Return of the Michelin TB15

[Chris G]

Chuck,

Agreed, modern rubber makes a lot more sense in most cases. Keep in mind there is simply nothing else out there for 9" and 11" fuchs in the way of street legal rubber.

The challenge then becomes, how modern is appropriate for a 30+ year old car? For guys running wide bodied (like RSR fendered) cars, I think 17" diameter is the next viable option....to my eye this really changes the look.

Cheers, Chris

[bulldog]

Chuck, I hear you on those old XWX and CN36 stones, but I think the modern Michelin "retro-repros" probably have a more modern compound than the originals. In any case, I think I'll git me summa them TB15s....

Jack

[Chuck Miller]

I'm sorry guys,

This thread went in two different directions...
The 'rant' above was focused on the drivers of early 'small tire'd'/non concourse specific cars that go out of there way and endure hardships to drive on the road on period rubber...

I realize that the 9's and 11's present a BIG challenge in tire availability... besides the Goodyear and Avon slicks, I've seen a number of 'odd' street tire combo's that seem to only marginally do the trick.

As far as the TB15's... If they come in appropriate RSR sizes, then it seems that your problem is solved .... with some MAJOR wallet lightening...

Maybe we need two separate threads here...

My car has 'always' been set up body wise as an RS... as soon as 8's were available over here they were probably on the back of my car. I bought it with old Goodyear 'Gatorbacks', within a year I switched to what I thought was the hottest things out there, Yokohama AVS Intermediates... and stayed with them for over 12 years. If they hadn't discontinued the 215x60's I would still be on them. In fact one set I bought from our own Tom Bridgers. Man, I loved those AVS's... plenty of grip and 60 series cross section made the old car ride like a Cadillac.

About 2 years ago 2 things happened... I realized that I wasn't going to find the last of the AVS stash... and, I went for ride in 'my' hills with our own Randy Wells in his car... on Bridgestone S-03's ...... WOW!!!!!!!! ... I couldn't believe it.
I thought about it and made the big commitment and went from 205x60 / 215x60... to ... 205x55 / 225x50 S-03's.
... Do I miss the comfortable ride AND the 'look' of the 60's ? ... you bet
But... I have never been on a better performing street tire EVER...
These S-03's are only a couple ticks off my Kuhmo DOT track tires...

But that's me... and they suit the way I drive my car...

It's funny, but looking through a tire catalog there are good tires in my 'new' size that I wouldn't run because they LOOK too contemporary and space age... go figure

The one thing you can be sure of is, tires will just get better and better... unfortunately it seems that it corresponds with the aspect ratio getting smaller and smaller...

... and so it goes

Cheers,

[bulldog]

George, your post has convinced me to get the TB15s.

Jack