Dunlop SP44 "Weathermaster" 145R10 to be re-introduced?

[mab01uk]

According to the latest MCR CooperWorld magazine 'Vintage Tyres' are looking to see if there is sufficient demand for the Dunlop SP44 "Weathermaster" 145R10 tyre to be re-introduced. The classic aggressive pattern tyre was the original rally fitment for Mini Coopers, original equipment on many Mokes and fulfils the the need for a 10" diameter 'mud and snow' and rally tyre.

Providing there is sufficient demand, Vintage Tyres will now fund a mould in order to produce the 145R10 SP44 in two compounds (for both road and competition use). If they go ahead it will be a very limited batch and may not be repeated. The retail price would be £132 + VAT per tyre. (Discount of 5% for MCR members). All interested parties are asked to send a £10 deposit per tyre to Vintage tyres before the end of August 2012. If sufficient orders are received the tyres will be made during this winter. If not, unfortunately the project will have to be mothballed and all deposits will be returned.
http://www.vintagetyres.com/
or call 01590 612261

[mab01uk]

Apparently around 200 tyres need to be pre-sold to allow economic manufacture of 400 tyres.
More info here:
The Vintage Tyre Dilemma - When to reintroduce tyres!
http://vintagetyretalk.blogspot.co.uk/2 ... en-to.html

email: chris@vintagetyres.com
ASAP if interested.

[mk1]

Very interesting to read this.

I can however think of a number of 10" Dunlop tyres that would sell much better than the weathermaster.

[SMOKE GREY]

Very interesting to read this.

I can however think of a number of 10" Dunlop tyres that would sell much better than the weathermaster.

SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3

[mk1]

Good call!

[rolesyboy]

SP3 all the way. C'mon Vintage. Who wants Land Rover tyres on a Mini anyway....

[Ronnie]

Very interesting to read this.

I can however think of a number of 10" Dunlop tyres that would sell much better than the weathermaster.

SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3

The first tyres that I ever bought for my first mini (850 also my first car) that is what started it all!

[SMOKE GREY]

SP3. I am positive that you could sell 200 plus of these, no problem. Show cars, works cars etc etc. They were THE tyre for a Mini/Cooper/S in the 60's. And the 'summer' tread pattern is much more practical,come to think of it, they are probably better for an ex-works car, other than the a couple of events, Abingdon used the SP3 and racer more than the SP44's. Not trying to 'dis' the move for SP44's, just think there is a bigger market for the SP3.

[Number Six]

SP3 all the way. C'mon Vintage. Who wants Land Rover tyres on a Mini anyway....

I do,

André

[foxy52]

Very interesting to read this.

I can however think of a number of 10" Dunlop tyres that would sell much better than the weathermaster.

SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3 SP3

...can anyone advise me what dunlop tyre would be suited for a fast road/race mini ??.. i have yoko,s but i see there is a d93 with a not dissimilar tread pattern.....specifically for 165 70 10,s on d1 alloys ??!!.. if someone can adv me how they rate against yoko advans say ao 32 r types??..tks for any advise

[mk1]

Dunlop do a 10" tyre called an R7 which looks superficially like a CR65, it was originally produced for the Japanese market, I believe this is the one you are referring to.

After much excitement about this tyre on this forum & other similar ones, a couple of the major importers decided to import a fairly large batch.

Unfortunately the vast majority of the people who appeared to be dead keen to buy these tyres before they were available did not actually place orders in the amounts that were promised and the importers were left with a huge amount of unwanted stock for an extended period of time, as a result there will probably be no more of these imported into the UK within the foreseeable future, if ever.

These were however very definitely a road going tyre and were not under any circumstances suitable for competition use.

The only treaded Dunlop racing tyre available currently is the CR65 range & these are not road legal in the EU. I have no direct experience of the D93J tyre from Dunlop.

Dunlop lost interest in producing 10" tyres about 20 years ago & your best bet by far for a road going competition tyre are the AVON option, but these are VERY, VERY expensive.

http://www.avonmotorsport.com/road-legal/historic/cr6zz

[youngres]

The Avons are the best, VERY expensive and to their detriment VERY heavy
Vintage Tyres can supply the R7, which is as you say a loose copy of the CR65 and is a radial not a cross ply as the CR65 is.
As for them remaking the SP44, this was brought about by pressure to find a winter tyre for competition. It is still not certain they will do it. They need some commitment from people first and a deposit by the end of the month - otherwise it will not happen.
As for remaking the SP3 - I'm certain if sufficient people contacted Chris Marchet at Vintage tyres (01590 6122610) and made a case for its reintroduction, he could be persuaded to take it on board - they are in business to sell tyres!

[Pete]

After much excitement about this tyre on this forum & other similar ones, a couple of the major importers decided to import a fairly large batch.

I'm not a major anything but I think that was me !

I imported about thirty of 'em (R7's) and have to say when Vintage and Mr Tyre eventually did get their stock over some months later they did sell well, just not in bucket loads. Didn't all the French drivers use them at Brands recently ?

[Simon776]

I don't know how many they expected to sell but I've seen them on plenty of cars.

Had they priced them more competitively I'm sure they would sell more - Vintage Tyres had a good deal on them at the Beaulieu Mini Cooper Day at about £60 inc VAT each I think.

[Vegard]

After much excitement about this tyre on this forum & other similar ones, a couple of the major importers decided to import a fairly large batch.

I'm not a major anything but I think that was me !

I imported about thirty of 'em (R7's) and have to say when Vintage and Mr Tyre eventually did get their stock over some months later they did sell well, just not in bucket loads. Didn't all the French drivers use them at Brands recently ?

Yup, at practice they did.

[mk1coopers]

I'm using D93J's on my road going class Hillclimb car, they are a good all round tyre, but do tend to feather on the edges as the tread is not that deep, I'm also using R7's on another car, (part of the original import batch ) these don't suffer on the edges as much as they are squarer in this area. As its been said the Avons are expensive but considered the best for road going / competition work, the Yokohama A32's are a close second but don't have a period look, I may switch to the Yoko's when I run out of D93's, the R7 gives the best look for me, so I hope they are still available when the set I have wears out

[foxy52]

I'm using D93J's on my road going class Hillclimb car, they are a good all round tyre, but do tend to feather on the edges as the tread is not that deep, I'm also using R7's on another car, (part of the original import batch ) these don't suffer on the edges as much as they are squarer in this area. As its been said the Avons are expensive but considered the best for road going / competition work, the Yokohama A32's are a close second but don't have a period look, I may switch to the Yoko's when I run out of D93's, the R7 gives the best look for me, so I hope they are still available when the set I have wears out

...appreciate all the adv guys,.. mk 1coopers has made the point i needed to know,... f y i i have used a032r advans for years but now thinking of a new set of d93j,s.. i jus wanted to know how they compared.?!. avons ??! hell no... the modern dunlops or advans are expensive enough !!!...the quick road/race tyres look the part and would always be my first choice..the yoko advans have been/felt good to drive on my car.....so as a period look for tyres isnt my bag ill toss a coin d93j,s or yoko advans again....!!! .... thanks again to all those who have given advise ... foxy52

[mk1]

The difference between the Avons & any of the other fast road tyres is the difference between night & day. The Avons are true racing performance tyres that can be used on the road the others are just road tyres that look like racing tyres.

You pays your money & takes your choice.

[foxy52]

The difference between the Avons & any of the other fast road tyres is the difference between night & day. The Avons are true racing performance tyres that can be used on the road the others are just road tyres that look like racing tyres.

You pays your money & takes your choice.

...tks mark..i dont track day my car so only plenty of welly on the roads either here or france....i think ill try d93j,s to compare..?!.. though i have noticed since peter baldwin tuned my engine and now with 98 horses i have worn the front 2 tyres quicker than when i was jus bumbling around in it !!!!!...a tad heavy footed now !!!... tks again for infos guys... foxy52

[mab01uk]

SP3 all the way. C'mon Vintage. Who wants Land Rover tyres on a Mini anyway....

I do,

André

Yes .....the Moke owners seem interested in the SP44 as are some members of the MCR for use as a road and rally tyre.
(Note: SP44 if made is to be available in two compounds for both road and competition use).
Moke Forum:
http://www.mokeclub.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... c10a2a54db

I use the Japanese R7 Dunlop CR65 'look-a-likes' below on my Japanese export spec 6x10 ET-15 offset Minilites for road use: