Citroen Specials Club - the club for all lightweight cyclecars

The sidewalls on my MichelinX are beginning to show their age... 20kmiles and almost as many years. I really oughta think about replacement. Most of the tyre guys' searches don't seem to think the 125 width exists and those that do have them as space-saver wheels. I considered the Michelin copies but are wary of the reports on the net about inferior quality etc.
ECAS and 2CVCity both shy away from the China ones but do offer genuine MichelinX. Searching the net reveals the Cassis 2cvshop.co.uk which offer their 'own' (further investigation shows these are made in China)... however they do offer considerable saving against ECAS price. Further searching got me to Longstone and also Vintage Tyres.... below my not so exhaustive list

2cvshop.co.uk 125x15 Club Cassis tyre £47.00 Made In China
2CVCity Nankang 135 £52.00
Firestone F560 125*15 £82.50
Michelin 125/80 r15 £110.00

Ecas Veerubber 125/80 £47.00 Made in Thailand
Toyo 135/80 R15 £52.00
Michelin X 125/80 £91.80
Michelin ZX 135/80 £91.80

VintageTyres Michelin 125/80 r15 £78.00 Ebay Shop

Longstone Michelin 125/80 r15 £102.00

Has anyone go any experience/feelings on the Cassis tyre? does anyone know another source (especially the fitting an balancing in SE Norfolk?) I can get them fitted and balanced for £15 each rim locally so mail-order would seem to be the only way forward... or is it?

Vintage tyres are doing a great price on Mich X's, but, factor VAT on top into that price.

I've got a bunch of MCC 'Mich X' clones - none of which I've had on the road yet. They're slightly smaller rolling diameter than a 'proper' X, but look the same.

The 2CV racers are still using Toyo 310's, which I'm finding are good on the road. Getting close to changing them after 7 years.

Rgrds
Callum

Thanks for the insight Callum, the Toyos were worth considering then? ... Finally went for 'originality' (can they be original on a Lomax?). The Toyo price would probably have attracted a further shipping cost... Vintage offered free shipping included in the £78 a cover (inc VAT).... still they are far more expensive, and probably just as difficult to source, as the tyres I'm putting on the Smart on Monday. I think, looking at my records, I put these Michelins on the Lomax last century.... that'll mean if they last as long that these will outlast me!!.... mind focusing thought!!

Hello Dave

I fitted Toyo 310s ( 135x15) from ECAS, to repace Firestone 125s that were 8 years old and hard.
Grip is much better, I think they are a little softer compound(?)
If you are fitting on a Lomax 3 wheeler, watch the extra width in the rear arch, it is quite tight, I had to space my rear wheel 3 mm as the arch would now appear to not be perfectly centred.


Rob

My original michelin had perished after being left standing for years.These had been on the car since I first put it on the road (2000)And still looked like new tread wear wise.
I purchased a pair of the burton steel wheels and fitted smart car tyres. Left standard 2cv wheel but fitted same rear tyre to the rear
Toyo
NanoEnergy 3
145/65R15 72T £36 each
These reduce top speed slightly
And make steering a bit heavier

For the use the car gets these will be fine providing it causes no issues with the kingpins.
Ride height may need altering as it has the effect of lowering the car.

this is a link to the reasonably good 135 nankangs at best price i have found
https://www.mytyres.co.uk/cgi-bin/rshop ... p=D-105380

bob

Rob Bryant wrote: ↑

Sat Mar 18, 2017 8:22 am

Hello Dave

I fitted Toyo 310s ( 135x15) from ECAS, to repace Firestone 125s that were 8 years old and hard.
Grip is much better, I think they are a little softer compound(?)
If you are fitting on a Lomax 3 wheeler, watch the extra width in the rear arch, it is quite tight, I had to space my rear wheel 3 mm as the arch would now appear to not be perfectly centred.


Rob

Yep, I agree Rob re: the rear arch ‘snugness’. So, on my Lomax 223, as a compromise I have Toyo 135s on the front and a Michelin 125 on the rear. Seems to work for me.

On my Lomax I have also fitted 135x15 for front wheels and 125x15 at the back. Front wheels are fitted with Maxxis MA-701 135/80 R15 73T, good value for money from 38£ to 46£ Very good on wet road.