Looking for a job in the Classic Car industry? We are looking for an export sales executive to help develop our overseas business

Our business is expanding and we are now looking for an ambitious and enthusiastic “hands on” sales person to join our team.

The successful applicant must be a French speaker and should ideally be a classic car enthusiast, hold a full driving licence and be computer literate with sales experience.  We attend a number of weekend events throughout the year so the applicant will be expected to travel as part of a team in this country and abroad.

To find out more about this opportunity, send your CV, outlining any experiences or attributes that would make you the ideal candidate for this role, to; - Mr C Marchant, at careers@vintagetyres.com   or post to: Vintage Tyre Supplies, at the National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hants SO42 7ZN .

Jaguar E-Type Tyres - the best Tyres for a Jaguar XK-E from Vintage Tyres for Classic Tyres

General Thoughts

The first thing to remember is that with the E-type, Jaguar was revolutionary and pushed the boundaries of what a British car could do in a way not often seen.  They chose partners to work with to develop components that were beyond the competition in order to make the E-type the sensation it was.  When it came to tyres, at this time Jaguar formed a close alliance with Dunlop.  Together they chose the Aquajet, code named CB73, it was “state of the art” and a truly iconic tyre design of the 60s and 70s, and it offered performance for the E-type in excess of the competition.  For this reason, in most cases it is hard to recommend anything beyond a Dunlop for an E-type – they go together like bread and butter, and are usually the best choice, it was after all “the tyre Jaguar chose”; though we also supply direct from the manufacturers Avons, Michelins, Vredeteins and many more.

 For general road use we believe it is a  mistake to “over-tyre” an XKE – whilst it makes sense to fit a 185VR15 radial to your series 1 instead of a the crossplys if you drive your car regularly and prefer it on radials; on any e-type wide or low profile tyres will not only ruin the ride and handling, but will not work so well with the suspension systems and will often foul.

Specific choices

When the series 1 E-type came out, it was fitted with crossply tyres, and if authenticity in both appearance and performance on an early car is important, then there really is only one choice – the Dunlop Roadspeed RS5 was the OE tyre, and is now the only crossply with appropriate performance capabilities for an XKE and is still available today.

When refining the series 2, Dunlop worked closely with Jaguar for development of the CB73 (known as the aquajet thanks to its unique water clearing ducts that “pump” up to a gallon of water a second away from the contact patch).  It was chosen by Jaguar as the best choice radial when the cars were new, and it still is today – still made in the original moulds in England, these days updated with modern compounds and rated V(150mph) for speed thanks to continued development, and thanks to its popularity it can be made in larger batches than the other options, keeping the price competitive. 

It is a similar story when it comes to the series 3 V12 E-type  - Jaguar chose Dunlop to develop the “ER70R15” version of the aquajet, and it remains a supreme choice for these cars today.

There is more information on the Aquajet in a blog post here: http://vintagetyretalk.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/dunlop-sp-sport-aquajet-tyre-icon.html

There are other period choices for your series 2- The Avon Turbosteel is a V rated steel belted radial made in the England and a good alternative, while the Pirelli Cinturato is an older design at a higher price than the correct tyre.  The 185HR15 Vredestein is a European made tyre at a good price, whilst owners of US spec cars may wish to fit a white or red band tyre, and the Universal option is the one to go for in these cases as it has a pattern reminiscent of the original equipment tyre.

There are several high performance tyres available for the series 3 – whilst the Dunlop remains the tyre of choice, in the equivalent 205/70VR15 size Avon make the CR28 in England at a great price; the Michelin XWX whilst not an original pattern has high performance, as does the Vredestein, though both of these options are fairly expensive. 

If you race or hillclimb your E-type then the Avon CR6zz is an excellent choice.  Retaining a period tread pattern, the internal design of these tyre by Avon Motorsport is actually very high tech, using modern design elements such as steel breakers and modern compounds to offer excellent performance and grip.  Bear in mind that whilst road legal this tyre is designed primarily for motorsport, and therefore no compromise is made when it comes to longevity and wear.

Series 1		Adv	Disadv.
640H15	Dunlop RS5	Original Equipment, Only Suitable Crossply, Made in England	Some people prefer to fit a radial these days
Series 2
185VR15	Dunlop Aquajet	Original Equipment, Best Appearance, Recently Upgraded and Very High Performance, Popularity ensures larger volumes so excellent price, Made in England
185VR15	Avon Turbosteel	High performance, period appearance, made in England	Jaguar chose Dunlop
185VR15	Michelin XVS	High performance	Later tread pattern (introduced in 70s), more expensive than Dunlop and Avon,
185HR15	Michelin XVS	Kerbing Rib	Lower speed rating than some, Later tread pattern, more expenisve than Dunlop and Avon, J
185VR15	Pirelli Cinturato	Period appearance	Older design of radial, high price,
185HR15	Vredestein Sprint Classic	Competitive price, Made in Europe (Holland)	Lower speed rating than some
185HR15	Universal	Available with Red or White Band, Appearance	Lower speed rating than some
Series 3
ER70VR15	Dunlop Aquajet	Original Equipment, Best Appearance, Recently Upgraded and Very High Performance, Popularity ensures larger volumes so excellent price, Made in England
205/70VR15	Avon CR28	Made in England, High Performance, Good Price	Later tread pattern
205/70VR15	Michelin XWX	High Performance	Later tread pattern
205/70VR15	Vredestein Sprint Classic	Good performance, Made in Europe (Holland)	Less competive on price than it was,
205/70VR15	Avon CR6zz	Period appearance but very high performance for track days and racing as well as road legal	Primarily designed as a race tyre so no compromise made for road use when it comes to wear and longevity

What tyre should I fit to my Jaguar XK - XK120, XK140, XK150?

When considering tyres for your Jaguar XK120, XK140 or XK150 there are plenty of options to consider.  Here are a few thoughts to help you make the right choice.

To summarise:

Crossply or radial?

Crossply tyres offer original specification, looks and performance and lighter handling, but may tramline and wander more than radials.  Radials may make the handling heavier but be more sure footed and closer to your modern car to drive for when you switch to your XK for the weekend!

Crossply choices

Any Jaguar XK would originally have been fitted with Dunlop 600-16 highspeed crossply tyres, and these tyre are still available – The Dunlop Roadspeed RS5.  If authenticity is paramount, this is the tyre to have.  It is also a good choice as it is made in England, and has a high speed rating.  The other crossply tyre to consider would be an Avon Turbospeed; also a period highspeed tyre made in England, it also has the type of tread pattern that an XK would have been fitted at the time.

For race use, the 600-16 Dunlop R5 (not to be confused with the RS5!) is still available – a crossply race tyre that is authentic and still made in England, it is also these days road legal so competitors can drive to the track.  Different competitions have different rules for eligibility – but in those where a crossply tyre is required the best performance comes from a Dunlop.  These days some competitions specify radial options.

Other crossply tyres are available in 600-16, but they are not the best choices for the XK – tyres such as the Waymaster, Avon Tourist, Firestone and Lester have the right dimensions, but are not a suitable speed rating for this sort of car, and are better suited to slower European saloons and American cars from the period.  An XK Jaguar looks right with a crossply that has the sort of pattern of the RS5 or Turbospeed, it would not have had a more aggressive pattern than that for road use and these two are as advanced as crossply tyre design got so offer the best performance of this sort of tyre.

Radial choices

If you choose to fit radials, there is one tyre that stands out..    Avon designed the Turbosteel 185R16 to combine a classic tread pattern with advanced radial technology and high performance, so by choosing this tyre you are getting the best of both worlds.  Not only is it made in England, but its overwhelming popularity enables it to be made in larger production runs, keeping the price lower than the other choices as well.  Vredesteins are a popular choice, as they are a European made tyre with a classic pattern, however Vredestein has increasd the price significantly over recent years, and these tyres have a lower speed rating than some other choices.  Vredestein have sponsored the XK race series for many years.  Michelin’s X has a period radial tread pattern, and tall narrow carcass but its speed rating is lower than appropriate for an XK.  Pirelli’s Cinturato is a period tread pattern with a high speed rating and is popular for its appearance, but it is a less advanced radial than the Avon at a higher price, and this tyre is not E-marked or ECE tested in the way an Avon is.  Michelins Pilote Sport 600R16 is a very high performance tyre, and offers excellent grip, and is popular in races where it is eligible, but at a price.

We have compiled this information into a chart below:

  

Size	Tyre	Speed Rating	Advantages	Disadvantages
Crossply
600H16	Avon Turbospeed	H-130mph	Period Tyre, Made In England, Suitable Speed Rating, Correct Type of tread pattern
600H16	Dunlop RS5	H-130mph	Original Equipment Tyre, Period Tyre, Made In England, Suitable Speed Rating, Correct Type of tread pattern
600-16	Dunlop R5 (race but road legal)	H-130mph	Period race tyre, best perfoming crossply race tyre	Designed for race use with no compromise so in terms of longevity etc may not be best choice for road
Radial
185R16	Avon Turbosteel	V-150mph	Period tread pattern, classic looks with the best possible performance for an XK – designed by Avon Motorsport in Melksham, Made in England, Its popularity enables larger batches to be produced keeping price lower
185R16	Vredestein Sprint Classic	H-130mph	Made in Europe (Holland), Good quality, Classic Pattern	Lower speed rating than some other radials, higher price
185R16	Michelin X	S-113mph	Period tread pattern, Narrow Carcass	Too low a speed rating for an XK
185R16	Pirelli Cinturato	V-150mph	Period tread pattern, Narrow Carcass, V- speed rating	Price high, older technology radial
600R16	Michelin Pilote Sport	W-168mph	Period race-type pattern, highest speed rating, high performance	Higher price, race rather than road tread pattern

EU TYRE LABELLING - Why our tyres are exempt

This month the new EU law regarding tyre labelling comes into force.  However, any tyre designed for a car introduced before the 1st of October 1990 is EXEMPT - and this includes the vast majority of our range.  Motorcycle tyres are also exempt.  So please remember when you order tyres that they will not have an EU tyre label attached, and there is no requirement for them to do so.

The new law means certain car tyres will have to carry a label which details its results in rolling resistance, wet grip braking and noise level.  The label does not include the many other factors which you should take into consideration when choosing tyres.  These include:

• Dry handling: Not on label
• Dry grip (straight line): Not on label
• Dry grip (circles/cornering): Not on label
• Wet handling: Not on label
• Wet grip (circles/cornering): Not on label
• Resistance to aquaplaning (straight/curved): Not on label
• High-speed stability: Not on label
• Interior noise: Not on label
• Tread wear: Not on label 
• Authenticity: Not on Label 
• Appropriate speed and load rating: Not on Label
• Appropriate fitment: Not on Label

At Vintage Tyres we have years of experience in supplying tyres for all sorts of vehicles, and our highly knowledgable staff are able to advise you on the best choice of tyre for your vehicle and its intended use, taking into account all the factors which will play a part.  So if you need help choosing tyres, the best thing to do is to give us a call on +44 (0)1590 612261 or email sales@vintagetyres.com and let us advise you.

The Latest Vintage Tyres Newsletter

Our latest newzletter has recently been sent; if you are not currently on our mailing list you can see it here: Vintage Tyres Winter 2012 Newsletter.

The newsletter has a roundup of news from Vintage Tyres - everything from new tyres and our new website, to the latest show news and Paul's Ford Capri, which you see pictured here with his daughter Chloe!
If you want to keep up to date with all the latest information and offers from Vintage Tyres, then please sign up at the bottom of our homepage www.vintagetyres.com.

Happy New Year - Vintage Tyres celebrate our 50th Year

Happy New Year from Vintage Tyres! This is an important year for us, as we celebrate our 50^th anniversary. Vintage Tyres was the first company in the world ever set up to be dedicated to supplying tyres for older and specialist vehicles. This is what we have been about from the start, and we are still on the same mission today! It is amazing to think that many of the cars and motorcycles we now supply tyres for were not even in existence when the company was formed! Some other notable events from 1962 include:

• Graham Hill won the F1 world championship in a BRM
• Marilyn Monroe died
• The Rolling Stones were formed
• John Glen orbits the earth
• MG launch the MGB, and Triumph the Spitfire

To celebrate this milestone, we will be running events and special offers throughout the year, so keep your eyes on www.vintagetyres.com, www.twitter.com/vintagetyre and this blog to be informed.

One event the planning is already well underway for is the Vintage Tyres New Forest Classic Car Run. This will be held on the 13^th of May 2012, in cooperation with Southampton Magna Rotary Club, and is open to all cars and light commercial vehicles registered before 1976. Taking in much of the beautiful countryside around our base at Beaulieu, it will be an event not to be missed, and will raise money for several charities including CLIC Sargent, for children with cancer. Please email us on sales@vintagetyres.com to find out more.

We hope 2012 is as eventful and interesting for all our customers as it will be for us!

The Vintage Tyre Dilemma - When to reintroduce tyres! by Chris

As a company dedicated to providing authentic- and whenever possible original- products, we are regularly approached by customers eager to find that rare and elusive tyre, such as the original Lotus Elan Dunlop SP Sport or the metric tyre fitted to some of the later Jaguar XJ range. Luckily in most cases we can supply it off the shelf or at the very least have a good alternative, however there are some rare times when a solution simply doesn’t exist, and that’s when our dilemma kicks in - should we commission new production? We’ve been here many times before and will undoubtedly visit many times in the future, our successes are fitted to classic cars and bikes all over the world, from the original 1948 Landrover tyre, to the tiny 8” tyre used on WW2 Corgi Paratrooper bikes so we are no strangers to the problem.

Our current dilemma is the Dunlop SP44 “Weathermaster”; in particular the small 10” diameter tyre that was offered by Dunlop in the 70’s for rally Minis, originally in a 145R10 and later in the larger 165/70R10. That’s the first problem- if were going to get it made, which size? Tyre moulds and specialist tyre building equipment can easily set you back £20k so it’s important to get it right. How many could we actually sell? The conversation usually goes something like this…..”I’m looking for the original Dunlop tyre for my 1905 Alldays and Onions, oh! You haven’t got one in stock? I am surprised; can you get them made? I’m sure you’d sell thousands of them!”

This is really when the work starts, letters, editorials, advertisement and endless research all with the aim of assessing the demand, and of course the correct specification, because it’s unlikely that a mould drawing still exists. But with time and a well polished crystal ball a true picture will emerge, and then all that remains is the job of persuading a mainstream manufacturer that it will be worth their while making the commitment for perhaps 250 tyres,

So if you’re interested in Dunlop SP 44’s please let us know, we’d love to hear from you. It is our mission to maintain the most complete range of classic tyres in the world, so if there is anything you are in need of get in contact. If there is a demand, we may be able to have it made! Our number is 0044 1590 612261, or email us on sales@vintagetyres.com.

Its Classic Tyre Safety Season at Vintage Tyres!

We have launched a major campaign this spring in order to raise awareness of classic car tyre safety.
The issue was brought to a head when we analysed tyres recently replaced in our fitting bays and discovered that more than half the tyres removed were over 30 years old! Many also contained tubes of a similar age.

Following several reported incidents of fatalities related to the use of old tyres, the British Association of Rubber Manufacturers stated that “If a tyre is six years old and unused it should not be put into service; and in ideal conditions a tyre has a maximum lifespan of ten years.”
Old unused tyres can of course look like new - particularly if they are described as such; however the degrading process will continue unseen and once fitted the dynamic input often leads to sidewall cracking, delamination and ultimately catastrophic failure. Whilst a lot of the tyres in our survey appeared to be sound and some even had good tread depth, the performance of older tyres in terms of braking, grip and wet weather performance - or simply the ability to cope with the heat and stresses generated by running a tyre - is dangerously reduced.
As part of the campaign, we are carrying out free tyre inspections at our base in Beaulieu, open to any owners of classic vehicles. Our tyre experts will check the general tyre condition as well as the all important age of the tyre; and we will also be happy to fit and balance for free any tyres that need replacing.
For more information visit www.vintagetyres.com, email sales@vintagetyres.com or call Paul in our workshop on 01590 612261.
If you can’t get to Beaulieu for your free tyre inspection, we have also produced a leaflet covering classic tyre safety, which we will be happy to send you free of charge.

CAMAC tyres are back!

Vintage Tyres are pleased to announce that we are now exclusive distributors of the Camac range of classic crossply and radial tyres. This will be good news for many 50s, 60s and 70s classic car owners who will remember fitting them to their Beetles, Minis, Cortinas, Anglias and many many more.

The Portuguese factory ceased all production back in 2008, but following major restructuring last year, resumed limited tyre production. As you would expect from a European tyre manufacturer all tyres comply with current EC requirements and are now available exclusively from Vintage Tyre Supplies.

The range includes everything from 560-15 tyres; the original tyres for VW Beetles and lots of other European cars which have been hard to find in recent years; right up to 900-16 (900x16) Nato Pattern tyres, suitable for Forward Control/101 Land Rovers!

The range includes……

In Crossply; 520-10, 550-12, 520-13, 560-13, 590-13, 640-13, 725-13, 560-15, 670-15, 600-16, 700-16 and 900-16

And in Radial……

145R10, 165/70R10, 135R12, 145R14, 185HR14, 195/70HR14, 205/70HR14.

Contact us now to find out more!

Vintage and Classic Tyres - Where are they made?

Chris, our MD, recently visited one of the world’s latest tyre factories. The hi-tech factory you see pictured here produces 15,000 tyres a day of all types, from motorcycle tyres, through crossply car tyres to high performance radials. The processes are computer controlled and the factory is laid out in the most ergonomic way to produce tyres efficiently – which is why it is over half a kilometre long! So where in the world would you find the latest tyre producing technology? In this case, Thailand!

Producing a tyre is a much more complex operation than most people assume; the old myth of pouring liquid rubber into a mould and popping out tyres every few minutes like wellington boots couldn’t be further from the truth. Tyres are assembled normally from about 20 different sub components all precisely positioned and guided by laser beams. Steel, Rayon, Nylon, Kevlar and some 30 different types of rubber can all go into just one tyre. It is amazing to think that all this technology and effort, and components shipped from the four corners of the globe go into the tyres on our classic cars!

When Vintage Tyres started 50 years ago, all the tyres we supplied were British made. Dunlop and Avon for example still produce their entire classic ranges in the original factories here in England and incredibly in many cases still in the original moulds. The difference in the tyres you buy today is that they are able to include all the advances in rubber compounding and technology in their classic designs. Even some Waymaster tyres are still made in the UK.

With the completion of our brand new “high tech” factory, we are confident having many of our Waymaster range produced for us in the Far East. Their lower manufacturing costs combined with rapid development in tyre production techniques have enabled the availability of quality tyres at a cost effective price.

Of Course many major manufacturers still produce classic tyres locally – Avon, Michelin, Dunlop, Pirelli and Vredestein all have factories in Europe. However, it is interesting to know that even in small volume classic ranges, production is common overseas in order to keep costs low; Ensign, Blockley, Excelsior, Waymaster and even Michelin all produce tyres in the far east.

So does it matter where your tyres are made? Well these days we as classic car owners are fortunate to have such a choice open to us. We are lucky that major manufacturer still continue to make small production runs of authentic tyres. The good news is that now it can also be less expensive to have good quality tyres on our cars.

Pictured here is a Riley fitted with Dunlop Triple Studs - the original triple stud tyre, and still made in England!

Rigorous Testing of Waymaster Cord Beaded Edge Tyres

How do you replicate the stresses that will be put on a tyre over thousands of miles of use, and ensure that it performs faultlessly? The answer is rigorous testing.. and at Vintage Tyres we certainly take this seriously!

When we were developing the Waymaster Cord range of beaded edge tyres, we wanted to ensure they were the very best they could be, and as the tyres were designed from the ground up we had the opportunity to use the latest tyre technology to achieve this. Beaded edge tyres were “current” technology over a hundred years ago, and tyres, cars, and roads have moved on hugely since then. Using this design of tyres in current conditions actually puts very different stresses on them than when veteran cars were new. Modern road surfaces mean that although punctures from stones etc may be less likely, it is possible to travel for long distances at much greater speeds than it would have been at the turn of the 20th Century, and also corner more quickly. This means the heat generated by the tyres and lateral pressures applied to them are much greater than they would ever have had to endure under the conditions they were first designed for. It is these problems that the Waymaster range has to deal with- at least as well as any 100 year old tyre design could!

The first step is to get each new tyre size tested to ECE30 standard at RAPRA – the Rubber and Plastics Research Authority. Although it is not a legal requirement that beaded edge tyres meet this standard, it is all part of our aim of making Waymaster Cords the best they can be. This sort of drum testing can only ever test tyres in one plane however – and we want to make sure they perform under all the stresses they will be put under, particularly the lateral forces when cornering under speed. The only way to do this is to actually do it – on a car, on the road, under test conditions.

Our first choice was a 1904 De Dion, which whilst the type of car that would end up fitting the tyres, wasn’t heavy or quick enough to test the tyres to their extreme limits. After this, we made a test wheel and fitted it to our 1935 Morris Commercial, weighed it down with sandbags and sent it out on the testing ground. The old girl fared better, but we still wanted to go further than any beaded edge tyre would ever have to in normal usage. The only answer was to adapt the wheel, and fit it to our modern Nissan pickup!

As you can see from these pictures, we really went as far as we could to test these tyres! Starting at a regular speed and normal pressure for a beaded edge tyre (around 60psi) we repeated the test dropping 5psi each time, until dislodgement occurred - which we found to be between 20 and 25psi; much lower than would ever be used in normal conditions.

We now test every beaded edge tyre like this. Waymaster offer a broad range of beaded edge sizes, using their attractive period tread pattern, and we can personally vouch for the safety and performance of each and every one!

Find out more about Waymaster here "Waymaster Tyres"

Here is a video of the test wheel on the back of the Nissan:

Ensign Tyres – Authentic Classic Motorcycle Tyres

From the beginning, the Ensign range of motorcycle tyres were conceived to offer authentic tread patterns, quality construction and cost effectiveness. Initially offering a range of beaded edge tyres for vintage and veteran bikes using the familiar two-stud pattern, we have since developed tyres for other areas of motorcycling.

Over the last couple of years we have overhauled the beaded edge tyres, improving the finish and up rating performance by increasing the ply content of the tyres. This makes them one of the best built beaded edge tyres on the market, and enables them to be fitted to light cars as well as motorcycles.

Realising the lack of quality classic trials tyres in several popular sizes, the Ensign Trials Universal came into being, and have been hugely popular. In fact, when Royal Enfield updated their popular Trials model with a new unit construction fuel-injected engine they selected Ensign 350-19 trials tyres as the original equipment fitment.

Two of these Trials bikes recently answered the call of duty, when they were enlisted by the Royal Air Force for emergency/escort/logistics duties at the Cosford Airshow, which attracts up to 50,000 visitors. Both machines were used for most of the day over rough ground in difficult conditions. "The RAF personnel were heaping praise on the machines all day, especially when the weather turned nasty in the afternoon and the vintage trials pattern Ensign tyres enabled them to get the large crowds away safely" reports Rob Jones, General Manager at Royal Enfield UK.

This year will see the arrival of the latest addition to the trials tyre range – the Ensign Trials Universal 400-19.

The need for a period style tread pattern for earlier bikes fitted with conventional wired-on tyres has been met with the new Ensign Universal. These offer a classic block pattern suitable for front or rear fitment, but are e-marked and speed tested to S, and enable classic motorcyclists to fit tyres which not only perform excellently, but now look the part as well. Originally available in 300S20 and 300S21, the range will shortly also include 325S19 and 350S19 tyres.

You can find more information on the whole range of Ensign motorcycle tyres here: Ensign Tyre Range

Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet - The Tyre Icon

As we now have back in stock at Vintage Tyres the Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet 185R15; we thought it a good time to look through the archives at some of the history of this illustrious tyre design, and find out how it became perhaps the most renowned radial ever.

During the 1960s, tyre manufacturer began to wake up to the advantages of radial technology, as first demonstrated by Michelin with their X used on the Citroen Traction Avant. A radial tyre is different to the then standard cross-ply by separating out the function of the sidewall and tread of a tyre. In a crossply, the textile plies of the casing run across the carcass diagonally, with each ply crossing the adjacent one at alternate angles. A radial tyre has plies which run around the carcass parallel to each other radiating out from the wheel centre, together with a layer of bracing around the tyre under the tread. This creates a tyre with a more flexible carcass but braced tread area.

Dunlop realised that they could harness this type of tyre design to create tyres which offered real advantages in performance, longevity and handling, and spent over 15 years researching the mechanics of grip in order to create their revolutionary SP Sport. This was a marked leap forward from not only cross ply tyres, but the SP68 and SP41 radials it superseded.

Dunlop focussed on the three main areas of achieving maximum grip. The carcass design should mean that the maximum amount of footprint is on the road. When this is achieved, on dry roads the main factor in grip is the type of rubber compound used. However it is on wet roads, or even damp ones, where the tread pattern really comes into play, and the Dunlop designers created a brand new type of pattern that actually “pumped” water away from the tread surface and out of special ducts on the side of the tread. These were known as aquajets, and that became the name commonly adopted for the new tyre. In this video: "Dunlop Aquajets in Action" you can see the aquajets at work. In fact they are so efficient, it was claimed that at 50mph they could “pump” a gallon of water a second.

As its advantages became clear and reputation grew, Dunlop’s Aquajet became standard fitment on the performance cars of the day, first being employed in different sizes on the Mini Cooper and Jaguar E type. It became the must have upgrade on anything from a Triumph Dolomite Sprint, through Ford Cortina, to Lotus Elan.

These great adverts from the period show how fitting an SP Sport could help you lead the life of an international playboy or spy when driving your Jaguar XJ6.

The Dunlop SP Sport Aquajet is still made from the original moulds, in England. The tyres produced today are better than they have ever been, as they take advantage of the latest compounds and rubber technology which means they perform and last brilliantly, whist retaining their authentic appearance and characteristics.

Now in stock are the 185R15, ER70R15 (205/70R15), 165R13, 145R10 and 165/70R10. This means the ultimate period performance tyre is available for lots of classics such as Jaguar Etypes, Lotus Elans, BMW 2002s, and Mini Coopers; and there are sizes being reintroduced regularly. If you drive an iconic car such as this, it makes sense to fit the iconic tyre.

New Old Stock Tyres - the dangers!

Whilst we at Vintage Tyres make it our mission to introduce new tyres and reintroduce discontinued ones, research tyre technology, work with manufacturers, attend shows and ship classic and vintage tyres to the four corners of the globe, we also offer a specialist fitting service so that customers who have had difficulty finding someone to fit their tyres can benefit from our years of experience.

One Saturday morning we were visited by a customer with his pretty Lancia convertible, to have some 155R15 tyres fitted. He had purchased some Michelin XZX from a friend, who had assured him that they were “as new”, “stored correctly” and in “perfect condition”. This immediately rang alarm bells with us, as we are the Michelin distributors in the UK and know that they haven’t made XZX in this size for many years.

It raises an important point – often tyres are sold as “brand new” via internet auction sites, autojumbles and small ads which in reality are many years old. As rubber is an organic compound, no matter how you store a tyre the material will continue to develop and change. The British Association of Rubber Manufacturers say you should not use a tyre which is over 10 years old, and if a tyre has been unused for 6 years then it should be discarded – actually using a tyre keeps it supple.

If a tyre is older than this, you cannot predict how it will react under the stresses and heat put upon it when in use on a car or motorcycle. Many of you may remember the case of an MGB owner who had fitted some “New Old Stock” tyres, one of which blew on the motorway, flipping the car and killing the driver. The condition and age of your tyres is one of the most important things involved in road safety, and with such a good choice of quality tyres available at the moment for classic vehicles, it really is not worth taking the risk!

So how old were the tyres in brought in by Mr Smith? Well on inspection there were several obvious clues that any motorist could spot. Firstly, just handling the tyres you can feel how dry and hard the rubber is, especially when compared to a brand new Michelin off the shelf. Secondly, stamped on the tyres was “Made in West Germany”, so it is clear that these were from a time when the Berlin Wall still stood. Thirdly, the date code was clear on the sidewall – “071”. Meaning these were produced in the 7th week of 1981. Or in other words, these “brand new” tyres to fit the pretty Lancia are in fact nearly 30 years old.

Mr Smith made the wise decision to fit new tyres, and choose 155SR15 Vredestein Sprint Classics from the range available. The date codes on these showed they were made in February 2010, so he felt a lot safer! If you need tyres for your classic or vintage vehicle, be wary! The best advice is to go to a specialist tyre dealer. If in doubt, always ask the seller the date code on the tyres you are thinking of buying, and if you can’t decipher it, ask someone who can. Most tyres made in the last ten years should carry a four digit code, where the first two digits denote the week of production and the second two the year. So if you are in any doubt as to their origin and tyres you are looking at do not carry this format, then for safety’s sake – walk away.