• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

Michelin XAS tires for my '67 Austin Healey 3000

skipmurf

Freshman Member
Offline
I had an Austin Healey 45 years ago and had Michelin XAS tires on it and loved them. I have gotten a negative review of them (they are no longer made by Michelin) and I would love some practical advice from anyone who has recently installed XAS's on their Healey and what your review of their quality. Thank you
 

Michael Oritt

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Skipmurf--

If you had XAS's on your Healey in 1972 that would have made you somewhat of a pioneer. Back then the Michelin X was a popular tire for British and other sports cars and though they were good in the rain my recollection is that they had a relatively flexible side wall and did not have the best directional stability. The XAS tires--brought out in about 1965-- were originally intended for the larger, faster European sedans such as Citroen DS19's (I believe they owned Michelin at that time), BMW 2500-2800's, etc.

I put a set of 180 XAS's on my 100 a few years back when the XZX was discontinued in the 175 size and I think they are wonderful. They give great tracking at highway speeds and feel very grippy in wet or dry. They fill the wheel openings very nicely and provide a little extra ground clearance--always a good thing on a Healey. I use tubes with my wire wheels.

I believe they are now made some place in eastern Europe and I have not had or heard of any quality problems.
 
OP
S

skipmurf

Freshman Member
Offline
I was indeed a pioneer. I was a foreign car mechanic at the time (age 22) and had French made quartz-iodine headlights as well. My Healey came with a Stebro exhaust, which I would would do again except that Stebro is no longer in business. I am told that the production quality on the XAS's is poor since Michelin is no longer making them, but i loved the way my Healey handled back then. They are expensive, but i think I will give them a try. Thanks.
 

Lin

Jedi Knight
Gold
Country flag
Offline
I use the XASs on my BT7 and love them. Installed by Hendrix. Did it based on Michael Oritt’s recommendation.
Lin
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
They are made by Michelin in Croatia. Longstone and Coker both have assured me they're made by Michelin. America's Tire/Discount Tire may have someone with training for wire wheels. They do in SoCal, but you may have to ship to Hendrix.
 

Lin

Jedi Knight
Gold
Country flag
Offline
I purchased mine from Coker and had them drop shipped to Hendrix. Alan then checked and trued my wires and installed and balanced the tires. Happy customer.
Lin
 
OP
S

skipmurf

Freshman Member
Offline
I was told by Hendrix that they are being made by Coker in Croatia, but he has not had a single problem with the ones installed on his own BJ8. He said he is unaware of any quality problems. Oops, I should have read the post on Tigar tires - apparently owned by Michelin now. SO THEY ARE MADE BY MICHELIN. i STAND CORRECTED!!!
 

SteveT3000

Freshman Member
Offline
Recently fitted XAS's on my BJ8 supplied by Longstone. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending both tyres and supplier. Very happy with them, they feel grippy, fill the arches and are close to the original tyre diameter so speedo is pretty accurate.
 

Jack T

Jedi Trainee
Country flag
Offline
I would also recommend Longstone. I've bought tires from them for both my Healey and Jag. Prices are always better than any supplier in the States even when shipping charges apply, and delivery takes only a few days.
 

steveg

Yoda
Gold
Country flag
Offline
Stretchit2, I and other Healey friends have all bought the 180s from Longstone - we're all very happy with the look and ride. Mine came free shipping in 3 days to the west coast of the US. What's not to like!
 

bluegrass john

Senior Member
Country flag
Offline
I purchased from my XAS tires from Longstone ; They assured me a very recent date code because of their fast turning inventory and indeed when they arrived the date code on the tires was up to date. This was important to me because of the minimum miles put on the car in a year.

John
 
OP
S

skipmurf

Freshman Member
Offline
I bought 180/15 XASs from Coker and had them installed on brand new chrome wires (w/o tubes). I couldn't possibly be happier. Thank you all for the information and help!!!
 

andrea

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
IMGP2206a.jpg
https://get.google.com/albumarchive...yHE-wEafyn_SCT71_CiC3Q?authKey=CPaY2JSzwZr4Iw
very satisfied on roads dry or wet and aesthetically:encouragement::encouragement:
 

CLEAH

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
Skip, you have quite a bit of snow right now...let's see the car out in it doing doughnuts! No doubt you did that back in the day! (And it will remind Randy what he is missing!)
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
red57 Michelin XAS Tires Austin Healey 38
Michael Oritt Michelin XAS tires Austin Healey 54
TR6Canuck TR6 Wire spoke rims to fit Michelin Red Line Tires on TR6 Triumph 12
T TR2/3/3A Michelin vs Vredestien Triumph 20
I For Sale Minilite replicas with Michelin tires $400 Triumph Classifieds 16
jfarris Michelin Cars and Coffee 8/27 in Greenville, SC Spotted 2
J TR6 What are Original TR6 wheels with Michelin Red Lines worth? Triumph 11
AUSMHLY Vredestine vs Michelin Austin Healey 22
wingsandwheels old Michelin redline, 185r-15 free Triumph 7
R TR6 FS -/ USA TR-6 OE michelin Redline 185-15 tires Triumph 10
D Michelin X redlines? Triumph 20
TR4nut Michelin Redline Discontinued? Triumph 3
RobT DIY Michelin Red Line - 205/70R15 Triumph 21
angelfj1 TR5/TR250 Michelin Pilot® Sport Exalto A/S for TR 250 Triumph 15
CinneaghTR Michelin Tire History? Triumph 5
B Replacing Michelin Red Lines....a question Triumph 25
KLUTZ Rostyle rims and Michelin tires Q MG 11
TypeRboy Need Michelin X 145 SR 13 tire Lotus 0
Lutz Kramer Tires Squeaking on Curves Austin Healey 4
Got_All_4 For Sale 2 Vredestein Sprint + S80 Tires 165 R 15 86S Triumph Classifieds 0
Editor_Reid TR2/3/3A Whitewall Tires for TR3 Triumph 11
D Vredestein Tires Austin Healey 11
tinman58 TR2/3/3A New Tires Triumph 10
AngliaGT General TR You Might Need Snow Tires for This - Drive Your Triumph Day 2023 Triumph 5
luke44 TR2/3/3A TR3 inside the tires track dimension Triumph 5
drooartz New wheels and tires for Penny Spridgets 16
johnrip Wedge tr7 tires Triumph 1
vette North East Tires Austin Healey 16
F TR6 Wheels and tires Triumph 10
johnrip Wedge Tires for TR7 stock alloy wheels Triumph 1
S TR2/3/3A Tires Triumph 19
B Tubes in radial tires on wire wheels - what do you do? Austin Healey 27
69MGC MGC What size tires will fit nicely MG 2
danstr6 For Sale Redline tires for sale Triumph Classifieds 0
Jayplum TR2/3/3A Wheels, tires, hubs and axles Triumph 22
edkap2002 TR6 wider tires Triumph 9
pbraun Ideas on tires for Bugeye with 13x6" wheels Spridgets 3
Bayless What tires for '67 Sprite? Spridgets 5
CessnaTPA New Tires or Keep Old Ones Austin Healey 36
5 Sumitomo 13 inch Tires Spridgets 19
madhouse Need Dunlop 165/R15 tires Austin Healey 8
P For Sale Five 6.50-13 Bias ply US Royal Safety 800 tires for sale Spridgets Classified 0
Joe Schlosser Wheels and tires Spridgets 15
T TR2/3/3A What air pressure is recommended in my Hoosier tires? Triumph 1
P MGB MGB tires MG 11
B XK-120 tires Jaguar 7
aero3113 Vredstein Sprint Classic Tires Austin Healey 28
davidb TR6 TR6 tires Triumph 13
Jim_Gruber New Wheels and New Tires for Bugsy IV Spridgets 5
D T-Series T is for Tires MG 10

Similar threads

Top