[Staowners] TYRES

[Captain Ian L. Moist]

Ray,

 

I’ve  attached some info on 16”  Tyres, having surfed the net this morning.

 

The choice appears to be between :-

 

1.	175 x 16”           Michelin (London) Taxi Radials
2.	165 x 16”           Avon  Turbospeed
3.	550 -750  x 16”   Coker whitewall radials  ( USA)
4.	650 x  16”          Coker whitewall crossply [bias]  (USA)
5.	550  x 16”          Michelin  X   .   

 

 

I have no idea what the speed rating is on any of these tyres (Tires) 

 

Going back to original equipment , the 550 x 16’  [ 6 ply ]  Dunlop Fort
Tyres

related  to a fast car, in it’s day, that was also quite heavy – about 3000
lb unladen..  

 

‘ agree with others that  Michelin Tyres  are excellent. My  1955 Sunbeam Mk
III

Has actually run on Humber Hawk  15” x 4 ½ J wheels for the last 20 years, 

fitted with  Michelin  175 x 15’ steel belted radials. The handling and ride
are

greatly impoved from the original equipment , and they last forever.

 

One drawback is that the 15” wheels slightly reduce rolling radius, so at 

higher speeds, the engine is a bit busier than usual.

 

Unless you intend driving the car around a sprint track, the motor will
happily

pull  the car along with tyres  slightly over the standard  13” rolling
radius, which

equates with  81.72 inch tyre circumference.  

 

With a Sunbeam fitted with overdrive, you can cruise  along nicely at 70 mph
with

The engine turning at under 3000 rpm, which is where the maximum torque is
developed.

 

If you’re set on the whitewall tyres, I think whitewall tyre paint is
probably available.

 

Of concern to me always, was the weight of the car and the fact that they
can 

get up to well over 100 mph  when tuned : so speed rating on the tyre is
important

I feel. 

 

Good luck

 

Ian L. Moist. 

 

 

 

 

  _____  

From: staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info
[mailto:staowners-bounces at sunbeamtalbot.info] On Behalf Of
raymead at comcast.net
Sent: Saturday, 17 February 2007 12:38 AM
To: staowners at sunbeamtalbot.info
Subject: [Staowners] Rookie says: Whitewall Tires + "Bulletin Board"

 

Hello everyone,

 

I guess I'm probably the newest Sunbeam Alpine owner -

just bought a 1954 out of New Jersey (from ebay).  (I'm

so new to Alpines that the car hasn't even been delivered yet)!

 

1.  I went out to inspect it (I am near Scranton, PA) and noticed

that it needs new tires.......  (in fact, it seems to have oversized

tires on it)..............   In any case, I want to put on a nice

set of 2+" whitewall radials - anyone have any suggestions????

 

2.  When I joined staowners I received an email that directed

me to the Bulletin Board - this is what the email said:

                Also, please visit our new Bulletin Board at

                http://sunbeamtalbot.info/phpbb/index.php for 

                discussions on topics related to our cars 

    I've tried that site and it doesn't come up.................it

keeps telling me that webpage cannot be found...........?????

 

tks much,  Ray Mead

'54 Sunbeam Alpine

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