Frankly, we’d avoid using tires this old for rolling across the show field, let alone a highway drive or even a parade through town. Slow response, followed by unpredictable and violent oversteer, gave us the chills. The emergency lane change maneuver was also troublesome. With many braking exercises, we got the braking distance down to 160 feet, not great by today’s standards, but still half what we measured in the first attempt. Trying to stop the TR6 from 60 mph on 33-year-old tires was also a challenge-strong braking resulted in immediate lockup. We averaged 47.2-second laps around the Ocala Gran Prix, a Central Florida kart track. Unpredictability was the key descriptor regarding these tires, followed by a notable lack of grip and traction. The TR6 refused to turn at times and violently spun at other times. Time spent on track with the Michelins wasn’t pleasant. Vibrational resonances seemed to come and go independent of road speed, as if the tire was going in and out of balance. The Michelins were also measurably loud at 95 db. There was ample kickback through the steering wheel and cowl shake. On the road, the Michelins had a heavy, clumpy feeling over bumps, struggling to follow the roadway’s irregularities and instead skipping over them. Once mounted, we noticed the Michelins outweighed the Vredesteins by a few pounds due to the inner tube. We had problems with the old Michelins before we even got them on the car: Small cracks developed between the tread blocks during the mounting process. Second was a performance handling test at the track, including an emergency lane change and braking test. First was a real-world road test to evaluate each tire for comfort and noise on fresh asphalt, aged pavement and concrete with expansion joints. We rustled up eight 15×5-inch steel Triumph TR6 wheels, one set for the 33-year-old 185R15 Michelins paired with fresh Carlisle inner tubes, and the second set for brand-new, H-speed rated 185R15 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires.Ī two-part test seemed appropriate for the tires fitted to a Triumph TR6. Despite its modern construction materials and date stamp, the Vredestein has a classic tread pattern, tall sidewall and period lettering. We decided to test the saved Michelins against a set of new vintage-looking tires, Universal’s Vredestein Sprint Classic. His intentions were good, but he didn’t consider that although each tire was stored in a plastic bag in a barn, there is still no protection from the aging process. A friend of ours had been storing a set of never-used Michelin X redline tires for decades, intended for a perfect concours Triumph he’s slowly restoring. How can we make such a definitive statement about replacing old tires? Because we tested a set of never-used old tires against a set of new vintage-looking tires, and the results raised eyebrows. Thankfully, a few tire companies like Coker Tire and Universal Tire are producing period-correct tires for our classics. We agree, new tires often appear out of place on a classic car. If your tires are more than five years old, consider replacing them and get new ones from a tire shop. There’s no sense risking your car or yourself due to rotting rubber. Handling and road adhesion are critical to driving enjoyment and safety. No matter the number of miles driven, experts say a tire can become unsafe in just five years-the rubber and other components lose their ability to perform. The tread blocks might still stand tall and look fresh, but problems probably lurk beneath. But how do you think 40-year-old tires are holding up? Some owners argue they’re only logging say, a hundred miles per season, so why bother putting on new tires when the old ones are barely used. Judges award extra points for running period-correct tires, going so far as checking tire date codes. Many purists want to keep their classic car outfitted with original equipment, especially the guys competing in concours d’elegance. While our beloved Austin-Healeys, MGs and Triumphs sit idle in the garage, the tires they stand on are hardening, cracking and crumbling away due to aging and the environment. Old cars are a thrill…old tires are a hazard. New tires provide better handling and safety, plus vintage looks
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