Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[Bitumen Boy]

[Mog]

There is a law in Australia that you have to wear a helmet when riding a bicycle . Very few have been charged as they do not carry any i.d. So what is the point of making that law ? The police force would have to be doubled . They tell us the number of new police but not the number that have dropped out .

[alastairq]

Many of our regulations are brought about by the clamour of a vociferous minority.

The regulation is emplaced, simply so that Government can say 'look, we're actually doing something about it'.

Even the recent crisis regarding citizenship, arose initially because of unfounded [based on heresay]..clamour from a section of our voting public with regard to illegal immigration. [and yes, I, too, experienced the effects of what was initially....over 70 years ago, deemed appropriate [as in, OK?] policy in this regard.....in my Mother's case.]

We didn't 'need' specific mobile phone regulation....but the unthinking clamour got it in place.

Our unending regulations are arrived at as a result of sheer ignorance on the public's part [shouldn't be allowed, etc].....

Of curse, we all want lower taxation, don't we?

Where exactly is the money to pay for enforcement going to come from?

[lowdrag]

I looked in the boot of one of my cars. The tyre is still round, it still holds air, and at £305 each it is staying there. When was the last time you had a puncture in one of your classics? Mine was 12 years back when the tape crumbled and a spoke touched the inner tube. Now I have new wheels, new tyres (worn out - no concern) and no inner tubes. But from memory that is the only time in over 30 years that I have had a puncture with that car.

[mikeC]

As it happens, I got a puncture last week in the Lancia. It was the first time I had had a good look at the spare (other than establishing that there was reasonable tread on it). It turns out to be , probably, the original 1953 Michelin complete with the remains of the white wall ... but it was so hard and crazed that the car was almost undriveable, weaving all over the road. The other four tyres are Firestones dating from 2009, so I have now got to decide whether I soldier on with nine year old tyres (which appear to still be in good condition) and just replace the spare, or fork out nearly £1,000 for a set of five
_________________
in the garage: 1938 Talbot Ten Airline
Recently departed: 1953 Lancia Appia, 1931 Austin Seven, 1967 Singer Chamois, 1914 Saxon, 1930 Morris Cowley, 1936 BSA Scout, 1958 Lancia Appia coupe, 1922 Star 11.9 ... the list goes on!

[llllmikellll]

[alastairq]

For driving about [forget 'period' tyres....you wouldn't want to fit 'period' brake linings.....or ' old 'oil?]....use 175/80 x 16 radials.

Usually referred to as 'taxi' tyres.....Michelin XC4S [taxi] are good....stiff enough of sidewall to mimic the character of a crossply [without the skateboard grip]......not too aggressive a tread pattern.
Nankang FT7 is another in the same size, but only 2 ply carcass, so a bit more supple.....use a potato peeler to remove the white moulded lettering...[or spend a happy hour with a single-sided razor blade...just to keep in period?]....and mount tyre with lettering on the inside. Again, not an overly aggressive tread patter [for a 4wd-aimed tyre]....

Or, simply go for the cheapest 175/80 x 16 tyre available [usually found in the 'van' ranges]....UK cost around £50....?

{I have experience of the first two....as my tyre choice is dictated by the ''permitted tyre list'' for Classic Reliability Trials...where a 'road'' pattern-type tyre only, is permitted [for driving off-road}...

175/80 x 16 radials will fit where a 6.00 x 16 is used...or even, where a 5.50 x 16 is used...for example....16 inch wheels as fitted to upright Ford Prefects? [which will also fit a Ford Pop] to give some idea of how spindly a wheel width they will sit comfortably on.

[llllmikellll]

[alastairq]

The 175/80 x 16 are not low profile, by any means...they are equivalent in rolling diameter to 6.00 x 16 cross ply tyres.

The Michelin tyre I quoted is a heavy duty [6 or 8 ply] tyre suitable for London Taxicabs, and vans in general.

A trawl through ebay will find equally suitable 175/80 x 16 van tyres which fit....albeit with more 'generic' tread patterns.

I use both Michelin taxis, and the Nankang tyres on the rear of my Dellow....where original fitment was 6.00 x 16 crossplies.
[I have a 6.00 x 16 Firestone crossply tyre...couldn't afford to buy another, at around £170 a throw!!]

I suspect Michelins are available in Australia?

Might be worth looking at local generic 175/80 x 16 van tyres too?

[Ashley]

[alastairq]

Sorry...I am mixing tyre types here...80 aspect ratio is very rarely exceeded with regard to commonly used/available radial tyres. Hence, my assertion that an 80 aspect ratio is not a low profile....comparatively speaking [Not when common tyres these days are 60 or 50 aspect ratio?].
Try persuading an owner to fit 80 aspect ratio tyres to their new Audi, for example.

However, as I said above, the overall diameter of a 175/80 x 16 is identical to a 6.00 x 16. [As near as dammit]....and is a very useful alternative..ie. more easily available, for example...and not just through an extremely limited number of suppliers.

Maybe because the 175/80 radial will likely have a slightly wider overall tread diameter[cross-section]...than the 6.00 crossply, thus an 80% aspect radial, comes out very like the 6.00 [100%] crossply.

I quote those sizes as I have direct, and long-time experience of using both, on the same [or similar] vehicles.