OUR CLASSICS
After getting his Revolution alloys refurbished, John is on the hunt for the perfect set of tyres to fit
1972 MGB GT
I knew that well-known racer Julian Majzub’s Blockley Tyres specialised in making tyres for pre-war cars.
However I only became aware of its range of radials for more modern classics when TR specialist Neil Revington recommended them for the upgraded suspension package that he fitted on Salvage Hunters Classic Cars’ TR4. I was working as a producer on the show at the time and we were all impressed with the way the TR4 drove, so I gave Julian a bell to have a chat about MGB tyres.
He invited me to Blockley’s premises in Gloucestershire to have a look, although he pointed out that it doesn’t have a ramp because most of its business is mail order or supply to specialists.
I decided to drive GAF down to Blockley and have a look at what 185/70 14s it offers in a for my 6J alloy wheels. Knowing that I’d be fitting the wheels outside, I waited for a fine day and loaded my five refurbished wheels into GAF.
I abandoned the spare wheel of the winter tyre set currently fitted reasoning that I only had to get there without a puncture because I’d have four spares on the way home.
I had a good look around, discovering that its range of 60 tyre sizes was far larger than I expected, and the company ethos is fascinatingly unusual but eminently sensible.
It’ll never be large – that’s not the point – but Julian stressed that he offers tyres for older cars, which often have a suspension geometry unsuited to modern rubber. Made to really high quality standards, but at a competitive price, its tyres don’t sell through the classic retailers that need to make a margin; think boutique rather supermarket.
The company is just two people – founder Julian Majzub and full-time manager and fitter Lee Hillsdon. I had a look at the 185/70 14s and could see that they would look period on GAF.
They felt softer to the touch than most tyres and I was also impressed that each tyre is balance checked before it’s despatched, with an orange circle added to tell the fitter to match that to the valve, in order to minimise the balancing weights
