We are often asked why all Blockley radial tyres have such high speed ratings - typically T (118mph / 190kph) on the smallest sizes, H (130mph / 210kph), V (149mph / 240kph) and W (168mph / 270kph), when the tyre sizes are usually fitted to vehicles with significantly lower achievable speeds.

The reason for the higher speed rate is that not doing so is just an excuse by a manufacturer for making a poor quality cheaper made product. Sometimes also as a result of using old used moulds and tooling incapable of making a round or consistent tyre. What the end user benefits from by having a high speed capable tyre is having a product constructed to much better tolerances. This means consistent tread thickness and a better build quality which means good balance and free from the inconsistencies that lead to poorer handling and ride qualities. Remember a lower build quality or out of round tyre would show up and fail the higher speed rating test - a 1 hour run under the load listed on the sidewall of the tyre (often a load in excess of the weight it will carry on the car). So having a high speed rating coupled with a good load rating is an indication that, if nothing else, the tyre is round and consistent. Which also means it shouldn't be needing a mass of balance weights to compensate for the lack of quality.

In addition to the speed rating, every single Blockley Radial tyre is dynamically checked for consistency and balance, and anything that does not pass our tolerances is rejected. This ensures that the tyres we supply to the customer require little balancing and are even marked up on the sidewall to show the tyre fitter the optimum position to put it on the rim, by aligning the small painted yellow circle on the sidewall in the vicinity of the valve stem. Blockley is surprisingly the only company that does this, all other Classic car brands not bothering no doubt due to the extra cost, and also having to reject some of the production which could otherwise have been sold. The Classic car owner is probably thought of by their marketing departments as older, using their vehicles more sparingly, not using in the wet etc which is why we started Blockley, to make the best possible!

The higher speed rate leads to a benefit at low speed when using a Blockley tyre. The steering is free from wobbles or any shaking, and as the tyres wear over the years they will not need to be re balanced, as tyres often need. So when a customer says their car will not achieve anything like the speed that the Blockley tyres are capable of, you'll see why there is only advantage in having a high speed capable and rated tyre. And because at Blockley we only sell our tyres and tubes direct to the end user or garages and restoration shops the price of a Blockley is invariably much less than the alternative brands offered by the Classic tyre wholesalers, especially the tyres sold on "brand name".

But remember, if the wheels on your car require the fitment of inner tubes, you should fit a correct sized thick butyl Blockley Superior tube because they are sized correctly - unlike much of what is available - so the tube will not be folded over (or stretched out thinly) and so on which, apart from anything else, also affects the balance. You would be surprised how many tubes available are a single tube with too many tyre sizes written on them, even from what one may consider a high end brand, which is the reason why we produced the large range of Blockley Superior tubes, to cover all the tyre sizes we produce, and make sure the end user is getting something wholesome and trouble free.

Fitting a higher speed rated tyre than you think you need can only ever be a good thing. Having said all this, a high speed rating on its own is not a guarantee of the actual handling quality, as is the case with one particular "Classic" tyre brand!