Hmm Dolomites fitted Dunlop or Cinturato CN36. My Dad had one when i was a kid and bought one recently. we took offmodern rubber and fitted the correct 175/70R13 CN36. they were so much nicer andthe car turned in quicker and was more balanced (still a bit understeery though)
We also raced it on Dunlop Race tyres. They were fantastic, light and progressive, the less grip made it easier to drive on the throttle, because you could light the rear tyres up and get the back end out, so swap understeer of over steer. Great fun, but a hand full in the wet.
Avon CR6ZZ www.longstonetyres.co.uk/vintage-tyres/avon-cr6zz.html great tyre.
To be critical, they are heavy, it is racing rubber and therefore compromised for road tyres, and sadly they are a completey modern tread pattern, so don't look right.
On the plus side, they are heavy because of their structured side wall, which combined with the rounded shoulder, they are a tyre that is designed to be a race tyre for a classic car. so like the CN36 they will handle well as demonstrated in my picture. The tread pattern being minimal, might not look right, but it does put a lot of that modern racing rubber in contact with the road.
I'm going to get a bit technical and try not to get bitchy, but please understand that some of us can run our business by trying to do something well and hope that if we have integrirty and try to inform people of what is the best tyre available for their car, people will be happy with what they have bought (after they have forgotten their credit card bill) and tell their mates. ( as it seems Grumpy Northener has done. What a fine gentleman)
We do not consider the cost of tyres when we inform people what is the best tyre. however at the same time some times the most expensive tyre is not always the best. However often it is.
Hopefully my picture displayed that a classic car does not have the advers camber a modern car has. It's wheels stay paralell to the side of the car, so as the car leans so does the wheel. With a proper classic tyre as the wheel leans the contact area of the tread on the tyre rolls round the rounded shoulder of a classic tyre carcass progressively lifting a little of the inside tyre. However a modern tyre, as the wheel leans it will climb onto the corner of the tyre and lift the inside footprint of the tyre off the road and cause a sudden lack of grip, which will be gained again suddenly when the tyre is fully in contact with the road again. so it lets go suddenly and then grips suddenly. This is worsened the wider and lower profile the tyre is.
Yes modern tyres are cheaper. and yes if you can compromise your handling to save money, it will not suddenly throw you in a ditch, but the handling will be nicer on a proper tyre that is designed to work in the enviroment you are intending to use it.
If you are setting up your car for racing, you will "slam it on the deck" stiffen the springs and add a load of adverse camber, and caster. which will help keep all that foot print on the road which has consequences for other features of the cars ride and handling. Modern cars do this also with a load of caster as well. the derogatory effects of which are over come by clever suspension and steering.
I have a CSE grade 4 in English, and i'm rubbish at drawing. I'm not eloquent or an artist, I'm a tyre dealer, but i hope my picture and words explain. If not have a look at what the BMW boys think www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/197098-pirelli-cinturato-cn36-tires/?tab=comments#comment-1177643
We also raced it on Dunlop Race tyres. They were fantastic, light and progressive, the less grip made it easier to drive on the throttle, because you could light the rear tyres up and get the back end out, so swap understeer of over steer. Great fun, but a hand full in the wet.
Avon CR6ZZ www.longstonetyres.co.uk/vintage-tyres/avon-cr6zz.html great tyre.
To be critical, they are heavy, it is racing rubber and therefore compromised for road tyres, and sadly they are a completey modern tread pattern, so don't look right.
On the plus side, they are heavy because of their structured side wall, which combined with the rounded shoulder, they are a tyre that is designed to be a race tyre for a classic car. so like the CN36 they will handle well as demonstrated in my picture. The tread pattern being minimal, might not look right, but it does put a lot of that modern racing rubber in contact with the road.
I'm going to get a bit technical and try not to get bitchy, but please understand that some of us can run our business by trying to do something well and hope that if we have integrirty and try to inform people of what is the best tyre available for their car, people will be happy with what they have bought (after they have forgotten their credit card bill) and tell their mates. ( as it seems Grumpy Northener has done. What a fine gentleman)
We do not consider the cost of tyres when we inform people what is the best tyre. however at the same time some times the most expensive tyre is not always the best. However often it is.
Hopefully my picture displayed that a classic car does not have the advers camber a modern car has. It's wheels stay paralell to the side of the car, so as the car leans so does the wheel. With a proper classic tyre as the wheel leans the contact area of the tread on the tyre rolls round the rounded shoulder of a classic tyre carcass progressively lifting a little of the inside tyre. However a modern tyre, as the wheel leans it will climb onto the corner of the tyre and lift the inside footprint of the tyre off the road and cause a sudden lack of grip, which will be gained again suddenly when the tyre is fully in contact with the road again. so it lets go suddenly and then grips suddenly. This is worsened the wider and lower profile the tyre is.
Yes modern tyres are cheaper. and yes if you can compromise your handling to save money, it will not suddenly throw you in a ditch, but the handling will be nicer on a proper tyre that is designed to work in the enviroment you are intending to use it.
If you are setting up your car for racing, you will "slam it on the deck" stiffen the springs and add a load of adverse camber, and caster. which will help keep all that foot print on the road which has consequences for other features of the cars ride and handling. Modern cars do this also with a load of caster as well. the derogatory effects of which are over come by clever suspension and steering.
I have a CSE grade 4 in English, and i'm rubbish at drawing. I'm not eloquent or an artist, I'm a tyre dealer, but i hope my picture and words explain. If not have a look at what the BMW boys think www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/197098-pirelli-cinturato-cn36-tires/?tab=comments#comment-1177643