New Production Michelin XWX

I'm looking for recent experience with the re-production Michelin XWX tires that Coker sells. I was warned off by my local tire shop guy that has heard of quality issues with them. I need tires for a client's Ghibli that not only look good but can be driven on as well. Not much for sale anymore in that size (215/70R 15). I'd prefer not to buy minivan tires.

 

I have heard similar concerns about XWX's and that they are very low cost tyres to produce but with a high mark up to the end user.
I have spoken to the Blockley tyre company and the owner wanted the best tyres to race with, so he started marking tyres for himself and selling them to make it more cost effective- hence they are good quality tyres with a really nice tread pattern and the correct look. The size I need for my Maserati are due to be released shortly.
Blockley Tyre - Vintage and Classic Car Tyres

 

I had their XWX on my Dino years ago, and had ZERO issues with them. Can check with UroTrash to see how they held up, and what he's replaced them with.

I would think most modern compound tires would be superior to what was available, "Back in the day."

Don't their tires come with a warranty?

D

 

Otherwise you're stuck with BF Goodrich Radial T/A I think.

Which from a tread pattern POV, isn't a bad match for the XWX, maybe a little more modern looking, but I bet the T/A is speed rated as high or higher than the original rubber on the car was. Can you mount them white walls in?

D
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Yes, you can mount them with the white letters inboard. There are lots of QPIIIS out there with that set-up. There is still the big "Radial TA" on the back in all black, so you won't get that really plain sidewall that the XWX has. IIRC, the speed rating is slightly lower than the XWX, but is still safe for any speed you would probably reach in a Ghibli.

 

Coker does not manufacture the tires, Michelin does. Coker owns the distribution rights in the US. Like any commodity, Coker places a large order when their supply gets low.

 

Tire Rack shows 33 tires in 215/70-15 and 13 in 225/70-15 (QPIII). None of them, including the T/As, are performance tires. The highest speed rating is T, 118mph.

Avon makes the CR6ZZ in the 215/70-15 size. It's a DOT marked track day tire rated at 150mph, but it isn't cheap at $360. One Daytona owner claimed 8-10k miles, though maybe age would take them before mileage on these cars.

The Blockley plan to make this size sounds interesting. Their pre-war tires are DOT rated to 130mph (H).

 

I have four cars that these tires are used on, I drive them all and have never had any problem. I think they look period correct and the cars perform as if they were designed for them. They are expensive, on the other hand they are available and probably wouldn't be if Coker charged less.Malcolm

 

longstone tires

 

The XWX was the first very high performance tire Michelin made and it was safe at 186 mph despite having a "V" rating. I seriously doubt that Michelin would put their name on anything that is unsafe and I bet that the modern manufactured XWX tire is still safe up to 186 even with the "V" rating which is good for 149 mph sustained. The only problem is that they are very expensive due to the fact that they are made infrequently and only when there is sufficient demand for Michelin to make them and they are done as a sop to the vintage community which used them including the Ferrari Daytona.

 

I'm running a fresh set on my 75 Gt4 Dino- Certainly they look and perform period-correct. But, if you're used to modern rubber on your car you are in for a bit of a surprise- quite a bit "greasier" on the fast twisties than modern stuff.

But not in a bad way.

 

When I had them on my Bora, a very long time ago, they he rode very hard and when pushes would break loose rather suddenly WO warning. That was the rap of them back then. I quickly moved on to more modern tires like gatorbacks and XGTs, never looked back.
A friend of mine ran the Silver State race with me. We had both just purchased Q45s and he was looking for a slightly larger diameter tire to gain some top end. Plus he wanted great straight line stability. As Eliot says the tire was safe for way more than the current meaning of a V rating. Back then that was the highest there was. Actual speed limitations were determined by the vehicle & tire manufacturer jointly in the case of extreme high performance cars like a Testarossa. My friend contacted Michelin engineers and was given assurances that it was good for 200mph. That's what I was told anyway. Well he also, unbeknownst to me, got the speed limiter (161 mph) turned off in his car by an outfit called Wolf Performance or Engineering? Sneaky SOB Even so he took a long time getting it up to about 167 mph and I, running stock, still averaged 147 mph which was one more MPH than him! Younger and bigger balls I suppose ...

He liked the performance of the tires for that run.

I do wonder if the current version of the tire is any better in the turns?

I also remember that back in the day there was an extra $15 mounting charge for XWXs because they were so GD stiff that it made them a real job to mount.

Most of the cars that get these tires now won't experience conditions anything like that. How many go over 100 mph for much more than a short burst? It's impossible where I live unless you're completely crazy and want a whole lot of trouble.

In the USA there are no safety czars that require you to have the proper speed rating so IMHO it's a cosmetic and authenticity thing. Quite pricey too. Too bad about the P4000 tires discontinuation ...

 

Have a look at Vredestein.
Their classic range comes with the correct speed-ratings and correct period look, they perform well and are priced well too.

Unfortunately I'm having a hard time making contact with their rep in South Africa, but you may find better service where you are.

Best,

Jack

 

I'm not currently in the market for tires but I looked into these a couple years ago for a friend and my local uber tire shop can get them. They look promising. I'd like to hear reports from people who've used them on our 70's Maseratis. Clearly if your car is a concours candidate then the XWXs are the tire of choice.

I wish Michelin would bring back the XGTs and those sizes ...

 

The specific problem I've heard is that they are sometimes out of round. Has anyone experienced this?


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You could always shave them a bit if it's not excessive but still ... at those prices WTF. I haven't heard that.

 

I put XWXs on my 1967 Ghibli about four years ago and have had no issues with these tires. I've done two brisk backroad rallys with these tires and did not notice any problems and they did not let me down. I remember seeing these tires advertised back in the 1970s and thought they just looked so darned cool, along with the tread pattern on Pirelli P7s and CN36s. They don't make 'em like they used to! Oh wait, they actually do!

 

I used and use them on various classic sportcars (Ghibli, Jarama, Espada, Montreal) and never had any issue. Renewal typically was due to age and not thread, although I move my cars quite a lot and sometimes quite spirited also.

They are expensive, but I really like their looks on classic sportscars. And they can be used with tubes, whereas some other makes do not allow this. Finally, they are obtainable most time without being "preaged" , i.e. with a production date just a few months ago.

Cheers, Bernhard

P.S.: A real problem used to be the 16´´ tires for the Sebring, this may be different nowadays.