Well I’m Closing a deal on a TR 1990 But…… Anyone know where there is a supply of NEW tires? There is Nothing out there! Thanks in advance Gtjoey1314
You'll have to either get the Michelins from longstone, or I used Coker tire to get bf Goodrich rears and the fronts are a common size. So I'll make a mismatched set for my 87. Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk
Joey, upgrade the car to 18" 512 tr wheels. Car looks awesome, and a lot of choices. I run Michelin p4s I also have a e-type so have enjoyed your builds on the jag forum.
I recently found that I had wore my BFGoodrich rears way past the point of replacement. It suddenly got much easier to go sideways I don't know how much wear they had when I got the car, but after 2 years and 10k miles of hard driving they were done. I ordered the BFG rears from Coker and Continental ExtremeContact Sport fronts from TireRack. That was ~1/2 the price of the Michelins. I'll let you all know how it works out when I get my car back. She's in the shop because I failed emissions. My O2 sensors were dead and it was running way rich.
Hi Great news we now have a choice of the 16" tyres for a TestaRossa as Pirelli have made a fresh batch. So:- Rears 255/50R16 https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/255-50-16.html P-Zero or Pilot Sport Fronts 225/50R16 https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/225-50-16.html a much more comon size, but we can match upo the Pilot Sport and the P-Zero is even better because it is a P-Zero system these tyres were made specifically for you. The front tyres are directional and the rear tyres asymmetric. That is very cool Image Unavailable, Please Login Has anyone got any pictures of their car on the P-Zero system tyres? If so could we have a copy to use on our web site. A period photo would be even better.
Hi after a short break the 16" P-Zero System are back on the shelf. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/pirelli-collezione/p-zero.html
Look what i tripped over today. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login There i was minding my own business at a paint shop where they are doing some work for me, and there was this TestaRossa. Being the nerd i am i can t help looking at stuff like that, and i noticed it had the Gator back on it, so inevitably peered at the date code. 378 as there is no arrow or triangle next to it that means they are 1988!, they were barely worn as well, apparently the car only has 3,000 miles on the clock. Any way looking at the tread pattern they must have been pretty noisy. All things considered you would just fit the P-Zero system. Its just better and always has been. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/ferrari/testarossa.html
That picture brought so many good memories, I used to love the ZRs Thanks for sharing why recommend the Pzeros over the pilot sports you also have available? Just curious
They were a good tire. As a former owner of a set of the Pilots I didn't care for them on the TR. For one thing the rear has a narrower tread patch and it looks weird. Looks OK on a GTO but not the TR under the big square fenders. Also I liked the handling of the BFG much better but those are NLA for now. If I needed tires right now Id try the Pirellis but the good news is I am not in the market right now.
Yes you are right, the rear looks a bit stretched out on the rear wheel with the pilots, I do not have a Pzero to compare the looks of it, but I’ve always known the Pzero is a tire that goes very quickly, hence the 140 treadwear rating vs rhe 220 of the Pilots. But for the amount of driving on these cars maybe treadwear is not that important. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I don't know about you but I am not wearing tires out. I am replacing because of age. A 120 tread wear rating wouldn't bother me.
I have thrashed an Aston Martin V8 Vantage on the Michelin Pilot Sport and i have to say they were lovely. They told me what was happening and i was able to progressively drift it flat out in 2nd. I was expecting it to be a bit snatchy with all that power and foot print, but the car really came together when you shove your right foot into the thick carpet. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelin-classic-tyres/pilot-sport.html Unfortunately the Pilot Sport is a more modern tyre though, In period they were making the SX MXXXXXXXX3. Image Unavailable, Please Login I would expect the P-Zero system will give you more ultimate grip. The compounds Pirelli are using in these Collezione tyres are excellent. but also the carcass is smack bang period for you, designed exactly to compliment this sort of geometry, the Directional Fronts and Asymmetric rears are super cool, and a genuine period option. The P-Zero system came out in 1986 the year that the TestaRossa moved onto 16" wheels, so perfect in every way really. Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login So both brilliant but the extra grip of the Pirelli and the fashion element woud steer me down the P-Zero route https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/pirelli-collezione/p-zero.html the issue of these tyres lookin stretched is because Ferrari are Cheaky monkeys every now and again Ferrari like to fit a rear wheel that is too big for the tyre. Your rear wheels are 10" wide, yet a 255/50R16 is supposed to be fitted on a 9" rim. Tut tut! I think it looks cool. They did the same with Borrani wheels on the back of the Daytona (which also looks cool) Any way i thought it might be nice to take a picture comparing the 2 tyres, i took this photo. Image Unavailable, Please Login Then when i looked at the actual picture i was amazed how much wider the P-Zero was. However in actuallity it is this picture which makes it look massively wider so i went and took another one. Image Unavailable, Please Login The foot print of the P-Zero is definitely wider. It is hard to measure really. i don't think there is a whole inch difference. (worth noteing, the 255 description in the size 255/50R16 is not the tread width, it is the section width. the tyre at its widest point.)
Just an up date on 16" tyres for those who are interested. I would suggest the best and most correct tyre is the P-Zero https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/225-50yr16-255-50yr16-pirelli-p-zero.html that is a special offer on a set of the front and rear P-Zero tyres. As a heads up, if anyone is fitting the Michelin Pilote Sport the price of those is going up quite a lot at the beginnning of March so if you want, i should grab them quick. https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/ferrari/testarossa.html
Hi Currently these are about £ 150 + Vodka And Tonic cheaper than the Michelin https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/225-50yr16-255-50yr16-pirelli-p-zero.html Which do people think is best? Michelin or Pirelli?
Pirelli in this case has a much better compound. I will say that 140 tread wear is crazy! Crazy how much things have evolved.
Its a good tire but I will not give my money to the Chinese owners of Pirelli. NFW. Just hoping BFG comes back with the new tire before its an issue with me.
What we do know is the Pirelli Tyres that is in the Lucas shed presently has not been effected by any Tariffs. https://lucasclassictires.com/classic-vintage-tires/pirelli-cinturato/ we also know that there is a good chance that his next container (or maybe the one after that) may well be hit by a tariff of up to 25%, which would have to make the price to you guys 25% more. I'm not trying to make a political statement, because regardless of which side of the fence you sit, it is better to pay 25% less for something. and currtently people buying Michelin XWX or TRX tyres off us are also not as yet being hit by tariffs.
I don't know why this is the case, but what I have observed is the following: 1. For today's modern tires, Michelins are generally far better than Pirelli's 2. For vintage tires, Pirelli are generally far better than Michelins.
Has anyone been searching for tires in North America? What are the current options for the 16” Testarossa tires? Cheers -Jeff
