Re: Re: Tyres 16 inch or 400?

@tractionavant1939 wrote:

I would be very interested to get the opinion of an expert like Longstone tyres. Personally there is no way I would fit the wrong size tyres or ride in a car that had them fitted. Its a good job Mot’s have been abolished for these cars!!

Your wish is my command:

Dougal@longstone responded with the following:

Hi Mick

I’m sorry to say, everything is wrong with Taxi tyres:

Here are the lesser issues:
· The diameter is a bit wrong. A 175R16 is 685mm and 165R400 is 677mm and the 185R400 is 707mm.
· A 175R16 will tend to have the width of a 185 tyre, so heavy, on the steering, but again not a major issue because I believe the 15 fitted a 185R400 anyway.
· They look dreadful.

More serious issues

· A taxi tyre carcase is designed to do completely different work. It is designed for turning round on a sixpence, mounting curbs, and only ever driving round town at very slow speeds on a completely different vehicle to a Traction Avant.

· Totally wrong load and speed ratings; Although it is fair to say that a Ttraction does not need the 112mph speed rating, and 87mph is probably enough; a taxi tyre is designed to carry almost quarter of a tonne more weight, at a very low speed. If you feel the side wall of these tyres it is immediately obvious that it has a completely different structure to what is suited to the Traction..

· If you get it to balance, you will be very lucky to have mounted the tyre centrally on the rim, or you are using balance weights to kid your balancing machine into thinking the tyre is actually round when it isn’t. 400mm is 400mm; 16” is 406.4mm. If you put a 406mm tyre on a 400mm rim it will probably not sit centrally, and then not be round.

Danger! Danger!

· Because the tyre is not tight on the rim, the inner tube may well puncture as the pressure in the tube pushes the tube in between the tyre and the rim.

· Tyres should be tight on their rim. When you have a modern tyre fitted to your rim, you hear a big slap as it jumps up onto the rim. That is due to the safety rib that you don’t have on a Traction rim, but also because tyres must be tight on their rim. Which may well slip under braking, or slip off under cornering.

It is not about how you intend to drive your car. It is about what you do when some numpty pulls out in front of you and you are forced to take emergency action.

The only reason to fit the 16” tyre is because they used to be comparatively very cheap.

The Euro however has been very kind to us recently and currently the correct 165SRR400 Michelin X is only £ 129.50 + VAT

(Mick’s note: VAT £25.90. Total £155.40)

http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/165r400-michelin-x.html

On top of that if you ring us up we give club discounts to people that haggle, just ring us on 01302 711123

Mick’s Note: Sounds Like an Opportunity not to be missed!

We are also currently running a special offer on this web page http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page/citroen-traction-avantwhere you can buy 4 tyres for £ 465 and a set of 5 for £ 580 (all + VAT with free carriage or fitting).

Mick’s Note: VAT on 4 = £93 Total = £558.00, VAT on 5 = £116, Total = £696 (Less than £140 per Tyre) – Free Fitting In Bawtry (5 Miles south of M18/A1 Interchange) or at any of the events they attend (including NEC)

Also don’t forget these tyres are made by Michelin; Arguably the world’s best tyre manufacturer, but also the same company that made your car.
Radial tyres were first made in conjunction with the Traction Avant in the size 165R400 Michelin X.

Vintage Top Gear https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jFqB4M8_1c

Regards

Dougal
E: dougal@longstonetyres.co.uk
T: 01302 711123
Longstone Tyres