Classic Aston Martin tyres from Pirelli
Longstone Tyres is pleased to announce the range of period-style Pirellis now available again for classic Aston Martins
Feltham DaviD Brown cars In the 1940s and ’50s the majority of the world’s best sports cars ran on 16in wheels fitted with 6.00V16 crossply tyres. But for some time there hadn’t been a crossply tyre that holds the V-speed rating.
Recently, however, Pirelli’s contribution to the world of historic car tyres has been substantial, as it has increased its range of important period rubber.
Driven by the need to make correct tyres for a Maserati 250F, development started on a high-performance crossply tyre. As you can imagine, there has not been a great demand for crossply tyres within Pirelli for some considerable time. Three carcass structures were developed for the planned re-development of the 6.00V16 Stella Bianca tyre of the 1940s and ’50s. They were shipped over to Longstone Tyres along with two tyre technicians. A day of testing was arranged with three drivers and a pair of 1950s sports cars.
The decision was unanimous: all three drivers chose the same carcass design for its responsive handling, and so the new production of the Pirelli 6.00V16 Stella Bianca crossply tyre was put into production at the beginning of 2019. The result of this is that there is now a genuine, period V-speed-rated crossply tyre available for the Feltham car: DB2, DB2/4, DB MkIII and the early DB4.
In 1952 Pirelli developed its Cinturato radial tyre: for the first time a radial tyre suited to sports cars was available. This groundbreaking development was taken up immediately by Lancia, Ferrari, Lotus, Alfa Romeo, Maserati and more.
This exotic, new, European tyre technology did not come cheap. However, if you were prepared to spend the money, David Brown’s Aston Martin offered the Pirelli 185VR16 Cinturato CA67 as its high-tech radial upgrade.
DB4, DB5 & DB6
When the 1960s arrived, the top-brass cars started being fitted with 15in wheels. Aston Martin was not to be left behind, the later DB4 running on 15in wheels with 6.70V15 crossplies or 185VR15 radials. This tyre fitment continued through the DB5 to the DB6 Series 1.
There isn’t currently a correct crossply tyre with a suitable speed rating. However, as the 1960s developed, the opportunity to maintain higher cruising speeds on motorways and autobahns drove a greater migration towards radial tyres, and so Aston Martin began fitting the 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato CA67 radial.
If you really wanted to push the boat out, Aston Martin offered aluminium-rimmed lightweight Ruote Borrani wire wheels too, as fitted to the DB4 GT Zagato and various James Bond cars. They are still a fabulous enhancement to an already fabulous car.
DB6 & DBS
In the mid-1960s tyre technology moved on. Pirelli developed the ability to make a 205mm-section tyre, able to withstand the power and speed of cars such as the Ferrari 500 Superfast, Maserati 5000GT, Iso Grifo and Lamborghini Miura P400.
Again, Aston Martin was up there with them. The wheelarches of the DB6 Series 2 were flared to accommodate the same 205VR15 Pirelli Cinturato CN72. A crossply 815V15 tyre was also offered.
If you study The Persuaders! carefully enough, you will notice that Lord Brett Rupert George Robert Mark Anthony Andrew Sinclair, being a discerning gentleman, stuck with the Aston Martin fitment on his six-cylinder DBS. It wore 205VR15 Pirelli Cinturato CN72 tyres.
V8 Vantage
When Lamborghini developed the later SV version of its fabulous Miura, the power was astounding. A massive rear tyre was needed to transmit that power to the ground. Pirelli developed the Cinturato CN12, and was then able to make a tyre in the 255/60R15 size!
A similarly brutal amount of power and torque was also available from Aston Martin’s V8 Vantage of the late 1970s, and the same enormous tyres were required as a result.
It’s worth noting that the W speed rating had not been invented in those days, but the current 255/60WR15 Cinturato CN12 production from Pirelli is speedrated as capable of maintaining 170mph continuously for one hour.
aSton martin tyreS
Although the full range of tyres for classic Aston Martins is not yet made by Pirelli, the most important landmark tyres have been reproduced. Manufacturing to the very highest standards with modern materials, and employing modern quality control techniques, Pirelli produces tyres that will make your classic Aston Martin feel exactly the way it did when it was first produced, while offering greater safety levels and grip.
Oh yes, and they look great, too! www.cinturato.net