Tyred of Bristols

[peterg]

I'm looking at replacing my worn cross plies with radials. Not having deep pockets, the two I have identified are a Michelin taxi tyre or Dunlop Ground Trek AT2 which is a small SUV tyre. The pros and cons are that the taxi tyre has a lower speed rating Q against R and a higher weight index which suggests that it will give a harder ride. Does anyone have experience of the AT2? It is claimed to be designed for 80% on road 20% off. The tread looks pretty 1980s to me but I have not been able to see one in the flesh. Does anyone have experience of this tyre (on or off a Bristol) and would it be a better bet than the ubiquious taxi tyre for a 403?

[Des]

I've come across tyres branded Austone, in 175 / 80 / 16, seem to be intended for taxi use, interestingly rated at 99 MPH, and seem to be around 60 - 70 pounds, could be worth looking into, I've experienced brands of tyre I've never heard of that have been great and others that are widowmakers, maybe worth asking a cabby.

[peterg]

Thanks for the reply Des
Austone are linked to Cooper tires who also own Avon Tyres. No idea what
they are like on the road.

Cabbies I have asked recommend Michelin tyres - Dunlops ONLY last 20,000
miles but seem to grip better! I think they have different objectives from
me.

The AT2 looks good in pictures but I have not been able to see one to make
sure it isn't too off road orientated. Looks like I will have to stalk
around some out of town car parks!

[dkleeman]

Do Michelin X tyres fit in the spare wheel bay of a Bristol 401/403? They seem to be a bit wider than the original cross plys.

(Specifically 550HR16 Michelin X)

Thanks for all views

Daniel

My 403 has a Michelin X taxi tyre size 5.75 x 16 as a spare. This fits the
spare wheel tray with no problems. The tyres on the car are 185X16. These do
not fit in the tray.

Regards,

Mike.

[dave dale]

This is my ha'porth for what it's worth. For my 403 I recently replaced my old crossply 600 -16 Avons. The crossply tyres had fitted the wheel arches and the spare tyre tray perfectly. I changed to radials and ordered
600-16's. When they arrived they were miles too big for the wheel arches and the tray. The seller took them back and we positioned the crossply spare and the new radial next to each other without air in either ( the spare crossply was unused, therefore had the same tread depth as the new radial ). The radial was much bigger in diameter than the crossply. The seller wasn't surprised, he said the tyre size markings are often different - even on the same make of tyre from different batches. Showed me two new Michelin tyres of same model but different batches and one was bigger than the other.
We offered up a 550-16 radial to the crossply 600-16 spare and it was exactly the same size. I now have 550-16 radials on the 403 and the speedometer reading tallies exactly with the satnav speed reading so I am happy.
Dave Dale.

Originally Posted by ynysd

My 403 has a Michelin X taxi tyre size 5.75 x 16 as a spare. This fits the
spare wheel tray with no problems. The tyres on the car are 185X16. These do
not fit in the tray.

Regards,

Mike.

[Rubbond]

Try this website for an explanation of tyre sizes.
(Wish I had kept my '65 Wildcat now....)
http://www.buicks.net/shop/reference/tires.html
PS There is no way you could get a batch-to-batch variation in tyre size -
not from the same mould at least.

[John Rolfs]

Why not switch to Audi wheel rims for a wider choice if tyre.

Their 5 x 112 pcd hubs and offsets are ideal for pre-410 Bristols, you just need to open out the centres for clearance around the grease caps. I have run my 409 on Audi 200 alloys with 205 x 15 Bridgestones for many years. Same rolling radius tyres as originals.

The Audi/VW 15 inch steel rims are a close pattern match for the early Dunlop wheels used from 400's to 409's. I originally used Avon 600 x 16 crossplies on the OE Dunlop rims, but they are way too scary in the wet. I still keep one in the wing bay as my "skinny spare".

I've just acquired some seven spoke 18 inch x 8J Ronals with 225 x 40 tyres (intended for the A8 Quattro) so I'll need to find a few winding roads to test the new limits of adhesion and maybe some stiffer anti-roll bushings.

[GREG]

The alloys from my E Class Mercedes estate fitted my 408 as well -- looked horrible !

This company charge about £200 from memory to band and powder paint your existing wheels to enable wider / more popular tyres. At least they look the same and take the original hub caps this way.

www.bandedsteels.com

Quite a few Hot Rodders / Grass Trackers use this method - MAKE SURE YOU GO TO A QUALITY EXPERIENCED COMPANY. Safety and all !

Greg

[John Rolfs]

Hi Greg,
you're right, those alloys are UGLY, even on the Mercedes.

I think you'll find it safer and a lot cheaper to weld the three little studs to mount the Bristol hub caps to the Audi 15 inch steel wheels, without having to butcher the original wheels which may well have suffered corrosion where the rim is rivetted to the centre. This will provide a much wider choice of rubber.

Aftermarket alloys for big Audis come in a wide variety of styles, including the seven spoke Ronals which resemble 60's Minilites. The older Audi 200 model had some attractive twelve spoke and flat disc original equipment wheels that compliment the Bristol rather well.

I was fortunate to buy used Wolfrace original equipment wheels for my 603 from Brian Marelli, so if anyone needs a set of steel wheels for 410 and later, let me know.

[pasini s]

Hello John,


your post is very interesting for me as I want to fit new steel or alloy
wheels to my 409 (the original Dunlops are nice enough but they are actually
a bit warped) and it is quite difficult to understand which model would be
appropriate. The 5x112 mm measure is quite common, I gather. May I contact
you at a private address so that I can ask you some pictures of the car with
alloys? Mine is stefano@stefanopasini.it

You say 'Audi 200' so I gather that we are talking about quite old stuff. I
have found some cheap scruffy Audi A3 alloys and bald tires that are being
installed on the 409 to move her inside the bodyshop but, as you already
mentioned, the central hole is not big enough to clear the cap of the front
hub.

The real question is: it's easy to put the wheels (I mean the wheels that I
would eventually fit after the respray is completed, with good tires etc)
on a lathe and enlarge the hole so that the space is enough to accommodate
the central grease cap, but won't this weaken the wheel? I am inclined to
think that a few millimeters skimmed from inside the bolt pattern will not
change anything, but the experts' opinion on the matter would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you!

Cheers

Stefano

[peterg]

Stefano
The Audi A3 uses 5 x 100 mm spacings (same as my Skoda and some Golfs)
You need to find out what offset your wheels have. There are plenty of
tables on the net that will allow you to work out which wheels are suitable
for your car.
Regards, Peter >