The drivers

The drivers: we chose our particular 12 ‘consumers’ because we think they are typical – a cross section of Cinturato enthusiasts everywhere. In age they range from 21 to 58. In cars owned from family saloons to a Ferrari 250 GT. In driving ability from the skilled family motorist to the man with a long list of rally and competition successes. What they have in common is a consistently thoughtful, highly intelligent approach to their motoring, a desire to drive fast but safely, and considerable experience of the Cinturato tyre.

How did the Cinturato compare with conventional tyres?

Felix Braun

(Importer, from Whyteleafe in Surrey) It’s on corners that you notice the improvement; on going into bends and being able to drift it without losing any adhesion. I was using the Triumph 2000 – just an ordinary saloon car – but I was able to swing down the longer bends without any feeling of apprehension.

H. N. Toomey

(Dental surgeon from London W1) On Cinturatos the cornering was that little bit quicker and the braking on that wet patch was very much better… it’s confirmed the opinion I had when I got my own Cinturatos on the Jaguar. It has confirmed that it wasn’t a fluke.

T. L. Schofield

(Research worker from Harwell, Berkshire) …by the time I was using the Cinturatos I was braking on the water to see what the effect would be; they gave the same effect on the wet as the orthodox tyres had on the dry.

P. E. Munslow

(Electrical engineer from Kidderminster) The braking is extremely improved on Cinturatos; so is the cornering. In the overtaking test you can go through a lot quicker than you normally can on conventional tyres. I was driving the Riley 4/72… a large car, but it really hangs on to the road on Cinturatos.

B. R. Harris

(Executive in construction company from London E6) I think the most impressive feature was the cornering at higher speeds, at 60 plus, which was decidedly surer with Cinturato tyres. The car is very much safer on Cinturatos than on ordinary tyres.

G. F. Dove

(A sales manager from Kenley, Surrey) The roadholding of the Cinturatos was definitely better. And they had a much more progressive breakaway when they did break away – especially on the wiggle-woggle. It was noticeably easier to control the car and this was the thing right the way thropgh.

The tests: they drove a course which included an overtaking test, backing into a ‘garage’, a slalom, a chicane, a wet braking test — as well as some of the inherent problems of the Brands Hatch circuit. We did not ask them to race, but merely to face road driving problems in extreme form — and in safety.They drove first on conventional — then on Cinturato tyres. Immediately afterwards we tape-recorded interviews with them. We asked: “Did you notice any difference when you changed to Cinturatos?”. Below are some of the things they said:

Martin Raymond

(Student from Kirdford, Sussex) On all the bends I could go in and come out between 5 and 10 miles an hour faster than on the standard tyres. At all the obstacles one could brake later and go through much faster: in fact an all-round Improvement in speed.

Michael Hinde

(A company chairman from Rhyl, Wales) There’s much less rolling resistance, and the roadholding is improved; you go round corners much faster on Cinturatos. The braking? I managed to stop about 10 to 15 feet shorter through the water than I did with the ordinary tyres.

John Berger

(Company Director from London NW2) I was conscious – going through the corners, braking, setting up for the corners, of the difference in feel of the tyre; there was a more positive feel about it generally. There is no doubt about the fact that the Cinturatos transform the car.

Michael Doland

(Car sales executive from London E12) It makes attaining the optimum performance of a car so much easier that it is really surprising… its very much easier to hold a good line on the Cinturatos, very much easier indeed. On the Cinturatos I was going round a given bend in the same gear 10 mph. faster.

Brian Emerton

(Flour Miller from Enfield, Middlesex) The difference in handling was very marked; in the car I was driving, an MGB, which is renowned for its roadholding, it was markedly better on Cinturatos particularly on the twitchy corners… through the wiggle-woggle I felt so much safer on Cinturatos than I did with conventional tyres.

Maurice Baring

(Company Director from Witley, Surrey) Although they were identical cars, I felt that on the Cinturatos I’d been given a free extra 10 hp… one seemed to have to do less work on the steering wheel; it was as though the car was higher geared. I am far more impressed than I thought I’d be.