 20mm side wall. My wheels are 8x16 Daytons.

It looks great, but cleaning is not easy and the black rubber always penetrates the whithe surface a little on the sides.

Regards from Valencia

Carlos

[v12 man]

The wheels are totally original never been touched. My father bought this set new in 1974 and he ran them on the MK10 but not through the winter, that was off the road by 1977 . Most of their life has been behind a layer of greese.

Carlos could you post up any photo's of your tyres?

Matt

[vipergts]

A thin white band finishes off the chrome wheels perfectly.

A cannot believe Dunlop don't reproduce these tyres.

Mine must be 35 years old (I know, highly dangerous) no sign of outward deterioration but I just don't want to lose them

[WDRV12]

Hubba bubba ! Love black v12's on the right wheels and tyres
Here's mine when i bought her !
[/img]

[Phil]

Love black v12's on the right wheels and tyres
Here's mine when i bought her !

beautiful indeed ! he how many commemoratives on the forum now ? 3 or more ? You really should start a post in the S3 section !


fully agree on the rigth wheels and tyres combination !
Here is mine on the road



thanks Matt for posting the photo of the Enduro tyres. They look very good.Interesting and higher speed rating than the Good Year I have now. They are 6 years old and I am considering to change.

I would not dare driving with 35 years old tyres. When I purchased my car , she was still having old tyres also, really nothing to see abnormal untill the left rear one lost its thread when I was driving at around 50-60 MPH dammaging the rear wheel arch....revealing the rust behind the paint and helping/forcing the decision to start body work and repaint... Once is enough [

[vipergts]

Richard...What tyres you got on there?

Was black only an option on early E Types?

People all tell me different.

[carlv12]

Hello,

I have tried to post a picture of my car with the whitewall tires (225/60 R16 98W with 10mm whitewall and 8x16 Dayton wheels), but I do not understand how uploading works in this forum or how to see the pic directly??!!

Edit: Link deleted as it contains malware and porn!

Regards

Carlos

[vipergts]

They look great.

Any rubbing issues??

[Heuer]

Carlos

Please follow the guide here: http://etypeuk.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=850
The hosting site you are currently using displays pornography and loads malware to members PC's along with your picture - not good.

Here is your picture hosted via Photobucket:

[Heuer]

They look great.

Any rubbing issues??

Presumably no pun intended? (You had to see the original link!)

[vipergts]

Carlos
The hosting site you are currently using displays pornography, loads malware along with your picture - not good.

Bugger.....I couldn't find it.

[carlv12]

Hello,

there were only very little rubbing problems: at the rear with the rear bump stop, but reducing a little bit the sides of this part was enough. At the front the tires rub a little bit with the hot air pick up pipe that goes from the air filter. But the tires are much better than the the american withewalls with speed index "T".

Regards

Carlos

[marsh]

Dear all

I've just purchased a nice set of original chromed pressed wheels hat come with a set of serviceable Michelin whitewall tyres. These are, however, 205/75 profile, rather than 205 70's currently fitted to the car.

I'd like to fit them for the summer, but before I do, are there any risks to fitting this profile - i.e. will they foul the arches?

Advice, as always is very welcome!

Lee

[carlv12]

Hello,

here are the newest pictures of my "cat": now lowered - I like it so much, only a lowered car has this unique sex appeal, it feels wider and compact.

I hope you like it

Regards from Valencia

Carlos





[/img]

[Heuer]

Wow that looks good! Are you tempted by a set of these? http://wahlsinn.e-type-only.de/?lang=en