What is the latest on European tyres for our C3’s
- Thread starter Moliere
- Start date
Daytona Vette
Well-known user
You need to have experience and nerve to take your foot off and pump when danger is looming
I well remember having a race in the wet with a Sprite, I was 17 years and in an Imp - a sweeping right hander, I was going to drift, so I positioned to the right to allow for the drift to the left - oncoming car - had to get over to the left without touching the brakes - back on the left but now too fast for the bend, the hedge was looming at speed, too inexperienced to pump, Wheels locked and turned and hey presto, Under Stear big time, I thought once I was on the grass verge I would lift off the brakes and apply the gas, no such luck there was a ditch covered by the under growth and it took the the two nearside wheels - I also now know from when my Vette did an off at Donnington, that dry grass at speed is the same as driving on Ice.
I well remember having a race in the wet with a Sprite, I was 17 years and in an Imp - a sweeping right hander, I was going to drift, so I positioned to the right to allow for the drift to the left - oncoming car - had to get over to the left without touching the brakes - back on the left but now too fast for the bend, the hedge was looming at speed, too inexperienced to pump, Wheels locked and turned and hey presto, Under Stear big time, I thought once I was on the grass verge I would lift off the brakes and apply the gas, no such luck there was a ditch covered by the under growth and it took the the two nearside wheels - I also now know from when my Vette did an off at Donnington, that dry grass at speed is the same as driving on Ice.
Forrest Gump
CCCUK regional rep
By European tyres do you mean European manufactured or European compliant?
If you're after raised white lettering tyres for the 15" wheel then you are very limited in choice.
I've got "Galaxy R1 GT" tyres on mine (with RWL). They're not manufactured in Europe but do have an EU compliance label.
A quick look-up and it appears Cooper Cobras also have an EU label. BF Goodridge Radial T/A's don't, therefore can only be fitted to pre-1990 cars, so okay for a C3.
The label on the Cobras shows wet grip is rated "C" and fuel economy also "C"
Galaxy wet grip is "B" and economy "E" (I don't think the tyres make too much difference to my economy tbh)
BF Goodridge obviously unknown rating by this classification
My Galaxy tyres:
If you're after raised white lettering tyres for the 15" wheel then you are very limited in choice.
I've got "Galaxy R1 GT" tyres on mine (with RWL). They're not manufactured in Europe but do have an EU compliance label.
A quick look-up and it appears Cooper Cobras also have an EU label. BF Goodridge Radial T/A's don't, therefore can only be fitted to pre-1990 cars, so okay for a C3.
The label on the Cobras shows wet grip is rated "C" and fuel economy also "C"
Galaxy wet grip is "B" and economy "E" (I don't think the tyres make too much difference to my economy tbh)
BF Goodridge obviously unknown rating by this classification
My Galaxy tyres:
Vintage Tyres Classic tyres and American tyres | North Hants Tyres.
Vintage Tyres, Beaded Edge vintage tyres, classic vintage tyres, American racing wheels,kmc xd wheels,Steel wheels,custom Whitewall tyres,crossply tyres,North Hants Tyres
www.northhantstyres.com
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
I have Goodyear T/A M & S 255 /15 fronts and 295 /15 rears with white lettering and well happy with them for grip and ride . OK so they are only 103mph rating from memory but where can you do that on UK roads ? Sorry officer , my speedo only reads to 85mph so I couldn`t possibly be doing over a a 100 ! 
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Clearly you didn`t have the Routes optional handling package in your Imp , a bag of cement in the front
. Back in the days of our yoof my mate`s first car was a Hillman Imp and he soon shelled out on that mod after a near miss with a lampost doing down hill in the rain !
Oneball
CCCUK Member
I was really surprised a couple of years ago when someone at Vauxhall decide to call their new small car the Viva. I’m assuming the room was full of 20 year olds with weirdy beards and a marketing degree.
My dad’s first company car was a Viva, he had to get rid of his Elan for that thing.
My dad’s first company car was a Viva, he had to get rid of his Elan for that thing.
Daytona Vette
Well-known user
Just a Paving SlabClearly you didn`t have the Routes optional handling package in your Imp , a bag of cement in the front
Roscobbc
Moderator
Anywhere you like (if you are prepared to brake the law) - OK so we have a 70 mph speed limit - what's wrong with a tyre that is rated for 103 mph? -A tyre with a higher designed speed rating will also be tested for the structural integrity typically required from a car with higher HP/TQ capabilities. Example : my last two company vehicles have been a hybrid and plug-hybrid respectively. The oem tyre specification were 'Z' and 'H' speed ratings - 149 mph. Maximum speed of either car was 'only' 125 mph at best. So why use tyres that are seeming over specified? . TORQUE. Hybrid vehicles effectively use two motors to drive the car and in many cases the combined torque will equate to that of a far higher powered car - hence the need for a higher performance tyre. Draw the same parallel with an American V8 engine - serious amounts of low end torque deserve a higher performance tyre perhaps.........
I only asked about tyres, wished we were all at a pub and I asked there, ha!
Imp, bag of cement, Viva, Escort, how old are we all?
Not bothered about white letters , just something better suited to this wet Country. And more economical on the road, fuel wise too.
None of us are going to go 150 mph, not worth it any more anyway. Those days have gone, unless your a rich Diplomat.
Your a good bunch though, you have all come up with useful info. Thank you.
Imp, bag of cement, Viva, Escort, how old are we all?
Not bothered about white letters , just something better suited to this wet Country. And more economical on the road, fuel wise too.
None of us are going to go 150 mph, not worth it any more anyway. Those days have gone, unless your a rich Diplomat.
Your a good bunch though, you have all come up with useful info. Thank you.
Chuffer
CCCUK Member
Daytona Vette
Well-known user
For me it was four in an MGB Roadster
One female in the passenger seat and two females in the back (with the top down of course)
I have never grown up!
Sorry Moliere I can not for the life of me remember what the tyres were, but who cares with an MGB when the back end slid out (and it did quite often) you just let go of the steering wheel and the car self centered - No skill required.
One female in the passenger seat and two females in the back (with the top down of course)
I have never grown up!
Sorry Moliere I can not for the life of me remember what the tyres were, but who cares with an MGB when the back end slid out (and it did quite often) you just let go of the steering wheel and the car self centered - No skill required.
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Chuffer
CCCUK Member
That`ll be your conscience looking over your shoulder