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Classic Car Tyres
Michelin offers a range of classic car tyres which will fit a number of vehicles manufactured between the late Twenties and early Eighties.
LOAD INDICES AND SPEED SYMBOLS
Most tyres bear instructions for use such as the load index (number) and the speed symbol (letter). The load index indicates the maximum load per tyre. The speed symbol indicates the maximum authorised speed.
| Load index | Load per tyre (kg) | Load index | Load per tyre (kg) | Speed symbol | Speed (kph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62 | 265 | 75 | 387 | K | 110 |
| 63 | 272 | 76 | 400 | L | 120 |
| 64 | 280 | 77 | 412 | M | 130 |
| 65 | 290 | 78 | 425 | N | 140 |
| 66 | 300 | 79 | 437 | P | 150 |
| 67 | 307 | 80 | 450 | Q | 160 |
| 68 | 315 | 81 | 462 | R | 170 |
| 69 | 325 | 82 | 475 | S | 180 |
| 70 | 335 | 84 | 487 | T | 190 |
| 71 | 345 | 85 | 500 | H | 210 |
| 72 | 355 | 86 | 515 | V | 240 |
| 73 | 365 | 87 | 530 | W | 270 |
| 74 | 375 | 88 | 545 | Y | 300 |
| Load index | Load per tyre (kg) | Load index | Load per tyre (kg) | Speed symbol | Speed (kph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 | 560 | 101 | 825 | K | 110 |
| 89 | 580 | 102 | 850 | L | 120 |
| 90 | 600 | 103 | 875 | M | 130 |
| 91 | 615 | 104 | 900 | N | 140 |
| 92 | 630 | 105 | 925 | P | 150 |
| 93 | 650 | 106 | 950 | Q | 160 |
| 94 | 670 | 107 | 975 | R | 170 |
| 95 | 690 | 108 | 1000 | S | 180 |
| 96 | 710 | 109 | 1030 | T | 190 |
| 97 | 730 | 110 | 1060 | H | 210 |
| 98 | 750 | 111 | 1090 | V | 240 |
| 99 | 775 | 112 | 1120 | W | 270 |
| 100 | 800 | 113 | 1150 | Y | 300 |
| Load index | Load per tyre (kg) | Speed symbol | Speed (kph) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 114 | 1180 | K | 110 |
| 115 | 1215 | L | 120 |
| 116 | 1250 | M | 130 |
| 117 | 1285 | N | 140 |
| 118 | 1320 | P | 150 |
| 119 | 1360 | Q | 160 |
| 120 | 1400 | R | 170 |
| 121 | 1450 | S | 180 |
| 122 | 1500 | T | 190 |
| 123 | 1550 | H | 210 |
| 124 | 1600 | V | 240 |
| 125 | 1650 | W | 270 |
| Y | 300 | ||
| VR | >210 | ||
| ZR | >240 |
TUBE TYPE AND TUBELESS
Tube type: Inner tube separate from tyre.
Tubeless: Inner tube incorporated into the tyre. Needs an air tight rim, however on vintage cars, if the rims are not air tight, we can allow the fitting of certain TL tyres with a special inner tube. When this is possible, the corresponding tube is given in the tables.
Authenticity and Technological Know-How
Michelin’s choice of continuous innovation and technological leadership can be found in this collection range. These tyres benefit from the progress made in grip on rubber mixings. However, the dynamic characteristics of these tyres remain entirely appropriate in association with those of the vehicles of time. Made in small production runs often by hand, these tyres call on the technical skills and the know-how of the finest craftsmen.
IN KEEPING WITH THE STANDARDS OF THE AGE
The technological excellence of this range goes hand-in-hand with the historical authenticity of the vehicles. These tyres, reproducing the exact configuration of the model of the time in terms of size, tread pattern and aspect ration thus ensure that the vehicle remains entirely in keeping with the period.
In this way, Michelin, by offering you tyres which are both safe and historically accurate, intend to make their contribution to safeguarding, promoting and perpetuating motoring heritage.
Tyres made for fitment of classic cars – F.I.V.A. definition of a classic car:
- Which is at least 30 years old
- Which is preserved and maintained in a historically correct condition
- Which is not used as a means of daily transport
- And which is therefore a part of our technical and cultural heritage
CROSS-PLY TYRES WITH BEAD WIRES
The incorporation of wires into the bead in 1925 led to an improvement in tyre retention on the rim. These tyres also benefited from two major innovations prior to their creation:
- The introduction of carbon black in 1917 which led to a five-fold increase in tyre service life.
- The appearance of layers of textile wire cords parallel with each other in the tyre’s carcass, which gave rise to the so-called “cable” tyre in 1919 and the “cable confort” in 1923, the first low pressure car tyre (2.5 bars 36 psi).
Double rivet: “Double rivet” is in fact the name of a tread pattern which first saw the light of day with the first generation of tyres for motor cars, beaded edge tyres. This tread pattern was retained for first tyres with bead wires in 1925. This tread pattern, with its old-fashioned appearance, was truly revolutionary at the time. It was also the inspiration for the first radial tyres.
Superconfort: Resulting from research which led to even lower pressures and slower wear, Michelin brought out a very low pressure tyre in 1932, the Superconfort. 1935 saw the launch of the Superconfort Stop S the first tyre with a heavily siped tread pattern, specially designed for wet surfaces. At the time, Michelin was the only manufacturer who knew how to make this type of tyre with the famous zigzag sipes, which greatly improve safety because of the excellent grip they give. As its name suggests, the Superconfort Stop tyre offers exceptional comfort, in addition to its performance on the road.
Inflation Pressures of Cross-ply Tyres
- Maximum speed is 150 kph (94 mph).
- The inflation pressure has to be between 2 and 3.5 bars.
- To get the best out of your tyres, use the pressure which corresponds to the actual (measured) load on each tyre (fully-loaded vehicle).
Whenever the vehicle is to be used at speeds or with loads or pressures that are outside the above recommendations, first consult the Michelin technical department.
THE REVOLUTIONARY X TYRE
With its X tyre with radial casing piles, Michelin set out to conquer the world with a considerable advance in technology. Its revolutionary construction for the time had the special feature of separating the sidewall function from the crown function.
The first major innovation from Michelin, the radial tyre was first marketed as the “X” tyre in 1949. At the time, Lancia was the first car manufacturer to fit the X tyre as original equipment on the Aurelia model. From 1955 onwards, radial technology became more popular and the majority of European car manufacturers opted for the radial solution. The X could be fitted to cars of very different categories, from the original and popular 2 CV or Beetle to the fascinating Mercedes 190SL or Facel Vega.
The advantages of the radial tyre compared with the cross-ply tyre could be clearly seen in all areas:
- Greater safety (road-holding, grip, braking)
- Economical to use (double the mileage, considerable reduction in fuel consumption)
- Increased comfort thanks to the flexibility of the sidewalls. In the 50’s, the superiority of the X tyre was such that a number of racing drivers adopted it, although Michelin was not officially involved in any racing.
Radial: One can easily see the specialisation of the functions of sidewall/casing and tread. The sidewalls are made up of single layer of textiles plies, and so are not affected by the “shearing” phenomenon. The textile layer, like the rubber layer covering it, is thin and is therefore flexible. The considerable flexibility of the sidewalls results in better handling as well as fuel savings. As for the tread, it is made rigid through a triangulation effect brought about by combining the casing layer with two layers of steel cord bracing plies (3 for the X tyre). The rigidity of the crown reduces wear of the tyres an improves road-holding.
XAS TYRE: DRIVING PRECISION
From its launch in 1965, the XAS remained the reference tyre until the end of the 70s. The first tyre was an asymmetrical tread pattern, the inside and outside of the XAS work differently to give the car a good balance.
Michelin made more progress by differentiating the many elements that form the tyre, leading to the creation of the XAS, the first tyre with an asymmetrical tread pattern. The XAS was constructed taking into account the different kinds of work done by the shoulders, sidewalls and different parts of the crown, depending on whether they are on the inside and outside relative to the car. Just like a person’s foot is asymmetrical, the inside and outside of a tyre work differently to give the car good balance and sure handling.
This major progress allows the XAS tyre to give:
- Remarkable stability,
- Exceptional road holding on bends,
- Previously unknown level of grip in all conditions.
The first production tyre designed to run at 210km/h (131mph), its exceptional performance naturally led to the XAS being used in racing, in Formula France as from 1968, circuit racing, rallies and hill climbs.
