E Type wheel and tyre  selection

Q

What is the standard rim width of the wire wheels fitted to my E Type?
 

A

For Series I/II cars, the standard rim width was 5 inches. This is not measured from the outer edge of the rim, but rather from the inner ridges where the tire bead is seated.

Series III (V12) E Types had 6 inch rims.
 

Q

What is available to me if I want to fit wider wire wheels?
 

A

Dayton are the largest manufacturer of aftermarket wire wheels. As well as original rim width wheels, they also offer a 6 inch rim for the S I/II E Types.

Dunlop (OEM) wheels are still available. The Dunlop wire wheel is available in a 7 inch rim for all E Types.
 

Q

What tyres should I fit to my standard E Type rims?
 

A

S I/II E Types: We recommend a 185 or 195 tyre, with a sidewall profile of between 70 and 75. Where concours originality is not a concern, Yokohama make a very good quality (V rated) 185/70 radial that is a very good match for an E Type with standard wheels. We think 185/65 tyres are too low profile for a standard 15 inch E Type wheel. A tyre of this size will lower the ride height significantly from standard. Speedo accuracy will also be an issue.

S III E Types: The original tyre for your car was a 205/70. This is a commonly available tyre size, and there are some excellent options. You could also go with a 215/65 or a 225/60, both of which work very well with the standard 6 inch V12 rim.
 

Q

Can I fit a wider tyre (say a 205/70) to my standard 5 inch E Type wheels?
 

A

Yes and no! The 205/70 is a little too wide for the 5 inch rim. It will fit, and to an extent work, but you would be placing strain upon the side wall for which the tyre was not designed. Many people have installed 205/70 tyres on 5 inch rims and have had no problem. Enthusiastic driving would be likely to cause premature failure of the tyre wall. We do not recommend fitting a 205/70 to a standard 5 inch rim.

Q

What is the widest tyre I can fit to one of the 6 inch rims?
 

A

Probably a 225/60. As the width of the tyre increases, the profile must decrease.

Centre laced 6 inch rims (often called Borrani style wheels) are offset more than the standard appearance (but wider) 6 inch rims. They actually widen the track by 1.75 inches. The widest tyre we recommend fitting with a 6 inch centre lace rim is a 205/70. We have installed 215/65 tyres to centre laced wheels on 6 cylinder E Types - but it is a very tight fit!

The photograph below shows the difference in appearance between a traditionally spoked wheel and the centre laced variety (the centre laced wheel is on the right). Click on thumbnail to view larger image.

 

Q

What 205/70 tyre does CJ recommend for E Type application?
 

A

The Pirelli P4000 205/70V is a good quality, high speed rated tyre that can be bought very reasonably. They retail at around $80.00 each. It is readily available at most of the major tyre discount stores.
 

Q

What is the difference between the spokes on my original chromed wire wheel and the stainless steel spokes fitted as standard to new Dayton wire wheels?
 

A

The chroming process actually makes spokes somewhat brittle - which is not a good thing, given their purpose. Stainless steel spokes are much stronger than chromes spokes, and there is virtually no difference in appearance between the two. A concours judge is unlikely to notice that your spokes are stainless steel.
 

Q

Should I buy sealed wheels or unsealed?
 

A

Sealed wheels have had the inner spoke ends sealed using a silicone resin material. Such wheels can be used without the need for an inner tube. This makes the wheel easier to balance. We have installed and sold literally dozens and dozens of sealed wire wheels, and we have never had a tyre deflate on us yet. We install sealed wheels on all Classic Jaguar restorations. The sealing process adds an additional cost of about $13.00 per wheel to new Dayton wire wheels. This cost is largely offset by the savings in respect of the inner tubes that are no longer needed.
 

Q

If I fit 205/70 tyres to my E Type, will I have clearance problems at the rear arches where the rubber bump stops are installed?
 

A

Possibly. We have found that some E Types do....some don't. It seems that every E Type IRS (independent rear suspension) is set up slightly different from any other! In any event, the rear bump stops can be removed entirely without causing any damage or safety issues.
 

Q

Can I fit early style (eared) spinners to my later style wire wheels?
 

A

Absolutely!
 

Q

Can I 'mix and match' the tyre sizes on my E Type.
 

A

Many modern sports cars have wheels and tyres of different width front to rear. Porsche have been doing this for years. Given the limitations as to the width of tyre you can fit on a standard E Type rim, there is no problem having a wider tyre on the rear of your E Type than at the front. The golden rule here is that you cannot mix and match the cross section. In other words: if you have a 185/75 tyre on the front axle, do not install 185/65 tyres on the rear (or vica versa).