To Bead or not to Bead, that's the question

I think as far as appearances one early 20's cars goes you can't beat beaded edge tyres and the Dunlop Chevron is best, hence our Longstone L. i do presently have a few in stock in the size's 880X120 and 815X105. if you need them get them while you can.
Also these early cars were designed to have very small footprints which keeps the steering beautifuly light.
I have been to the Dunlop factory at Birmingham and watched them being made on the same equipment they have been using for ever. The beads are built into the tyre carcase as they always have been. i believe it to be the same on the other makes from what i have seen.
Beaded edge tyres do not last as long as wired on tyres and they are not as reliable which is why they stopped using them. However i am in no way sugesting that people should stop using them. However it in nice to be able to offer a choice.

P.S. Hello to Bradislav. i have missed seeing your lovely little Aero steeming around on VSCC trials.

Regards

Dougal

That is fine, but what if your car has artillery wheels. I would like to fit straight sided but it is not an option as no one makes artilleries any more

I wonder if the real problem is that some modern manufacturers are making the tyres in 2 parts, glueing the bead to the carcass. I have drive thousands of miles on BE tyres, and certainly have had problems with some makes but not others. I have driven to the Czech Republic in my twin-cam Sunbeam on several occasions, and raced when I got there. Once I had serious trouble with the beads coming off, but on the other trips no trouble at all. Likewise my 1914 Stutz runs and races on 820 x 120 tyres without any trouble. So, back to the drawing board !

My 30-98 E Type was fitted with well based tyres to the rear and the original beaded edge to the front. With no front wheel brakes, narrow tyres, and being a very light car, it steered beautifully. However, cornering at (reasonable!) speed the bead - always on the outside of the tyre, began to separate from the wall. Also, (since devolution) narrow Scottish roads have been neglected and tend to resemble farm tracks. I've once lost a tyre and another went out with a bang. We ran through 6 new tyres on the front wheels within 2 months or 690 miles.
The car is now on straight sided tyres - I think 23" rather than the 21" it used to be on. They look great, it corners at high speeds with out the risk of tyres coming off, and being slightly longer in the legs with larger wheels, is capable of speeds up to 95mph - until one hits another bloody pot hole or cattle grid!