205/70VR15 CN12

Hi Guys

Just thought i would let you know that Pirelli have just made a batch on these 1971 Cinturato CN12 205/70VR15 tyres.

https://www.borrani.com/tyres/205-70x15/205-70wr15-pirelli-cinturato-cn12.html

I don't beleive Ferrari ever actually fitted 205/70VR15 tyres to anything, though i am aware that a lot of 250 cars from the 60's that fitted the 15" wheels with the 185VR15 Cinturato CA67 often in the 1970s after low profile tyres had been invented ion 1968 would then move onto the 205/70VR15 tyres that became available, and i guess would have been pretty accessible and much easier and cheaper to get hold of because they are an series 3 E-Type, XJ6 & XJS tyres, so every tyre shop through the 70's, 80's and 90s would have had a 205/70VR15 tyre on the shelf as the 185VR15 became more obsolete.

Another reason why people would have fitted 205/70VR15 tyres on 250 Ferrari is because these cars came bonkers wide 15" rims cars like the 250 GT Lusso fitted 6.5" wide wheel! that is a bit silly if i'm honest they fitted 185VR15 Cinturato which has a suggested rim width of 4.5" to 6" wide rims. you generally want your tyre wider than your rim, so if you clip a curb your tyre protects your rim (among other reasons). A 6.5" rim is pretty extraordinary. It is better suited to the 205VR15 CN72 Pirelli that Ferrari later fitted, but hadnt been invented during the production of the GT Lusso. However that is Ferrari, they did it again later with the rear of the 512BB

 

Dougal, what were the original years of production for this tire?

 

Early 1970s by my recollection. They were OEM for Miura SV.

 

I believe the Miura SV CN12 tyres were 215/70 VR15 marked FR70 VR15.

 

Yep the SV fitted CN12

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/lamborghini/miura.html

The first Muira, like virtually all super cars between 1964 and 1968 fitted fitted 205 section Pirelli Cinturato CN72. Incidentally most of these Super cars fitted 185VR16 Cinturato CA67, and the 205VR15 CN72 is the same diameter as a 185VR16. However, Ferrari in 1960 tended to move onto 15" wheels and 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato CA67, then in 64 when Pirelli invented the 205 section they dropped down to 14" wheels on many of there cars like the 275 GTB and 330GTC to keep that diameter, but some cars like the 330 GT 2+2 and 500 Superfast had 15" 205 section CN72 tyres. I think Michelin jumped on this band wagon around 1966 with full profile 205 section tyres in the tread pattern we call the XWX now but at the time it was called the X. I wrote an absolutely fascinating article about it a while ago

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic/michelin-xvr.html

Fascinatingly though the CN12 came out in 1971 and was fitted on the SV Miura. the front tyre 215/70VR15 CN12 is kind of generic, and had been since 1968, but the real excitement is rear tyre was a 255/60VR15 Cinturato CN12 (which i managed to get Pirelli to make again back in 2016) in those days was absolutely wapping. i can only think of 225 section tyrse before that, (maybe 235 on a Mangusta) of anywhere near that size, and i'm trying to think of anything else, but i think that was the first 60% profile radial tyre. That is quite Lamborghini though isn't it. ridiculously massive rear tyres. cool though. i do like a Miura. i like an earlier one with the eyelashes, because i am a bit of a tart like that. i think they are nearly as pretty as my Lotus Elite.

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I hope all those exciting fascinating tyre facts didn't get too much for you. I often feel sorry for my wife,the poor love. i often see her eyes glaze over. She suggests i could Bore for Britain if they had that class in the olympics.

 

@Longstone Tyres

Dougal,

Is Michelin no longer producing the TB15 for 14” wheels? I know they used to but I don’t see it on your web site.

Thanks.
Jack.

 

Hi Jack

I am afraid that is true. But i don't think they have done that for a while. they did a 17/58-14 TB i think it was. I think it went out of production a few years ago, to be honest we hardly sold any. Im not suprised it went out of prodution.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/vintage-tyres/michelin-classic-tyres.html

In fact i'm afraid to say i think the 13" range oif TB tyres is about finished for the forseable future.

Bit of an odd size 14"

 

Thanks, Dougal. I had a set on a 914/6 and thought they were fantastic.

 

I ran them on my cortina and took them off becuase they were too good. I just wanted to do massive skids but the TB gave such inctredible levels of grip it spoiled my fun.