Alternative tyre to 205VR14 XWX

Hi

So Ferrari 275 and some 330 models fitted 205VR14 Tyres. we have the Michelin XWX, and excitingly we do have the original Pirelli 205VR14 Cinturato on its way, hopefully with us in a couple of months.

However Ferrari in 1964 in general moved their cars from 185 section Cinturato onto 205 section Pirelli because at that point Pirelli had manged to make a 205 section tyre that was capable of handling the speed and power. However at that point they had not as yet invented 70% profile tyres.

Now i am not an advocate of this, but so many people think they want a wider tyre. This doesn't improve the handling, but it does improve stopping distances in a straight line and less wheel spin. However i personally would plump for the handling of a full profile tyre on a car that's geometry is set up to deal with a full profile tyre. So for now on these cars i personally would stick with the 205VR14 XWX that we have on the shelf, or the Cinturato 205R14 tyre when it comes out.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/205-14.html

However for those who do want that low profile tyre Michelin Make the 215/7-VR14 XWX

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/215-70-14/215-70r14-michelin-xwx.html

they make thise for that 6.3 Litres 450 SEL Mercedes, and the rear of the first Countach.

Personally i would stick with the correct size, and if you ring our shed the boys on the end of the phone will probably try to tutor you in the ways of ritghteosness and encourage you to fit the proper 205R14. We have occasionally lost customers by telling them that "fitting modern low profile tyres on classic cars; is a misguided mistake made by cowards" However i do think we loose more customers trying to buy white wall tyres for European sports cars by telling them "it is vulgar and as you drive down the road people will point at you and laugh."

That is the problem with having an opinion, but when it boils down to it, we are a business that generally is suposed to try to make a profit so we will bite our tongues if you ring up and try to buy some 215/70R14 for you 330GTC; after all I have just driven my 1924 Delage DIS for about 300 miles this weekend and it needs an oil change.

I will be back on here when i get anything sold about dates for the new batch of the 205VR14 Cinturato.

 

Yes and let me tell you that is a right pain in the bum!

I also think that might have been for the 275GTB but the 330 was 205?

Which ever way round, it is tricky. I would suggest it could be one of the major hurdles as to why it is taking so long to get it done. I wondered if we could have 210 on one side and 205 on the other. but i don't think that is going to work. I am relatively confident that by 1968 the 210 was out of production, and a standard 205 was fitted.

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I think this is an interesting thing.

i think we can all agree that when these cars first came out, and the manual was written Pirelli made a 210R14 Cinturato HS. Lets face it Ferrari would love to have its own special tyre it is kind of cool, while at the same time, a bit of a pain in the bum.

however what would be interesting to know is; when did Pirelli stop making the 210R14 tyre? In truth it could have been half way through 1966? I will see if i can find out.

Incidentally have uyou watched the film i made about 330GTS tyres? i think it is one of my finest. It is a constant battle to try not to portray an overly commercial image. Sadly i shall have to re do this film when i get the new CN72 tyre.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic-car-tyres/ferrari/330-gts.html

Also while i am on here if any of you guys are outside the UK particularly if you are in the States; does my web site automatically offer you prices in US $ without VAT?

I will contact Pirelli and see if we can find out any juice.

 

Blimey that is tricky. You are right, i had forgotten that.

I don't know about you, but i can't think of another car that ever fitted 195R14? i would struggle going to Pirelli, with cap in hand, asking them to make that tyre. it is difficult to justify. lets get the 205 done, then see if we care about makeing a 195.

i suppose it does raise the question of wht is going to fit in the spare?

 

Oo! this is proving more difficult than we hoped. We are nearly there.

Incidentally when you do go through the buying process it will take the VAT off of it; and you can change currencey at the top, but we are trying to get our stupid web site to already know where you are and offer you the correct pricing immediately. we will get there.

I'm going to go and throw my computer out the window.

 

Right that is not fair. we can't have 2 tyre sizes in 2 different tread patterns all that sell 7 tyres per year. we have to try to make some commercial sense out of this.

(they do look good though.)

Am i right in assuming that is a 1964 Short nose and therefore on the 195?

And Blimey that Jonny Haliday must have had an amazing life, Paris and the South of France with that car and that face in the swinging '60s