I have purchased new dayton 15x6 rims and dont know where to go for tires. I want to have a little more tread. Hence why I purchased the wider wheels. Can anyone recommend a wider tire that looks of the period, preferably with the red strip, but doesnt rub. Will a 205x70x15 work well? Much apreciated in advance
I have purchased new dayton 15x6 rims and dont know where to go for tires. I want to have a little more tread. Hence why I purchased the wider wheels. Can anyone recommend a wider tire that looks of the period, preferably with the red strip, but doesnt rub. Will a 205x70x15 work well? Much apreciated in advance
I have 205-70/15 tires on 6" rims on my Series 1, and they work perfectly fine. Lots of others report the same. It's all personal preferences, but the red stripe tires were never standard issue on E-Types (if you show up at a JCNA concours with them, they are major point deductions) - I have never liked them, but that's just me. Much easier/cheaper to go with black sidewalls.
With wire wheels, there is always the issue of tire tubes or not. I avoided that by going to Realm D-style knock-off alloy wheels. So I am not up to speed on the current status of tubes or not.
I have 205-70/15 tires on 6" rims on my Series 1, and they work perfectly fine. Lots of others report the same. It's all personal preferences, but the red stripe tires were never standard issue on E-Types (if you show up at a JCNA concours with them, they are major point deductions) - I have never liked them, but that's just me. Much easier/cheaper to go with black sidewalls.
With wire wheels, there is always the issue of tire tubes or not. I avoided that by going to Realm D-style knock-off alloy wheels. So I am not up to speed on the current status of tubes or not.
As I remember it, the V12s had the wider tyres as fitted to the V12 saloons (215/70VR15). However, the wheel arches were flared out so these might be borderline, but the 205s should be OK
Dayton sells several types of 6" rims for E types if you choose just a 6" instead of the original 5" (series 1 2) the rim is only 1/2" wider on the inside and 1/2" wider on the outside! so this is no problem with 205s...........but if you buy the center laced 15 x 6" rims
the outside edge of the rim is 2" out further than stock and the inside edge is 1 1/2" toward the outside of the car. I have these, I use 215 x 15" x 60series tires with the rear bump-stops removed. No problems with fast driving !
I replaced my Michelin red line tires this summer with Vredestein 185 X 15 on my '66 Series 1 XKE 2+2. The ride is much softer than the old Michelin's and I would recommend this tire in blackwall for your car. Cost was $915.00. See pictures below.
Tires at Discount tire. They would not mount the tires for me since the car had knock off wheels
I have always liked the 185's...My car came from the PO , with 205 70's...They're too expensive and new, to replace, now, but I can tell you that there is a lot less room to remove them from the rear hubs, and they don't come out of the spare-tire well easily, either....Even 195's would be better, than the 205's....
I think steering effort is higher with the 205's (unless you have power steering, of course).
Edward
I have 205/70s on 6" rims. To my eye, fits the wheelwells nicely, tucked in enough but more rubber on the ground than stock. They do require some angling to get the rears in and out on the occasions you'd need to do that. My spare is an 185/70 just to keep things tidy in the boot.
I have 15 x 6.5 centre laced rims and am going with your recommendation of 215-60 series tyres. Do yo think I will have any fitment or rubbing issues using these front and rear.
Also, do you have any other feedback that you can give me, such as low speed steering etc.
Thanks,
Dave
Ol Blue,
If you are looking for period looking tires, go to Coker tire (Coker.com I think) company based here in the US. I also just recently learned about https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk in the UK. Apparently many jag guys in the US are buying their tires from longstone. The tires are cheaper, greater choice of tires, and it costs only 60 pounds to ship the tires to the US. Also everyone that I have talked with that has decided to go with wider tires, they all have kept the spare stock size so it will fit in the boot.
Good luck and let us know which way you decided and how it turned out.
Bill.
My two bits. I have 205 Michelin Defenders on 15 X 6 wires. Very smooth and quite at both city and highway touring speeds. A couple of other E-Type owners in the club also have mounted the Michelin Defenders. They, too, are quite satisfied. (There is a guy who authored a book about his E-Type; he had Defenders with the lettering shaved off.)
I've never had to parallel park my E-Type. No trouble in regular parking; in or out. I am a small 5'3" guy. I actually have fabricated a rest pedal for my left foot to give me more support while driving. My own wife has no interest in driving my Jag.
If you are a member of a Jaguar club, or if not, contact the nearest club and test drive a similar E-Type to yours that has tire sizes you are considering.
Come on over to Plano, TX, and I will hand you my keys!
That is a generous offer, but I am a bit of a drive from you.
There are few E-Types in my area and I see them very rarely. I will pay closer attention next time I come across one of them, and check on the tire size. Maybe get a ride in it.
Thanks.
Mike,
What width wheels do you have? I have a '71 Series 2 FHC and I'm looking at upgrading my wheels to 6.5 inch wide one and was trying to figure out what size tires that I could use. The 215/60R15's was what I was wanting to try, but I wasn't sure if they would maybe be too wide. Also what size spare wheel and tire do you have in your boot.
Your red Series 1 really looks good.
Speaking of stock...I have an unused vintage spare I don't need, It is a narrow whitewall, 185V15 Dunlop SP Sport, tube type, rayon radial, made in Great Britain. Someone might need this for a concours class spare. The date code indicates it was made the 18th week of 1974.
