409 tyres

[Nick Challacombe]

Hi Anne, after much deliberation like yourself I decided to put 5 Michelin X on my 407. Nothing to do with price, I just felt that as I had used them in period and liked them I would give them a try. They were available in period and can be obtained with the correct speed rating. That was another concern, I bought them from Longstone tyres who advertise in our magazine.
I am very impressed and wish I had bought them earlier in my ownership, having kept to the Avon Turbospeeds it, the 407, came with.
The tramlining is no more, the ride is greatly improved due I think to the extra flexibility gived by the sidewalls. The only downside is an extra bit of effort in parking but even that has been decreased by upping the tyre pressures to 34 lbs sq inch.
All in all one of the best improvements I have made to the 407 in the 16 years I have owned her/him.
It is having an engine rebuild at the moment as a long trip on Irish petrol finally ruined the engine after running it for 69 thousand miles on unleaded!
Nick

[mjolner]

Always go for radials, remember fitting to Jag XK 150 =Bristol 408
and 411 s5 (205/70/15) with Avon safety wheels.
Hope everyone from BOC enjoyedthe Rols Royce Annual Rally in Stamford. BUT!! there is nothing more exciting
seeing a Bristol suddenly on the road.Who was it driving to Menai Bridge
from Beaumauris N Wales last year? I automatically waved at it's driver.
A 603 or later? Tyre sizes these days seem to be so full of various
combinations some so near eg 255 55 17 Bentley similar to Bmw
235 65 17 --fat-thin/ lower profiles /speed rating /weight rate/
date of manufacture etc. 50 years ago there was a very small selection
to choose from.
185/16 Taxi radials did the job!!