Author Topic: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.  (Read 6264 times)

Paul99

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • United Kingdom, England, Hampshire UK
  • Posts: 274
  • 230 SL White. 1966.
UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« on: November 29, 2020, 12:19:22 »
My existing tyres are now 10 years old so thinking of changing. Although not many UK cars have whitewalls, they do seem to make the tyres look less "balloony"

Anyone tried these:

https://www.blockleytyre.com/product/185hr14-white-wall

They are a bit cheaper than the Michelin MXV whitewalls, but not sure if Blockley are any good?

My existing tyres are budget tyres (Falcon SN807)  and have been great (non whitewalls) , and they cost almost the same for four as one of the Blockley tyres, so an interesting dilemma. 

Thoughts ?


Pinder

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 944
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2020, 15:38:36 »
I dont know if you have Hankooks in the UK. they have the white wall. i like the tread pattern better than the one you posted a pic of. all 4 tires at Walmart here in NJ were around $250. I went slights wider 195. I ordered mine online from walmart and had them sent to the store and they mounted the tires balanced etc.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.


Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2020, 16:11:08 »
These are nice!
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

FGN59

  • Inactive
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
  • Posts: 263
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #4 on: November 29, 2020, 16:17:36 »
Indeed. However I cannot seem to find them over here (France). Only one vendor, showing out of stock.
François

1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SW HDJ80 4.2L diesel
sold:
1969 280SL US specs, 4-speed manual, beige-grey (726H), parchment leather
1962 Jaguar MK2 3.8L (4.2L XJ6 engine), black, tan leather interior
1968 Peugeot 204 roadster, white, black interior
1955 Massey Ferguson TEF20 diesel tractor 😁

Paul99

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • United Kingdom, England, Hampshire UK
  • Posts: 274
  • 230 SL White. 1966.
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2020, 11:51:05 »
So my existing tyres are 185/80/14  can i fit 195's on the factory standard 1965 steel rims?


stickandrudderman

  • Vendor
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • United Kingdom, England, Richmond
  • Posts: 2799
    • http://www.colinferns.com
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2020, 12:36:19 »
I've fitted many Blockley tyres to customers' cars without issue.

Pinder

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 944
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2020, 15:49:05 »
Yes 195s fit just fine. They are only slightly wider. No issues.
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

FGN59

  • Inactive
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
  • Posts: 263
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2020, 17:44:30 »
For a 195 tire to approximate the same dimensions (diameter / circumference) as a 185/80, it would need to be a 195/75-R14. I have not seen any tires of this dimension anywhere. Only 195/70-R14, which is quite a bit smaller.
François

1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SW HDJ80 4.2L diesel
sold:
1969 280SL US specs, 4-speed manual, beige-grey (726H), parchment leather
1962 Jaguar MK2 3.8L (4.2L XJ6 engine), black, tan leather interior
1968 Peugeot 204 roadster, white, black interior
1955 Massey Ferguson TEF20 diesel tractor 😁

GM

  • Associate Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, CA, San Pedro
  • Posts: 563
Gary
1971 280SL - Sold
(98 from the end of production)
DB180 Silver Gray Metallic
Black MB Tex

66andBlue

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, CA, Solana Beach
  • Posts: 4708
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2020, 18:13:35 »
... it would need to be a 195/75-R14. I have not seen any tires of this dimension anywhere. ...
Perhaps not available in France but here is at least one with an H rating in Germany (Nankang N-605) (and several with a T rating)
https://reifen.pkwteile.de/ganzjahresreifen/195-75-r14

How good that one is is of course another question.  ;)

Alfred
1964 230SL manual 4-speed 568H signal red
1966 230SL automatic 334G light blue (sold)
1968 280SL automatic (now 904G midnight blue)

FGN59

  • Inactive
  • Silver
  • ****
  • France, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille
  • Posts: 263
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2020, 19:08:45 »
I’ll eat my hat, as we say in France, or ‘I stand corrected’. I had in fact been looking for such tires, kind of casually as I’m not in a hurry, but couldn’t find any. Thanks to your link, I have indeed found several. They seem to be registered in the ‘small utility vehicle’ category. Hum, something to think about...
François

1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SW HDJ80 4.2L diesel
sold:
1969 280SL US specs, 4-speed manual, beige-grey (726H), parchment leather
1962 Jaguar MK2 3.8L (4.2L XJ6 engine), black, tan leather interior
1968 Peugeot 204 roadster, white, black interior
1955 Massey Ferguson TEF20 diesel tractor 😁

Pawel66

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • Poland, Mazowieckie, Konstancin-Jeziorna
  • Posts: 5154
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2020, 22:55:16 »
Which ones have yo found in Europe? I tried to find these Hankooks, but failed so far...
Pawel

280SL 1970 automatic 180G Silver
W128 220SE
W121 190SL
G-class

Pinder

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA, NJ, Edison
  • Posts: 944
1970 280 SL Light Ivory DB 670. 4 Speed manual shift no AC Limited Slip Diff.

neelyrc

  • Full Member
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, AL, Birmingham
  • Posts: 1205
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #14 on: December 01, 2020, 03:48:53 »
The last time I changed my tires I went to Maxxis 195 75 R14 with the narrow white stripe.  I am pretty sure Maxxis sells into the UK.  I do not know if they carry this size. I have been well satisfied with these.
Ralph

1969 280SL, 4 Speed Manual, Dark Olive (291H), Parchment Leather (256), Dark Green Soft Top (747)
1972 Mercedes-Benz 280SEL 4.5
1988 Mercedes-Benz 560SL
2007 BMW 328xi (E90)
Italy
2004 Toyota HiLux D4D Pickup
2008 BMW 330xd Futura Coupe' (E92)

PeterPortugal

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • Portugal, Faro, Lagoa
  • Posts: 524
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #15 on: December 01, 2020, 09:36:56 »
Maxxis whitewalls are available in Portugal. If they are here then they are certainly also in the UK.
1963 220se Cabrio
1968 280se Coupe

Berggreen

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • Denmark, Zealand, Gentofte
  • Posts: 233
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #16 on: December 09, 2020, 07:24:04 »
For 195/75 R14 white wall tyres, then check here: (UK based dealer)
https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/195-75-14.html

They both have the Hankook and Milestar white wall tyres, but both are only S-rated. We need at least H-rated for our cars to be street legal. Especially in Germany, they are very picky about that!

If you are ok with a 25 mm white wall, and want an in-expensive 185R14 tyre, then look for the Radar Dimax Classic tyre. They cost less than 70 EUR a piece and are H-rated. I have a set of these tyres on one of my 280SLs, though in 205/70R14 (W-rated) black wall on Fuchs alu-rims, and I am quite happy with them. They have them with most of the big online tyre dealers in Europe, like: https://www.reifenleader.de/autoreifen/radar/dimax-classic/185r14-90h-949958

You can read more about the Radar Dimax Classic tyres here: https://www.omni-united.com/index.php/radar/dimax-classic
 
Also check this German classic tyre dealer which seems to sell white wall tyres made based on black wall tyres from many different brands by simply vulcanating the white wall stripe onto the tyre: https://www.vintagewheels.de

Hope this helps! :)

Cheers,

Christian
« Last Edit: December 09, 2020, 10:32:17 by Berggreen »
02/1971 MB 280SL (aut.) - olive green 291H
11/1970 MB 280SL (man.) - silver 180G
12/1977 MB 350SE (aut.) - deep green 825H
03/1969 Volvo 1800S (man.) - dark green 94

john.mancini

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA: Nokomis, FL and Chatham, MA
  • Posts: 619
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #17 on: December 19, 2020, 13:39:32 »
Just installed (4) HANKOOK KINERGY ST whitewalls on my 65 230SL for under $270.00 U.S. total price.  195/75/14's. Great tires. Take a look.
John
68 280SL 906 Blue 4-sp
69 280SL 906 Blue
70 280SL 904 Blue
70 280SL 571 Red
70 280SL 040 Black 4-sp
66 230SL 162 Blue/Grey 
68 280SL 568 Red 4-sp
69 280SL 304 Horizon Blue
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
83 911SC
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 RS60
62 Corvette Fuelie
66 GT350H
67 GT350
70 LT1 conv

JN

  • Associate Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • USA, NJ, egg harbor twp
  • Posts: 127
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2020, 17:56:40 »
Hankooks are the way to go, except when they mounted mine
there was some residual oil that they used to get the tires on the rims and when I got home it ran on the w/w
and I cannot get the stain out
Anybody have any ideas of how to get it off?
1967 250 SL Coupe
2014 GLK 250 BlueTec
1994 Ford F 150 4wd

Norm

  • Full Member
  • Silver
  • ****
  • USA, TX, Wimberley
  • Posts: 315
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2020, 19:47:13 »
There are several commercial products available.  I like the WSW cleaner from Jay Leno's Garage and a stiff / short bristle nylon brush, also SOS pads and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser cleaning pads.  Last resort is a very fine grit sandpaper.

Good luck!

Norm

« Last Edit: December 20, 2020, 00:58:11 by Norm »
Norm
1966 230SL 162H Blue-Grey
1994 Acura NSX Formula Red
2024 Acura RDX A-Spec, White Pearl
2016 Mercedes S63 AMG Coupe Obsidian Black
2011 Harley Davidson Super Glide Light / Dark Root Beer

john.mancini

  • Full Member
  • Gold
  • *****
  • USA: Nokomis, FL and Chatham, MA
  • Posts: 619
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2020, 22:48:47 »
Norm,

Love that 162 Blue/Grey. Hope all is well.

John
John
68 280SL 906 Blue 4-sp
69 280SL 906 Blue
70 280SL 904 Blue
70 280SL 571 Red
70 280SL 040 Black 4-sp
66 230SL 162 Blue/Grey 
68 280SL 568 Red 4-sp
69 280SL 304 Horizon Blue
65 230SL 519 Red 4-sp
83 911SC
98 911 cab
56 Ford F100
08 RS60
62 Corvette Fuelie
66 GT350H
67 GT350
70 LT1 conv

Berggreen

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • Denmark, Zealand, Gentofte
  • Posts: 233
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #21 on: December 20, 2020, 06:22:32 »
Just installed (4) HANKOOK KINERGY ST whitewalls on my 65 230SL for under $270.00 U.S. total price.  195/75/14's. Great tires. Take a look.

They look GREAT on your car!! :D

I did some research and the KINERGY ST model seems to have replaced the OPTIMO H724 which was the previous model they sold in 195/75R14 with a thin white stripe (16-17 mm), and which I did not like too much, both because it was only S-rated and as the side-walls writing looked a bit too modern for my taste.

Thus, can I ask you please to maybe make some close-ups of your new KINERGY tires, so that we can see them up close as well? Also, if you can measure the width of the white stripe it would be great! :)

I have trouble finding the KINERGY ST model in Europe. Does anyone know where to buy them in Europe? Or would I have to import them from the US with expensive shipping and costums fees?

Cheers,

Christian :)
02/1971 MB 280SL (aut.) - olive green 291H
11/1970 MB 280SL (man.) - silver 180G
12/1977 MB 350SE (aut.) - deep green 825H
03/1969 Volvo 1800S (man.) - dark green 94

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6653
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2020, 15:36:21 »
Personally I have not had good luck with Hankook tires of any kind when delivered as OEM tires on Ford products. I think on the third set on my 3rd or 4th Flex, I just changed them to Michelin and what an unbelievable difference in feel and handling. It was Optimos at the time, and replaced with Primacy, the ones that came in the Flex size...but I digress. We have very few options in a size that fits, and even less so with a WW, so as the saying goes, "beggars cannot be choosers". Seems that the other tires that fit, Sprint Classic, Classic Michelin, Coker Phoenix are all very costly.

For Berggreen (Christian) perhaps in DK you have some discounted tire shops and they may be able to offer tires what are not available here in USA/North America. So, pay a visit to a few shops and see what they can find in the appropriate sizing...185-14, 195/75-14, 205/70-14 etc. You may come up with one that we cannot find.
Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid

Berggreen

  • Full Member
  • Senior
  • ***
  • Denmark, Zealand, Gentofte
  • Posts: 233
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #23 on: December 20, 2020, 22:02:16 »
For Berggreen (Christian) perhaps in DK you have some discounted tire shops and they may be able to offer tires what are not available here in USA/North America. So, pay a visit to a few shops and see what they can find in the appropriate sizing...185-14, 195/75-14, 205/70-14 etc. You may come up with one that we cannot find.

Thanx, this is good advice. :)

We do have some low priced alternatives in Europe, like eg. the Radar Dimax Classic (see my post above), but unfortunately they all have wider side stribes, around 25-28 mm. I think this looks great on the 230/250SL with the old-style hub caps. But for the 280SL with the one-piece hub caps, I personally prefer tyres with the narrow side stribes, thus less than 20 mm.

Most of the expensive tyres like Michelin, Vredestein, Dunlop, Pirelli, etc. all have 20 mm stribes. But I prefer the 16-17 mm which many of the cheaper alternatives on the US market have. Only down-side is that most of these tyres are only S-rated (max. 180 kmh), whereas we should actually not go below H-rated (210 kmh), which is what the Pagoda is rated for. In Germany they are very strict on this, and if they stop you are see less than H-rated tyres on your Pagoda, you cannot drive from the site! In Denmark, and I guess other European countries as well, they are not as strict. But you do not want to rule out a drive to Germany in your Pagoda, due to low-rated tyres!

However, the Hankook KINERGY ST tyres are T-rated (190 kmh), and they look like they have the pretty narrow side stribes, thus they seem an acceptable nice looking alternative to the expensive tyres. A runner up could be the Milestars in the same size, also with the same 16-17 mm side stribes, though only S-rated. But no drive to Germany with these tyres unfortunately. :(

Does anyone have experience with the Milestars?

Cheers,

Christian :)

02/1971 MB 280SL (aut.) - olive green 291H
11/1970 MB 280SL (man.) - silver 180G
12/1977 MB 350SE (aut.) - deep green 825H
03/1969 Volvo 1800S (man.) - dark green 94

mdsalemi

  • Pagoda SL Board
  • Platinum
  • ******
  • USA, NC, Davidson
  • Posts: 6653
Re: UK Whitewall tyres - for a change.
« Reply #24 on: December 21, 2020, 16:03:38 »
Actually, S speed rating means 180 km/h or 112 MPH, and that is, as we would say, "crazy fast" to be driving in anything other than the most optimal conditions; that would be an empty autobahn with no traffic, dry conditions, during the day. Very few places where that can happen anymore.

So, you are saying that if you get pulled over by the police in Germany (no matter what for), and the police look at the speed ratings of your tires, they will then go to a database of 50 year old cars, and see that it once carried H rated tires, they will prevent you from driving away?

...and the Europeans have long lamented about crazy American automotive rules...

Michael Salemi
Davidson, North Carolina (Charlotte Area) USA
1969 280SL (USA-Spec)
Signal Red 568G w/Black Leather (Restored)
2023 Ford Maverick Lariat Hybrid "Area 51"
2022 Ford Escape Hybrid
2023 Ford Escape Hybrid