thebrookster Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I am needing a new set of tyres for Spitfire, as mine have taken quite a punishment since I bought the car. My guess is they had suffered from a lack of use, and cracking and bulging badly at the tread/sidewall join.I have been putting some thought into the replacements, and for the time being I shall look at some reasonable road tyres, which upon investigation Yokohama's seem to have the best rep.What Yoko's would you guys reccomend? I know the A.Drive have been recommended, however there seems to be two types of these, the plain A.Drive and an A.Drive AA01. I have not quite worked what the AA01 are, and in what way they are different?Also, I have found mention of a C.Drive tyre, which according to Yokohama are better in the wet whilst still keeping dry performace. Worth a try you reckon??Kinda depends on cost as well, I do not wish to go for silly money tyres just now, that can wait until I find a set of Alloys I like, then I shall run Summer tyres on the alloys, and put Winter/Snow tyres on the steel rims. I have yet to determine what width the steel rims I have are, however I am planning on getting 175/70 tyres just now.Cheers,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkytph Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 hi used to run on A008 yokohamas they where super sticky on the road but used a soft compound so wore out realy quickly my heavy right foot probably didnt help have a look at toyo as you get good gip and wear rate :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Yeah, I have heard about the fast wear rates of some of the Yoko's, however my understanding is the tyres mentioned above are a harder compound?TBH a fairly sticky tyre is probably a good thing for me, I likewise have a heavy right foot and a desire to go around every roundabout sideways!! ;DOk, I am maybe not that bad, but I do believe in driving my cars, I do have a heavy right foot however I am also aware I am not putting supersonic amounts of HP out of my car, it is still standard after all. However some increase is expected when I rebuild the engine in April, so a reasonable set of tyres would be a good idea.Any particular Toyo's you thinking of??Cheers,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sorbington Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I've got Yokohama C Drives on the front of the Audi, very good wet and dry grip and they're lasting well too, reckon I may get 25,000 miles out of them. The super sticky Dunlops which were on before only lasted 17,000 miles. £80 each instead of £140 apiece for the Dunlops......Had some Yokos on the back of the MX5 too, A drives I think. Again, I was quite impressed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS211083 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Hi Phil im going got get the a539 Yokohama's for my Le mans alloys in 185/60/13 but don't think they do them in the 175/70/13's your after. A drives are a good tyre and the price is right. Although having seen how enthusiastic you drive i would get your alloys and go for the same tyres as im after or even ones more sticky.Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 PhilI can thoroughly recommend the A539's in 185/60-13.They were an excellent purchase just beofre the RBRR for the Sprint I did it in, and I have my set ready to go on my spitfire rims.CheersColin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Well, I am scrapping the idea of the C Drive's, for the very simple reason that the smallest size they come in is 185 R14!!I am quite definitely not planning on buying a new set of rims (be them alloy or steel) just to replace the tyres on the car!! The alloys will wait until I find the ones I want (anyone know of any 5 spoke Revolutions going just now :) ), so for the time being steels will have to do.I wouild go for 185 tyres, however as I do not know what j my rims are I shall stick with 175's for now.I have been given a link to some A.Drives, £129.29 for four delivered, any advances from that??Cheers,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GT6 M Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?suchen=Ordern&cart_id=24500715.110.29133&ranzahl=4&Breite=215&Quer=45&Felge=17&Speed=V&kategorie=6&Transport=P&dsco=110&sowigan=So&Ang_pro_Seite=15&weiter=105Details: Nokian i3 175/70 R13 82Hor Details: Nokian i3 175/70 R13 82Tprintthe last is dearer, as maybe not as many sold, top one has a 130 mph rating!!! Phill, have a look at these, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Paterson Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 thebrookster wrote:I have been given a link to some A.Drives, £129.29 for four delivered, any advances from that??I'd wager that you won't beat that price Phil - that's darned good value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Blackcircles.com £128.08 for four 175/70/13 A drives - much of a muchness really.Or you can have them fitted locally for £185.68 all in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug Paterson Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 Freebird wrote:Blackcircles.com £128.08 for four 175/70/13 A drives - much of a muchness really.Or you can have them fitted locally for £185.68 all in.Ah now I didn't factor in fitting - in which case I can beat the above.I had 4 A.drives in the same size supplied and fitted by National Tyre in Stirling (but there will be one over your way Phil) for £170.53 - ordered using their website.I didn't pay the fee for disposing of the old ones though as I was getting them fitted to new wheels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Yup, however I found Blackcircles site a royal pain in the ass to navigate around and use, very clunky. So they don't get my business.The site I was given was tyretraders.com, much easier to use.Needless to say, four Yoko AA01 tyres are now (well, they will be in the morning) winging their to me in Glasgow. I could have saved a few pennies here and there no doubt had I searched a wee bit longer, and looked at other brands etc etc, however I have not yet found anyone who will say anything particularly negative about Yokohama, or the A.Drives in particular save the fact there are complaints about tyre wear. Well, guess what? I KNOW I will wear any tyres out in no time at all, as I drive near the edge most of the time (as is safe to do so naturally). The tyres on the spitfire were in good condition to the eye when I bought it, I don't think I have put more than 1000 miles on it?Cheers for all the help guys, mucho appreciated!! (clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)(clap)Cheers,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Royboy66 Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 took 2 days for mine to arrive from them Phil. :) 8) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebrookster Posted February 14, 2011 Author Share Posted February 14, 2011 Ohh, and in regards to fitting, I have not gone for that option!! My flatmate Stevie knows an old gent not far from me who will cheerfully fit tyres/repair punctures really cheap, and good rep as well. I shall simply remove two wheels and take them down to him, get them fitted and and swap for other two. Saves a wee bit on cost, no point in paying for something I can do myself ehh! I do come from Oop North after all :)Next step when I get a full garage etc will be to sort out my own fitting kit etc etc, then I can do the fitting myself as well.Cheers,Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted February 14, 2011 Share Posted February 14, 2011 I take my race Yokos (A048-Rs, medium soft) to the local KwikFit for fitting.Can't buy them there (buy from George Polley:http://www.polleymotorsport.co.uk/polley/index.asp) but they are happy to change them for a drink. They even throw in new valves every time.Take your wonderful classic car down there, let the fitters ogle it, see if they will do the same. Of course it all depends on the managers, but worth a try?JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS211083 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 They do love looking at the classics at Kwik fit. I needed a ramp to have a look under the car better and they were quite happy to have a look with me.Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TimW Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 2402 wrote:Hi Phil im going got get the a539 Yokohama's for my Le mans alloys in 185/60/13 but don't think they do them in the 175/70/13's your after. A drives are a good tyre and the price is right. Although having seen how enthusiastic you drive i would get your alloys and go for the same tyres as im after or even ones more sticky.Chris.I love my set of A539's that i bought just before the Cllassic Lemans last year. I think you will find that Yokoharma have now discontinued this tyre and it is no longer available! I did find an online tyre sales with some old stock so was lucky but i don't know what i'll do for my next set Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHRIS211083 Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Hi bestquality03, do you know what the replacement type tyre for these are??? Loads of people are still listing them.Chris. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 The A539 are definitely discontinued, I spoke to their PR guy at the head office..........no replacement.Had some on the Spitfire and still got them on the GT6, however I fitted some Vredestein Hi Tracs with a similar assymetrical pattern and they stick like glue Vredestein are a good reputable manufacturer. I used to buy these for our Tractor assembly line..........but some are alittle big for Triumphs.........! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 JohnD wrote:buy from George Polley:http://www.polleymotorsport.co.uk/polley/index.asp) JOhnWow, what a blast from the past. I used to support George Polley in the Spedworth Hot rod Ford Anglia (Polleybox we called it) 306 against the likes of Duffy Collard and Barry Lee in the 351 Escort. Unfortunately George's eyesight deteriorated and he had to give it up.When me and my mates went Greek Island hopping in the early 80s we wouldn't go to bed until at least 3.06 in the morning - now thats dedications for you.Now of couse John D is the man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freebird Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 A pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 339 wrote: I did find an online tyre sales with some old stock so was lucky but i don't know what i'll do for my next setBuy them now and store them in teh loft!!Unaware that they were discontinued and hard to find, we bought 8 of them in Sept last year. Didn't have any issues at all locating them, bought on best price.They were dated June 2010 I think.There was also a Toyo we were considering.CheersColin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitVX Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 If it has not allready been mentioned 1) You need to make sure ' Kwick fit fitters' dont use air compressor on your studs or threads will prob shear , hand torque wrench only !!2) Most higher performing tyres have a limited life span so if you dont use them up reasonably fast their performance will deteriorate .Matt . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 Freebird wrote:Wow, what a blast from the past. I used to support George Polley in the Spedworth Hot rod Ford Anglia (Polleybox we called it) 306 against the likes of Duffy Collard and Barry Lee in the 351 Escort. Unfortunately George's eyesight deteriorated and he had to give it up.When me and my mates went Greek Island hopping in the early 80s we wouldn't go to bed until at least 3.06 in the morning - now thats dedications for you.Now of couse John D is the man!Thank you kind sir - should I mention 'Freebird' to George next time I buy some tyres?My car is No. 75 - does that mean I get up at ten to eight?Or in what way am I 'the man'?Matt,Do as I do - once you have shown the gorgeous classic, say you'll bring the wheels down to them. Your car can stay at home on axle stands, and not take up their precious, costly workshop or carpark space. Leave the wheels there - they can do the job in slack time at minimal cost, and no risk to your studs!JOhn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpitVX Posted February 15, 2011 Share Posted February 15, 2011 You are wisser than you look John . ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpeg.b15b81ef10abeea1c3039ae03c4a9f3a.jpeg)
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.