Classic tyres -which type nowadays?

[Silver360]

My Dino GT4 208 ( Italian spec car ) tyres I suspect are old .They have small ages cracks starting between the outer blocks .
As usual with classics they date age first as opposed to wear out .
They feel hard and dry .
208,s run 185/70/14 and they need to rated to 130mph .

Googling the dims throws up all sorts of modern tyre eg Continental contact sports .
There are others it’s a popular size .
How ever it’s a 70 ,s car with 70,s suspension and rims .

Handles fine btw so not looking to fix a problem that does not exsisting handling wise .
Suspension just been rebushed too ,so all tight and rattle free .

Currently it’s shod with Uniroyal rally 340 ,s from I think the early naughties ? .There tread pattern seems like a 70 ,s design.

How ever I,ve been looking @ these - the radial version and eyeballed a set at the NEC classic last month .
They felt sticky/ soft when I squeezed the blocks ,bit like some Yokohama,s like fitted to a 911 in the 80 ,s which lasted 4000 miles of my driving back then .
I,am quite sedate these days



http://www.blockleytyre.com/page2.htm

Any advice what to put on ?
What’s other Ferrari 70,s cars using ?

[jos]

Wouldn't you originally have had 205/70 like 308s or are you on narrower rims ? If so then the original XWX can be had (but in a newer compound I believe) - my recollection is other brands can be found much cheaper (Avon used to be popular)

[Silver360]

Wouldn't you originally have had 205/70 like 308s or are you on narrower rims ? If so then the original XWX can be had (but in a newer compound I believe) - my recollection is other brands can be found much cheaper (Avon used to be popular)

6 1/2 inch rims , which are going for refurb hence may as well reboot .
There’s a sticker on the windshield that confirms the size and model of the car .

[jos]

Interesting - maybe the slightly narrower tyre was due to the lower power - or just cost-cutting !

(as an aside I think Blockley do not show a 195 as in your photo just 185 & 205)

The 1976 308GT4 owners manual confirms they were supplied with 205/70 on 6 1/2 in rims so both sizes are possible

[AndrewE]

IMO XWXs just look right for all 308s with 14" wheels

(but I'm biased)

[francisn]

You could try Longstone.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyr...14.html#page=1

[mbwoy84]

Shouldn't the 208 GT4 be 195/70/14?

I import tyres directly from the continent as it's often the cheapest way and access to a wider selection and have a good period-replica tyre available for both of those sizes.

[Silver360]

Shouldn't the 208 GT4 be 195/70/14?

I import tyres directly from the continent as it's often the cheapest way and access to a wider selection and have a good period-replica tyre available for both of those sizes.

Ideally yes but there is range with the 6 1/2 inch rims .
The exsisting are 185 70 from 2003 rock hard dried out .
Googling 195 70 14 results in a load of van tyres ,drop to 185 then the marority swings to cars .
It’s the period looking pattern more than anything .


They will come back soon with the Brockleys on so weather permitting I,ll report on them .

[Silver360]

You could try Longstone.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyr...14.html#page=1

Seems odd that a set of skinny 185,s for a 160 Hp car cost more than a set of 275,40 for a 200 mph 600 Hp car Bentley GT .
I think Longstone are taking the Micheal for the XWX or XDX .
Remember it’s not wear it’s aging I have never actually replaced tyres on a Ferrari due to tread depth always been aging issues .

So I,am secretly hoping these Brockleys are soft like the Yokohama s I fitted on my 911 ( OEM Dunlop / Pirellis) and I actually wear them down before they harden and spider cracks appear between the tread blocks .
That 86 aircoled Carrera - 911 did 20000 miles on OEM but only 3-4000 with the Yoko,s the grip difference was like night and day .And I didn’t park in in a field after going through a hedge backwards Which was the risk in those days .

From the little driving with the GT 4 it seems very well balanced and go cart like chassis wise .
In fact the best / fun Ferrari i,ve had .
The Testa on TRX ,s felt unbalanced too much Kg,s behind , too light up front , to much understeer .
The 360;power steeering kills the absolute feel and it enters a neutral none feed back zone , just corners but gives back little pleasure .Sure quick lap times for thats worth ? Sure stiff chassis and quick bit you always felt like a passenger surrounded by technology and nannies doing it all for you .