Tyres on an 84 Turbo Esprit

[Kevin Wheeler]

I replaced the tyres on my 84 Turbo Esprit last week - thanks for the advice, Buddsy!

 

I bought the car in October 2013 and have driven about 10,000 miles since. It was sitting on a set of Bridgestone Eagle NCTs - 235s on the back and 195s on the front.

 

Tuesday 19th May, I had my new Vredestein Sportrac 5s fitted all round - 225s on the back and 195s on the front.

 

Saturday 23rd May some of you may have seen me driving (badly) round Castle Combe - mine was the blue one with the extra bit on the exhaust because they seem to think I am a bit loud without it.If you look at that thread you can see some pictures (pwd95 has a good one on his link - thanks Wyn)

 

So, what do I think?

 

1. If your tyres are 13 years old, as mine were, then change them! I did not realise how bad they were.
2. The Vredesteins look and feel fine. Driving on the road to Castle Combe (about an hour for me) they handled well and seemed to be quieter than my old tyres.
3. On the track they were brilliant. A little bit of squeal into the Esses but at no point did I feel less than confident in them
4. The difference in size does not seem to create problems. I was comparing the speedo to a Sat Nav on the way to the circuit and it was as inaccurate as it was before I fitted the new tyres.

I bought them off the internet and had them fitted locally. The procedure was fine - no hassle. 

 

Possibly the best part - apart from the Giugiaro written on the side wall - was that the whole set was under £300 fitted!

 

Kevin

[lotus-62]

I was looking at some pirelli p600 235/60/15 but I just can't justify £290 for the rears alone so I'll probably end up with the vredesteins as well (and hear many good tings about them as well)

[nello]

From images I have seen the Pirelli's look too slab sided on a G - No fat sidewalls.........

[Bazza 907]

Neil

Could the slab sided look be the old Pirelli 225 60 15 rather than the 235 60 15 that have only just come back on the market?

[Andyww]

You are right about being concerned about old tyres.

 

I changed them on my Ferrari even though they were not very worn but 15 years old. The tyre guy called me over to show me the way in which the machine which squeezes them to get them off, had punched right through the brittle sidewalls. Scary.

[Kevin Wheeler]

Hi Andy

 

Mine were getting brittle, too. I was quite wary driving them and it makes a real difference knowing that they are supple now. As you can see from my original post, I drive the car quite a lot, but I do think that it is something that the owners who only drive 2,000 miles per year should think about.

 

Kevin

[peteyg]

I'm a bit worried you took brand new tyres to the track with a vengeance without running them in! Still, they'll probably feel even better on the road now they're scrubbed!

 

Good call on the change though, fresh rubber makes a huge difference and with the millage you're doing you'll be replacing them long before they're 15 years old.

 

Pete

[Kevin Wheeler]

Hi Pete

 

I had done about 100 miles first. I went to the Ageas Bowl to watch the Hampshire cricket on the Friday, then it was a 50 mile drive to Castle Combe, so I was at least fairly confident that they would stay on the rims!

 

Been out again today and it doesn't look like I have done any damage! The car drew a few looks in Winchester Car Park, with a tiny tot asking if it flies!

 

Cheers

 

Kevin

[ChrisJ]

Hi Kevin

 

I agree with all you have written about the Vredsteins. 

 

I've now got them on both my Esprit and Excel (205/55s), and a speedo reading of 75 is 70 on the GPS in the Esprit - but on the Excel it's the other way around.

 

Chris

[yeti]

I have got the Vredesteins on my '87 NA and I am very satisfied with the performance.