We can understand tyre dealers and garages expressing concern as they are quite different from modern tyres. However, with a little advice and care it is possible to fit them yourself. Firstly with the tyre removed check the rim for condition if necessary we can provide a copy of the rim profile. Check for crushed clinches, sharp and corroded edges etc.
This happens when the heel of the tyre has torn leaving the sidewall unsupported resulting in a sidewall bulge. This is commonly caused by under inflation which allows the tyre to flex on the rim which in turn allows the nose of the rim to chafe and eventually cut through the toe. It can also be caused by poor rim condition. It is common for restorers to cut ‘tidy up’ the nose on the rim edge to remove the sharp corroded edge. This leaves the heel of the tyre unsupported when under load causing the rim to skin off the tyre heel.
The shape of the rim shares a high level of importance with the pressure, the nose at the tip of the clinch intrudes into the tyre forming a positive lock. However if this area is allowed to develop a sharp corroded edge it will rapidly cut the tyre bead. It is also common for restorers to cut this area back to provide a more sympathetic surface. This is a mistake and will lead to premature failure as it drastically reduces the support in this area.
Beaded edge tyres are inflation held. They stay on the rim by air pressure alone. Reducing the pressure could allow the tyre to jump off the rim or lead to rapid tyre failure as the tyre chafes against the rim.
The short answer is no. Racing tyres are built without compromise; they are generally a softer rubber so may not last long and could overheat, they have reduced wall and crown thickness to reduce weight and could be easily damaged. Racing tyres are also moulded with reduced tread depth offering limited water clearance.
When a tube is fitted to any tyre, it is important that the inside of the tyre is carefully examined to ensure that there is nothing which could cause premature tube failure due to cuts or chafing. These include:
Inner tubes should also be used:
Most manufacturers accept that it is safe to fit tubes in tubeless tyres providing the correct size tube is used. Tubes should not be used in tyres with profiles lower than 70 per cent.
No. When fitting a radial tyre in place of a crossply it is important to increase the tyre pressure due to the difference in construction. The difference in pressure can vary, so contact us on 01590 612261 when changing to radial tyres.
In some cases you can replace crossply tyres with radials (see the Tools page for a comparison table). However, changing to radials is not always the best option and the tyre should be selected carefully. Contact us on 01590 612261 for advice.
For the best performance keep the same type of tyre on the front and rear, But, yes, you can mix the two. By law you have to fit crossply tyres on the front and radial on the back.
Some crossply tyres are dual marked, for example 475/500-19, this means that the tyre will replace both a 475-19 and a 500-19. It is therefore a compromise between the two.
As the vehicle travels along, the tyres rotate and flex. This action generates heat within the casing of the tyre as the cords move. When the vehicle stops, the weight of the car presses down in one place and the tyres cool down, this can sometimes cause the tyre to set or develop a temporary flat spot. During the next drive the tyre warms up again and the process is repeated. To stop, or significantly reduce this cycle, raise the tyre pressures by three psi. This reduces the flexing and therefore reduces the heat generated.
