The Oldies are Getting Younger

It’s enough to make you feel old, really. Every year cars considered classic get just that bit newer, and before long we find ourselves all misty eyed about vehicles that sat fresh on the showroom floor just a handful of seasons ago. The day when we get nostalgic over the Ford Focus is perhaps not too far off. But despite their relative youthfulness, obtaining the right tyres for classic cars could pose a problem were it not for the likes of Vintage Tyre Supplies, a company dedicated to tyres that have slipped out of the mainstream.

While remaining true to its name by stocking one of the most comprehensive ranges of vintage tyres available anywhere, VTS is also moving with the times and expanding its range to include fitments for these ‘modern classics.’ As VTS managing director Chris Marchant comments, “our range moves on as each year goes by, a new set of classics emerges.” He adds that “as a tyre becomes discontinued, which occurs as evolution within the motor industry takes place, we are offered the possibility of taking it on. We have to decide whether the particular style and sizes are those that are viable for us to produce.”

One range that has in particular grown of late as a result of such activity is the Avon line-up offered by VTS. “We now supply some fitments for Rolls Royce and Bentley up to the 1990s,” says Marchant. “Today we have reached a situation where we are selling 17-inch low profile tyres such as the 255/55R17 for Rolls Royce cars.” Vehicles such as this are becoming quite collectable, he adds, and as VTS as a company majors on authenticity, the need to expand the range has been inevitable. “Our relationship with Avon originally began 15 years ago, and since then it has grown stronger and stronger. So if we have a customer that owns, say, a later model Bentley, and they want the right tyre for it, its only natural that we approach them about supplying such a product.”

In Cooper Tire’s UK operations VTS has found a company willing to go the extra mile; vintage and classic tyres are not, after all, volume products. “All products are made by Avon racing,” the VTS managing director comments. “Like those used in racing, tyres for vintage and classic vehicles are fairly low volume and the quality of finish is important. They are hands-on low volume products. This is also the case with the Dunlop tyres we sell – they are made by Dunlop’s motorsport division in Birmingham.”

Speaking of Dunlop, Chris Marchant reports that VTS is currently working towards the introduction of a new 220/65 R90 tyre. “This is a size originally fitted to the Jaguar XJ40,” he says. “This tyre was originally made by Dunlop but discontinued, and although the car remains fairly common there is no tyre available. We are trying to get this tyre re-produced.” Another prominent range offered by VTS, for both vintage and more recent classics, is that supplied by Michelin. “The Michelin range also has tyres for 70s, 80s and sometimes even 90s vehicles such as Mercedes, BMW, or the Pilot Sport (in 225/50 ZR16 and 255/50 ZR16) as fitted to the Ferrari Testarossa.”

But although some classic vehicles are relatively new, their status as cosseted treasures perhaps driven only on sunny weekends means that the tyres fitted to some are not so fresh. Tyre ageing is an issue that has been discussed for some years, and increasing attention is being directed towards the owners of classic vehicles. “We have seen owners of vintage and classic cars keeping tyres for a long time, on occasion up to 20 or 30 years,” comments Marchant. “Our advice would be to ensure tyres are regularly inspected. The BTMA recommends tyres be replaced after ten years, and we are very happy to repeat this advice to our customers.”

For VTS, however, another age-related tyre phenomenon is seen as posing a greater safety risk. Chris Marchant explains: “From our perspective an issue of greater concern is the development of internet auction sites; here it is not unknown for tyres to be sold as new but in fact be fifty years old. Unfortunately a fatality occurred last year, when a man unwittingly purchased tyres manufactured many years ago and fitted them to his vehicle. The tyres failed badly after a short period of use, resulting in his death.”

“We need to address this problem,” Marchant emphasises. “During the last month I wrote a letter and sent it to several magazine editors about this very issue – old stock described as new. A lot of the problem is that people want authenticity, and tyres we sell that are made today look the same as those made 40 or 50 years ago – in fact, they are often manufactured in the same moulds. A tyre that has sat in someone’s garage for up to half a century may sell for a good price online, but there is a reason for the low price tag.”

Like everyone involved in the tyre business, VTS has not been immune from the upward rush of raw material prices. “Recent increases in raw material prices mean that car tyre prices have been going up six or seven per cent,” comments Marchant. “But if you’ve got a car sitting in the garage worth £40,000, you’re going to do it. You’re going to get the tyres you need. I think people are resigned to these price increases to some degree.” Fortunately for VTS, the other issue plaguing a number of UK based suppliers has posed less of a headache. “The exchange rate and the lower value of the sterling has not been such an issue for us. That is one of the advantages of being an international company, Europe is a big part of our business and we can both buy and sell products directly from Euro accounts.”

And in spite of unprecedented raw material costs and other industry-wide concerns, VTS is thriving and steadily expanding. Indeed, right now the company is looking to make new additions to its team. “We are looking for new staff at the moment,” says Marchant. “I think you could describe vintage tyres as an interesting business, and it’s definitely a growing one, hence the vacancies. We are looking for two people; one in our warehouse area, a person that would be involved in fitting and balancing plus warehouse duties, along with attending the occasional show. The other vacancy is in our sales office – we seek a person with language skills in a role that would involve travel throughout Europe.” Anyone interested in a career with a company that has strong connections with the past but is also forward looking is encouraged to contact VTS for further information.