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Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

For trials use a lot of people use the MITAS 3.50 or 400 tyre, these are quite good in my experience. nothing more extreme can be used due to the regulations.

Alternatively if you go up to 400 19 motor cross tyres are available, like this.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MITAS-400-x-19-Trials-tyre-TRIUMPH-custom-bobber-etc-FREE-Mainland-post-/262476317113?hash=item3d1ccec1b9:g:icEAAOxy0bRS~3e3

For serious snow driving I think that's what I would go with.

Stuart.

Location: Teignmouth

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

The vast majority of VSCC trials Austin 7's run on 3.50 x 19 Chen Shing tyres. These are very good in mud and also in snow. On the VSCC Exmoor Trial a few years ago, which had to be abandoned due to the Marshals being unable to access the hills, Steve's Chummy ascended a hill in a North Devon village which had left a VW Synchro floundering. I have also driven an Austin 7 in snow on Avon Triple Duty tyres and found them to be very good. It is not so much the choice of tyre on snow, rather the width of the tyre. An Austin 7 on bald tyres will probably fair better than a Chelsea Tractor on ridiculously wide low profile tyres.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Hi Oliver,
are you having trouble taming all that power? ;)

Steve V.

Location: Polegate, East Sussex, United Kingdom

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

well that the downside of a pigsty engine :-)

Location: Zurich

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

I have entered the annual "Rallye Hivernale des Cévennes" in my RP saloon for the past 12 years, which always includes a section of route in snow (if there is any). I have recently changes over from Avon Sidecar 3.50 x 19 to Longstones and have found them far superior to the Avons as far as grip is concerned.

However for prolonged use in snow I drop the recommended pressure of 30psi to around 20psi.

I have never experienced wheel-spin in my RP...

Location: Gard, France 30960

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Back in the winter of 2009/10, my Trials Chummy co-owner was snowed in for a week in Surrey as the modern Peugeot couldn't get as far as the main road. The Chummy proved to be their saviour! They went out in it every day on various mercy missions such as shopping and getting hay & feed down to daughter's horse which was inaccessible except by tractor, 4x4 (driven properly and with the right tyres) or Austin 7!


      

One day they drove to Farnham from Hindhead to pick up some essential papers so daughter could work from home. The main road was white, trees were down with the weight of snow and everywhere was deserted and silent. At one point they followed a Landrover going so slowly that he pulled over to let them pass - they were then able to get into top gear. On the way back from Farnham a police car followed them at an ever-increasing distance - especially on the hills which the Chummy climbed with ease and absolutely no drama. The tyres were 3.50 x 19 Cheng Shin:
  

David

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Great pictures David. Picture number 1 deserves to be used on a Christmas card!

Location: Farnham

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

oliver
Hi everybody

I plan to join a winter rally this year and looking for a suitable tyre in 3.50-19. I tried the typical Blockley or Longstone tyres but they do not work on snowy roads.

Any suggestions ?

thanks
Oliver




I would suggest it's not the Blockleys or Longstones that don't work in snow - it's the Pigsty engine!

I have had absolutely no problems in snow with Blockleys, Longstones or Avon Sidecar tyres:



But years ago I did a few trials in my Nippy (fitted with the standard Nippy cam), and that was hard work ...

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

That takes me back. Where was it Mike?

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

David Cochrane
Back in the winter of 2009/10, my Trials Chummy co-owner was snowed in for a week in Surrey as the modern Peugeot couldn't get as far as the main road. The Chummy proved to be their saviour! They went out in it every day on various mercy missions such as shopping and getting hay & feed down to daughter's horse which was inaccessible except by tractor, 4x4 (driven properly and with the right tyres) or Austin 7!....


I hope you made sure that Nigel washed the salt of the car afterwards David

Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Alan
That takes me back. Where was it Mike?


That was the MG Car Club's Wolds Trial in 1975, but I can't recall the exact location.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

I still have a trophy for the 1976 wolds trial. Proper trophies you got, in those days,too.
I remember it was somewhere in Lincolnshire, but more than that, I don't know. But I do remember the chip shop was closed when we got back to Ilkeston, so it must have been a long way.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Heidenau provides a nice tyre, lots of my cyclecar friends use it but it's only available in 4.00-19.

http://de.reifenwerk-heidenau.com/modules/reifenliste/view.php?lang=de&point=5&rtyp=17&PHPSESSID=utphff6dqijkm8vad68cudfle7&profil=103&pic=20

would a 4.00-19 tyre fit to the standard austin rim ? I have no mudgards, so space shouldn't be the problem.

best regards
OLiver

Location: Zurich

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

That looks to me as if it could be the next tyre of choice for VSCC trialists?

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Perhaps the manufacturer could best answer that question, but they look OK.

The ideal solution might be to have an extra set of wheels made up with 4.00x18 WM3 rims capable of carrying Michelin X11 4.00x18 trials tyres. For snow use they should be used at a low running pressure, and fitted with internal rim clamps to prevent tyre creep. It is worth pointing out that these competition tyres use a very soft compound so their durability on tarmac is short.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Malcolm Parker
That looks to me as if it could be the next tyre of choice for VSCC trialists?


From VSCC eligibility:
TYRES IN TRIALS
Tyres on cars taking part in trials must have a tread pattern such that the blocks are not more than 10mm deep nor more than 10mm apart laterally or circumferentially. There must not be an uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks. Offroad, trail, trial, enduro or town and country types of tyre are not permitted. The enhancing of the tread
pattern by re-cutting is unacceptable.


Looks close to the rules Malcolm

Charles

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Charles P
There must not be an uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks.

Unfortunately these clearly fail this requirement.

David

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

David Cochrane
Charles P
There must not be an uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks.

Unfortunately these clearly fail this requirement.

David


David, unless I misunderstand the definition of uninterrupted lateral gap, I would say that the Heidenau tyre does not have the afore mentioned uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks???

Ian Mc.

Location: Shropshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Well I'm glad that has been explained! It would have been rather embarrassing if one of the VSCC Eligibility Committee had turned up at the start of a trial with illegal tyres!

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19



Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Depends who is scrutineering, I guess.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

The blocks of tread around the sides of the tyre look as if they could be more than 10mm apart, but it would be fun to turn up at a VSCC trial sporting a pair of these, just to see what the reaction would be!
I suspect they will cost somewhat more than the Chen Shing, in which case the Yorkshire Criteria ('Ow Much!!) would sway the argument.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Ian McGowan
David Cochrane
Charles P
There must not be an uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks.

Unfortunately these clearly fail this requirement.

David

David, unless I misunderstand the definition of uninterrupted lateral gap, I would say that the Heidenau tyre does not have the afore mentioned uninterrupted lateral gap between the side blocks???

Ian Mc.


Looks uninterrupted to me... (click thumbnail for larger picture)

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Where as the ones I pointed out a few days ago, MIGHT fit the letter of the rules, if not the spirit!



I think they would be classed as an enduro tyre, and therefore not be within even the letter of the regulations.

Location: Teignmouth

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Mike Costigan
Alan
That takes me back. Where was it Mike?


That was the MG Car Club's Wolds Trial in 1975, but I can't recall the exact location.



We did that event in about 1982, with Roger Waldron's Cambridge special. My Father won the event, and I was second, however, he wasn't invited to collect the trophy! Im not sure PWA7 club were invited again. It was out near Cadwell Park from memory, I think PWA7c ran an event at the same venue?

Stuart.

Location: Teignmouth

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

From Motor Sport, June 1938


Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Maybe I am interpreting "between the side blocks" too literally!!

Ian Mc.

Location: Shropshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

What's an enduro tyre?

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Surely that given its called 'Trials' is out of the question?

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Stuart Palmer
Where as the ones I pointed out a few days ago, MIGHT fit the letter of the rules, if not the spirit!



I think they would be classed as an enduro tyre, and therefore not be within even the letter of the regulations.


If you compare the tread pattern of this tyre with the Blockley or Longstone 'Triple Stud' type there really isn't that much difference is there?

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

coming back to my question - does the Heidenau 4.00-19 fit on the standard Austin rim ?

Location: Schweiz

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

On a standard 19" rim, yes.

Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Malcolm that picture shows a standard m/c trials pattern tyre. Enduro Tyres are much more knobbly but not as much as moto-cross tyres.

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

I notice that Heidenau appear to supply a 3.50x18 which would fit the standard Austin Van wheel, if Steve hasn't had them all for trials use!

PS Steve you should have a pm from me on another subject.

Regards, Stuart

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

stuart ulph

PS Steve you should have a pm from me on another subject.


Imagine that refers to my question to you yesterday Stuart. No, not received your message but my internet and email did play up a bit yesterday and this morning. Can you send it again please?

Steve

Location: North Yorkshire

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Will do so now, Steve
S

Re: Winter tyre - 3.50-19

Does nobody use the Avon SM mark 2?