• It is designed to correctly fit rim widths available in period (typically 3 inches for 500 and 2.5 inches for 4.50 sections). Presently the higher performance road cars fitted with, say, a 5.00x19 race tyre have had to be fitted with a rim measuring at least 4 inches across the well as recommended by the manufacturer - A ludicrous situation as cars did not have such wide rims originally. As an example G.P Bugattis, with their aluminium wheels having a width of only 2.7 inches either have to fit these same tyres, or fit non-standard wheels - either solution being unsatisfactory. Blockley tyres address these
  shortcomings

• At present old car tyres are exempt from any of the legislation requirements expected of current vehicles tyres. Blockley tyres on the other hand have been subjected to a 130mph (H) speed rating and D.o.T. (Dept. of Transportation) testing for the USA. The reason for choosing such a high speed rating when so few of our cars can attain this speed is to ensure a high design and build quality which affect roundness, balance and so on. This is of benefit to any vehicle, such as my Riley '9' (which was the reason for producing the 4.50 x 19)

• Virtually every race, hill climb and off-road trial has been won using Blockley road/race tyres, the same tyres that give fantastic road holding and unbelievable road milages - up to 3 times that of the double rivet Michelin.

• It is almost unbelievable to think that the Blockley range of high speed rated cross ply road/race tyres (including our new range of 16") are the only tyres available for historic cars which DoT marked for the US market.

New 16 inch Sizes

Our latest project has been to produce a range of 16 inch tyres incorporating a new tread design. After much work and testing (both on the road and at Goodwood track) the new range has been available since December 2003, starting with the 600 x 16" size suitable for cars such as XK and C type Jaguar, 250 Td F and Testa Rossa Ferrari etc. Many vehicles appear to be fitted with incorrect fitment radials (one well known manufacturer even recommending the fitment of their taxi tyre!) which these handsome new tyres will correct.
650 and 550 X 16 Tyres have also been tested and produced.

Optimum
Rim Width

Price

Notes

2.50"

£115.00

3.00"

£139.00

2.00"

£35.00

2.25"

£69.00

In Stock

2.75"

£109.00

In Stock

3.00"

£155.00

In Stock

3.00"

£129.00

In Stock

3.50"

£185.00

In Stock

Used on 38/250 Mercedes etc., this has always been a problem size due to low demand, coupled with many cars being converted to 19-inch rims. Due to the low volume of units anticipated, these will be somewhat expensive and production will commence only once sufficient orders materialise.

3.75"

£220.00

In Stock

In Stock

Any tyres running on wire wheels must be fitted with a good quality rim band and inner tube. Blockley tyres will be fitted with 'Classico' inner tubes (available from Concours Rubber and Tyre Products Ltd. which you can order at the same time). Vehicles capable of speeds in excess of 100 mph should be fitted with racing tubes. There is no other range of race tube manufactured other than "Classico" with a long track record.

I have had to stop supplying one well known tyre outlet for, among many reasons, finding out they were fitting tubes other than the "Classico" brand to my tyres, against my wishes.

A few years ago an enthusiast many of us know had a dreadful accident in his newly rebuilt 166 Ferrari on the road not far from where I live. His car was badly damaged and he was lucky not to be killed. His car had been fitted with newly built Borrani style alloy rimmed wheels which on further investigation turned out to be smaller in circumference (by a few mm) than the recognised tolerences this may have part caused a rotation of the tyre on the rim causing the puncture. The spokes had been cropped and ground and on investigation had left sharp edges. The multi use tubes supplied by the specialist tyre outlet marked for the size turned out not to be wholly compatible with the tyres due to the thickness of the tubes once inflated. After a £10,000.00 investigation it was concluded that the puncture occured due to a combination of reasons.

I started the Blockley Tyre Co. Ltd. because the enjoyment of some great cars are spoilt by the tyres that are available, not because of desperation to make money (the tyre business is all about making margins) and I want to be able to sleep at night knowing that the product is as good as can be made with no shortcuts. This is why I specify "Classico" tubes and rim bands, which are hardly expensive in any case and are one of the most important component fitted to a car.

Apart from buying direct, I now have one UK outlet (MWS) with a second company (EDB Racing) about to start up who will also provide service at race meetings - both outfits who would refuse to sell the wrong tyre just to take your money. My tyres are not available from any other tyre outlet in the UK, even though Longstone Tyres and Vintage Tyre Supplies claim to supply all makes of tyres!

Links

http://www.midlandcarstorage.co.uk/