What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" tire?

[Jim Nelson]

I have the Vredestein Sprint Classics on my '63, and I love 'em.

[Alex Mestas]

I have the Sprint Classic Vredestein tires (older version now I guess) on my 63 Coupe. Its a great tire.

[Pat Daily]

I have some 19 year old XZX's on my Ghia--parked indoors all the time and have about 5K miles on them--they look new except one has a sidewall bubble. Need to get some new tires. Guess I will go with Vredesteins, which I have on my 356 since 2008.

[Paul Kust]

Check Lucas tire, they have a wide selection, 15"- 560x15 Royalton Blackwall for the vintage look at $149.

[David Preston]

Hi Randy - just my two cents worth...

I have had Michelins on my 356s but I have always felt that the ride was a bit harsh. I put a new set of Vredesteins on my car last Spring and I really felt that the ride was noticeably improved. Others will disagree of course, but I would never go back to Michelins after this experience. Plus, the Vredesteins look as period correct as the Michelins and, as discussed, they save you a little money.

Good luck,

David Preston
64 C S/R Coupe

[Tom Coughlin]

Over the last 35 years I've used many brands of tires including Michelin and Vredesteins and have noticed little driving difference.

If no other factors are involved, price and looks seem to be the driving factors (no pun) for me.

[Al Zim]

It is my understanding although I admit that I have not investigated this is that Coker Tire company has the XZX tread but it is on their own casing. Zim's is not in the tire business but we do mount and balance a fair number of tires and have the latest Hunter equipment to do this. Michelin tires have a superior casing design and the manufacturing is closely controlled so that you end up with a round tire. A round tire keeps the car from going bumpty bump down the road.
WE recommend the 195/65 X15 Defender. This tire is priced between $90.00 and $100.00 each. It is wider than the 165X 15 and you may see some curling on the edge of the tire on a 4.5 inch rim. The sidewalls which are soft give good road compliance and a smooth ride. These tires have the same number of revolutions per mile as the 165 tires do so there will be no speedometer error.
Two things you will need to do the first is to find someone that can mount the tires on the wide bolt pattern rim. There are not a lot of shops that can do this. Second you should inflate the tires to the pressures recommended in your owner manual for radial (braced) tires. My favorite tire is still the Michelin X Stop. al zim Copyrighted 2014 all rights reserved,

[Martin Benade]

Nowadays almost all shops have tire machines that grip the rim at the bead, not at the center hole so mounting is seldom a problem. Balancing is another matter, that most places cannot do on the earlier rims.

[Dave Finburgh]

I have the Michelin XZX's on my '65 C Cab. I think they are VERY nice and they seem to be holding up well. Pricey, but they do look great and the ride is pretty nice with no sloughing in the corners etc.,

[Dennis Grist]

There is an article in this month's (March 2014) Classic Motorsports magazine which compares and rates the Firestone 560, Michelin XZX, and Vredestein Sprint Classic, and tested on an MG.
Dennis

[Randy Cook]

Thanks to all for comments. I got a reference for a local, very well respected alignment shop to see if I could ship tires to his shop for mounting. No problem, he said. The owner also me he has been having problems balancing reproduction tires for collector cars recently. Hope that is not a trend.

Randy

[Frank Barrett]

For the XZX, try Longstone Tyre in England: same prices as Coker but free shipping. Coker wanted $145 to ship five tiny (125x15) tires for my 2CV from Tennessee to Colorado.

[Randy Cook]

For the XZX, try Longstone Tyre in England: same prices as Coker but free shipping. Coker wanted $145 to ship five tiny (125x15) tires for my 2CV from Tennessee to Colorado.

Coker said shipping to California was over $170 for 5 tires. I use TireRack for my daily drivers, and TR shipping is much cheaper. But, it appears old car people are running out of options, so Coker is in the drivers seat, as it were.

Randy

[Max Handley]

If $$ is not an issue , my favorite tire from that period was the XAS, a little more expensive but a great design and performance.

[Dan Macdonald]

I just recently wore out a set of Kuhmo's on my C car (daily driver)…yes, wore them out in about 5 years. (How many of you guys have worn through a set of tires on your 356 in recent years? Not many I would guess.)

I have ordered a set of Nexen 165-80-15's. About $414 for 4 tires, installed, complete, including tax in NorCal. We'll see how they perform...