New - a genuine white wall made by Michelin

[Dougal Cawley]

Hi

Michelin have started producing the 165R15 XZX as a white wall.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/michelin-classic-tyres/xzx/165sr15-michelin-xzx-whitewall.html

[Zundfolge1432]

Nice, I gathered some insight on European sports car tires. They are expensive but if they are like the other Michelin products they’ll last a long time. Actually the cost is well aligned with what tires cost. I spent as much putting Michelin’s on my truck for about same price.

[Erik G]

reports are that these tires are disappointing

[iowegian]

[mukluk]

This is something I've not been able to find a clear cut answer to, where are the Michelin XZX tires actually made? Some sources say they're made in France, others say they're made in Serbia, while others state they're actually made in original (and supposedly worn) moulds by Coker. What's the real story or are there multiple sources making these things?
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Dougal Cawley]

Eric G - Who says these are disappointing? Show me a post of a person saying they are disappointing. I have not seen one.

We have only had feed back saying quite the opposite.

Maybe you are talking about the fakes that are out there.

These are genuine Michelin tyres. Made in a Michelin factory in Serbia, to Michelins exacting quality control standards. Structurally, you cannot beat a Michelin tyre. Asythetically you cannot beat the Michelin Collection range (they also make a 155R15 X). Heritage wise, you can't beat a Michelin.

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classic/vw-beetle-tyres.html

If price is not the determining factor, but it is the quality of classic tyre that determines your choice, then it is going to be Michelin or Pirelli Cinturato you buy.

White wall tyres are bassically a pain in the bum to distribute, that white wall is easily damaged in transport. All the white wall tyres we are selling from Michelin are individually inspected and packaged so they dont get damaged in transport. and we post them free of charge to most of the world.

We do not get complaints about these tyres. We have sold loads of XZX to people with Beetles and they love them.

And the prices of these tyres i think are incredibly cheap for what they are.

[wheel607]

[Dougal Cawley]

Well i could try to sell you any tyre i liked.

However i am suggesting the Michelin XZX and Michelin X for the Beetle, because they are actually perfect tyres for the car.

the fact they are a bargain is also pretty good.

do you question the quality of Michelin Collection tyres?

do you deny that they are great value for a top brand tyre in an obsolete tyre size and carcass structure?

[wheel607]

You should have an ad in the tires section. The point of this forum is not to sell anything to anybody. You are on here totally to sell your tires. Since you have been on the Samba you have 7 postings and all are to SELL YOUR TIRES.....

[mukluk]

@Dougal Cawley
I have zero interest in the new white wall XZX, so we can drop the sales pitch. Regarding the black wall variety, are they also made in Serbia or are any made in France as is claimed by several web sites that sell them? Is there any truth to Coker making these tires, possibly in old and questionable condition moulds, and if yes, are these latter tires the ones you refer to as "fakes"?
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[KTPhil]

Back in the day, whitewall XZX tires were popular, blackwalls, not so much. We would have the shop install them with the whitewalls on the INSIDE because they looked goofy on VWs. Even then, I used to take tire black and cover the white, it bugged me so much.

[Mike Fisher]

mukluk asked where they were made & they replied Serbia, so now mukluk who 'doesn't care about whitewalls' is questioning him again!
He was just giving us the facts/sales pitch as he sees it.
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[mukluk]

The posts thus far from Dougal Cawley seem to be focused solely on the new white wall version whereas I was asking about the XZX tires in general and not just the white walls, sorry I didn't make that more clear earlier. My questions still stand in regards to the black wall version.
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1960 Ragtop w/Semaphores "Inga"

[Stockholm VW]

Available in the U. S?
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1966 Volkswagen 1300 Sedan, 1641 cm³, 12 volt conversion, L456 Ruby Red, Platinum leatherette.

[raygreenwood]

I have been wondering about the "NEW" Michelin XZX.

I could care less about the whitewall. Back in the 80's...The Michelin XZX was a superb tire. I have pages of saved links for the new versions of old tires I have been reading about.

The gist is this.....back in the day on the cars we drive these tires did very well...even with the tread designs and compounds they had. On a modern car with multi-link suspension and traction control backed up by anti-lock brakes and software?.....doubtful......but thats not what I would put them on.

But....the question is....are these new versions of the old tires at least AS GOOD...or are they better with new tread compounds?

Off topic....who cares about white walls? Back in the day.....I never even knew they made whitewalls in these tires!

These were on 260 and 280 zx, A whole range of mid level Mercedes, Volvo 240 and others, my 411's and 412's.....lots of VW's....Porsche 914....more than a few 911's.....and a whole slew of other cars.

There were a whole family of "X" tires....some are still viable now for what they were made for.

My question in this thread....is has anyone used any of the "new build" X series tires...and how are they?

Ray

[wheel607]

Ray, I remember the Michelin tires of the 1960s and they were the BEST tire for VW for the money. Fast forward, and to answer some of your and Mukluks question about MODERN Michelins.........They are crap. If you cant be guaranteed and cant buy them without the HIGH shipping costs associated with an overseas purchase, why bother. I bought the MODERN XZX that Corkey Coker sells and it was total crap. Four of the five tires I bought were out of round. I even bought the additional insurance. Guess what , they didnt do ANYTHING for me. Again, you will get a clerk, probably sitting at home in his or her pajamas, that has a form to fill out and you, and you will never get to talk with the same person again. It is the same everywhere....just think what it will be like buying and getting the warranty performed overseas. I personally think the whitewall is another "gimmick" to sell more tires. I would think if Coker has them....he would advertise his CRAPPY tires for sale. I put on Faulken ZE912 tires and it is like the Michelins of old. Very satisfied, dont like the tread, but love the ride.

[raygreenwood]

[coad]

Will these new Michelins fit into a Ghia wheel well and allow the hood to close when they're fully inflated?

Last time I looked the only brand that would fit were Vredesteins.

[wheel607]

Coad, I had a new 1972 Karmann Ghia that the ORIGINAL 165 Michelins fit right in the fenderwells. Cant at all begin to know if the NEW ones will fit. LW

[EverettB]

Now that you mention fitment, the original Michelins I had on my Notchback hit the inner fenderwell near full lock.

This may be most 165s though since radials are often wider than bias plies.
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