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Triumph TR6 - Red Line

My Michelin red Lines are in good shape; but, the red lines have lost their lustre. Is there anything or way that I can make them "stand out" and be seen?
P. Noel

You can try a white wall cleaner - it should work as well on red lines and bring back some luster.

Or you can try a cleaner with butyl cellusolve (Fantastik or an equivalent) or a cleaner with peroxide

Use a hand/fingernail scrub brush to help clean out the road grime.

I use the Butyl cellusolve cleaners

Start with a dry tire and spray on the cleaner undiluted. The cleaner seems to work more effectively as it is concentrated and acts on the soil and doesn't get diluted by water on the tire.

Let me know what ever you try, meets your expectation.

Thanks and good luck
Michael Petryschuk

Mr. Clean Magic eraser and a little water. Best tool a car detailer can have.
JT White

Are these original Red Lines?
DON KELLY

GOOD question Don.

If the letters Michelin are on the side I would say so.
Go ahead Don, you finish up with this one.

Rick
Rick Crawford

If they are "original" redlines I wouldn't drive with them under me.
JT White

If they are , the only thing they are good for is show.
I wouldn't be caught dead, or maybe that's how you end up, with them on while on the road.
DON KELLY

If TR6 owners were worried about "being caught dead" driving Michelin Red Lines, they wouldn't be driving TR6s either. One is about as safe/dangerous as the other. Anyway, I've driven Michelin Red Lines on my TR6 for the last 36 years. I do know, now, that there are modern alternatives, namely, 205x70x15s, which I plan to use when I move the Michelins to well-deserved retirement.
P. Noel

Are not NEW Michelin redlines available? Expensive, but available!!??
db
Doug Baker

P Noel....we are talking about driving with 30 + YO tires...ie the original ones that came with the car!!! Not ones you purchase off the shelf today.
JT White

I was under the impression that the Michelin Red Lines which have been available until recently were built with the same old tech. specs. of some 40 yrs. ago, and that's why most are changing to modern 205s.
Would someone clarify this, please.Otherwise, why not continue with the 185s?
P. Noel

So you are on tires that are less than 7 Y'sO.
In that case nothing is the matter.
DON KELLY

I'll just let this drift off into cyber spa..c....e.

.....ah....th..a.ts....better.........
JT White

When I bought my '76 in 2004 it had 5 brand new Michelin Red Lines on it and I got a lot of positive comments on their "looks" and they really do look good. Through negligence I scuffed out the two front tires and rather than buy one (or two) new 185/75 - 15 replacement Red Lines and after following this forum for a long time I went with 205/70 - 15 Yokohama Avid TRZs. Only then did I realize how badly the tubed Red Lines handled even when new but in their defence, I did drive the car aggressively at 60 - 70 mph on a few twisty roads a few times and it was "interesting" if not downright dumb on my part. One had to be on ones toes to say the least. In comparison, the Yokes are glued to the road but that being said, my Mazda 3 Sport Hatchback will still run rings around the TR6 but it ain't that sexy. Still the owner's choice though.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Evans

See's Rick's tire thread
DON KELLY

To Michael and J.T. "Thanks" for the advice as to brightening my Red Lines. I used Fantastik. It was cheaper, and really improved the colour and made it stand out. Now, if only we can get some decent dry weather here in Ottawa, I can put down the top and enjoy the car.
P. Noel

Glad to hear you are happy with the result.

Decent dry weather? I just finished watching the weather channel. The long range forecast indicates rain every day except one over the next 14 days. So much for a decent ride this weekend.

I hope they are right when they are calling for a dry warm June, July and August. It will have to be to make up for the rotten spring.
Michael Petryschuk

P
I quote you:
"If TR6 owners were worried about "being caught dead" driving Michelin Red Lines, they wouldn't be driving TR6s either."

Me thinks you have missed something here. Red lines are very cool on a TR6 and are original equipment. I think all guys on this BBS will agree. ALL we are saying is that if you are still on ORIGINAL MICHELIN red lines then you are driving a very dangerious car.
You have not said what year your tyres where manufactured. Are they old or are they new? Are they older than 6 years?

WE are all saying if old then Yes, You might end up dead with them on you car. It does not have anything to do with modern technology, it has a whole lot to do with the AGE of a tyre.


RICK
Rick Crawford

Michael, you have no idea. We have only had 7 days over 60 this year
DON KELLY

It does seem like a late start to summer...

BUT I have put on just about 200 miles so far this year.

Rick
Rick Crawford

Michael:
Maybe there's better weather on another channel - The Weather Channel is notorious for giving out bad weather. I'd boycott 'em!
Likewise to clarify on the Red Lines for P. Noel. Mine are/were replacement Michelin, tubed radials sourced from Moss or TRF and I understand they no longer carry them. There is nothing inherently wrong or unsafe with those tires, just that they are old technology and hard as rocks so they do not perform as well as modern radials but they sure are smart looking!
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Evans


I think that Bob Evans of NFLD and Labrador has answered my question; namely, that contemporary Michelin Red Lines were still made with the old technology, and that is why owners are going to 205's.
The last time I bought Red Lines, they were over $300.00 each -- for tires that rode like Fred Flintstone's; so, the fact that they're no longer produced is no great loss.
By the way, Bob, have you seen any TR6's in the "Tour,or Targa de NFLD", and how did they do? It's certainly fun to watch on T.V.
P. Noel

If you like the redline look there are co.'s out there that add them on to modern tires.
Pay the price though
DON KELLY

I put Koker Red Lines on mine. I wouldn't say the ride is great but it is OK and they weren't too expensive. Part of the problem is I have one rim that is really beat up and very difficult to balance. It may be contributing a lot to the poor ride at 55-59 mph. I am still using the original rims. I hope to rectify that this year as I have a spare 69 TR6 rim that is supposedly not bent and I plan on painting and using to replace the beat up one.

I will let you know the result. Should be done in the next month or so.

The tires were bought through Simcoe Tire in Simcoe Ontario.
Michael Petryschuk

Hey P Noel:
What's your first name ol' buddy? Some time back I found redwall inserts (like the add-on whitewalls Dad had on the old '56 Olds back in the day)that could be attached to just about any tire/rim combo but I can't seem to find the site again. Here is a site that stocks a number of tires, including BF Goodrich red lines.

http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/tyre-brands/bf-goodrich-redline-radials

Michael Petryschuk's Coker's are pretty popular too. As I said, to each his own and I just got over my need to have red lines but I still have the option of buying one more to recomplete my set as I have three good ones and if I ever enter a show I might put red lines on her. I love my new Yokes though.
There have been a couple of TR6s in Targa Nfld but they were in Grand Touring as I recall. That's where you get to pay the big entry fee and run the rally but there are time and speed restrictions on GT as they can only go 130 kph max. The big action is in the all-out Targa class. This year is the 10th anniversary for Targa Nfld and the fifth I will be volunteering and travelling with the rally from start to finish. Folks visiting the province can volunteer for a day at one of the stages as a Safety Marshall or contact Targa and offer to volunteer for the whole rally. For those gigs they would prefer folks with some rally exposure but you could luck in and get on a timing team or course setup vehicle with experienced folks. A large group of us are now going through a 7 week (7 nites at 3 hrs p/nite) certification course. Some of us hold restricted radio operator's licenses, which are also a help. If they take you they will provide transportation and overnight accommodations, plus $25 per day for food and attendance at the mid-week Targa party and end of rally party in St. John's. Sorry to be selling this so hard but it's just a blast to be so close to the action and an experience I will avail of until i can't do it any more. Google Targa Nfld for info on volunteering. There have also been MGCs, a Healey 100/6, a couple XK140s and an XKE. Jag pic attached.
Cheers,
Bob


Bob Evans

Anyone,
How do you read the date made on the tire?
spj steve

Google it,easier than explaining it
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=11
DON KELLY

The problem is knowing which decade the michelin redlines were made. I have a set on my car that are in nice shape but still very old. My DOT numbers are

DOT FHTJ A8N x 315

DOT FHTJ A8N x 046

I just don't know the decade. When did Michelin stop making these tires??
John Holliday

If your car is a concourse type car I would use them for shows. If you drive your car hard I would think other wise.
Best bet for comfort. call Michelin and ask
DON KELLY

I spoke with a rep at Michelin and here is the scoop on older DOT numbers. The Michelin X redline was discontinued just over 15 years ago...probably 1995. Michelin tires made in the nineties have a small triangle following the DOT date code. Since my car was built in Nov 1973 the tires I have are probabley from the 1980's assuming the original owner dod not replace very soon after purchasing the car and this is not likely since my car only has 20,500 original miles. So my tires are 26 years old and will only be used for rides on the trailer for shows where original tires matter.

I have a set of VTO wheels too with modern tires for driving the car.

Here is a picture of my car

John Holliday

Sweet ride and nice back drop
DON KELLY

Thanks Don!
John Holliday

Thanks John. That's nice info to have. I have three of my Redlines left; two were chucked. All three are in good condition but now I know their age thanks to your research. Thanks to Don Kelly for the link to Tire Rack, which decodes tire #'s including prior to Year 2000. According to their site the last three digits pre-2000 denote month and year, the first two for the month and the last for the year. So, the two from the rear of my car:
DOT FHT J - A8NX 028 - with Triangle - made Feb '98
DOT FHT J - A8NX 057 - with Triangle - made May '97
The spare is snugged down in the trunk and I'll not bother with that for now. At least I am "running" one new tubed Redline for a spare that fits the trunk well.
Cheers,
Bob
Bob Evans

As I read the Tire Rack information the tire codes prior to year 2000 are as follows:

The first two digits are the week of the year. The last digit is the year of the decade.

In your case DOT FHT J - A8NX 028 - with Triangle - made the second week of '98

And....

A8NX 057 - with Triangle - made the 5th week of '97

Best regards,
John H
74 TR6 CF15029U
John Holliday

Yup, I misread what was right in front of my face or more likely "Oldtimer's" kicked in and I forgot it between the computer and the garage. At least I got the years right :0)
Thanks John

Bob
Bob Evans

This thread was discussed between 10/05/2011 and 23/06/2011

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