www.jec.org.uk

I previously asked for advise on what tyres to replace my 8 year old Hankook tyres with for our MkII, but didn't change them!

We have just got back from a very enjoyable touring holiday of Scotland with the North Lincs JEC, we used the MkII and I have been very impressed by the torque of the XK engine and the suspension and handling of the car after all the work. I was not impressed by the old tyres in the wet as I felt is slide several times. Talking to Mike Horlor one evening he suggested I call Tony Ridge of JEC, a nice guy to talk to and he gave me the direct number to call their UK office.

I got quotes from relatively local agents of Vredestein and online prices, and was pleasantly surprised to hear the quote from the Vredestein office (very pleasant ladies). I ordered the 4 tyres on Friday before the bank holiday and they arrived very early on Tuesday morning, fitted that afternoon by a prearranged tyre fitter and after more remeadial work to the MkII driven up the motorway this morning.

I paid £277.77 for the 4 tyres to be delivered to my home and £60 for them to be fitted by Bush tyres (I could have got away with £40 if the valves had been a standard size). As I prefer to use the original wheels (as you can see I'm an originality buff!!) which have a larger hole for the valve than standard then the valves cost more (Landrover valves they called them!).

Tony Ridge's number is in the front of the magazine, and the direct phone number for Vredestein is 0330 3331294 Kettering office.

So £338 for 4 tyres, fitted doesn't seem bad to me, the date stamp is 1915 so made this year and made in Holland. Another reminder to replace tyres at 7 years, that's means the modified Marina's tyres have to be changed. Shame I can't get the JEC discount on them so back to my favourite Continentals.

I hope this will help other save money.
Brian

Hi Brian,
What Vredestein tyres did you get? I have very old (2002) Vredestein Classic Sport tyres on my mk2 (3. and need to get a new set.
It may be the old tyres, wear in the suspension joints or suspension geometry/setup but the steering is very vague going straight. I have only just got the car and after a good service, this is the next task.

Any feedback as to how the tyres perform would be very welcome.

The price you paid sounds very good to me. I will need to find somewhere that can balance wire wheels, so the total price I pay is likely to be higher than what you have paid.

Thanks

Dave

Hi Dave,

We went out with the North Lincs JEC last Sunday on a run over the river to Yorkshire and often in the rain, so on a few opposite camber bends in the wet I gave it some, and then some heavy braking and was pleasantly surprised, no sliding. Not much feel to the steering, but they have all their tread at present so I expect it to be a bit loose.

So quite happy with them especially after the old hard and sliding tyres, I would recommend them at present (the car was filthy afterwards).

Our cars have a manual steering box and and 4 ball joints as a steering system, and all worn. The steering box always wears in the dead ahead position as it spends most of it time there. If you adjust all the slack out it will stiffen up on full and part lock and can jam! The ball joints have grease nipples and need greasing several times a year or you will replacing them once a year (I use runny copperslip).

If you have a good steering box then rejoice. These cars came with heavy steering in part due to the weight of the XK engine so to help they also added positive camber! the later 'S' types and 420 gained power steering and can accept negative camber that improves the handling when pushing on.

I don't know your experience of old cars but in 50 years they have gone from heavy maintenance to some believe none at all. IF you are doing your own maintenance then yearly oil changes are essential or more often (2500 miles services). I change the gear and diff oil every 3-4 years and it still comes out black. brake fluid every 2 years. Grease the front suspension very frequently and the odd 3 pumps into the wheel bearings. Clean the carbs frequently and check the points and timing. Your sticking throttle linkage is due to lack of use and corrosion (oil will absorb water).

I have upgraded a lot of the above to accepted improvements (not liked by some!), but my car does long journeys, or rallies of a couple of hundred miles so needs to be reliable, and is.

I hope you enjoy your car, they need to be used,

Brian

Update on these tyres and a positive post,

Sorry Dave the tyres are 'Sprint Classic' (they only do one tyre to fit this car), we did another rally today, wet roads (M181, M180, M18, M1) to the start and dry roads after. The car and tyres behaved very well, and half way round Lesley saw a garage selling LPG so no need to use petrol.

I slightly strange occurance in that when manoevering out of our drive the steering felt a fraction heavier than normal, I didn't notice it afterwards and during the hot day noticed it was light again (maybe need to change the oil again).

When on the move and with front and rear quarterlights open we were cool enough, at the lunch stop I did broach the subject of AC, but I'm happy to say it was dismissed by Lesley (a lot of hassle to fit with my full engine bay).

Brian

I nice day in the company of nice people on the whole and some brilliant roads to drive.

All,

I'm getting to the stage where my Mk 2 needs some replacement tyres - age as much as any other reason. I currently have Avon Turbosteels, and am naturally attracted by the price of Vredesteins.

However...

Vredesteins are a 'modern' tyre, and I'd prefer ones that would have been used in period. As SP41s are obsolete and SP Sports too new (1968) I was considering Cinturatos as I understand they would have been a period option. Classic tyre outlets recommend XAS in 180 section or XVS in 185. My steering is unassisted.

Anyone used Cinturatos on a Mk 2? Comments either for or against will be welcome - I don't want to make an expensive commitment which I regret and am then stuck with. On the other hand I don't object to spending the cash on the right product! After all, it's only the tyres that keep you in contact with the road, so are arguably the most important components of the car.

Thanks in anticipation

Jay