The short wheelbase FHC body style was discontinued, with the Series 3 available only as a convertible and 2+2 coupé. Performance was competitive with contemporary luxury marques and the newly used longer wheelbase now offered significantly more room in all directions. The Series 3 is easily identifiable by the large cross-slatted front grille, flared wheel arches, wider tires, four exhaust tips and a badge on the rear that proclaims proudly to be a V12. Cars for the US market were fitted with large projecting rubber bumper over-riders (in 1973 these were on front, in 1974 both front and rear) to meet local 5 mph (8 km/h) impact regulations, but on European models they were considerably smaller. US models also have side indicator repeaters on the front wings. There were also a very limited number of six-cylinder Series 3 E-Types built, these were featured in the initial sales procedure but the lack of demand stopped their production. When leaving the factory the V12 Open Two Seater and V12 2 ± 2 originally fitted Dunlop E70VR − 15 inch tires on 15 × 6K wire or solid wheels. The Jaguar factory claimed that fitting a set of Jaguar XJ12 saloon steel-braced radial-ply tires to a V12 E-Type raised the top speed by as much as 8 mph. The production car was fitted with textile-braced radial ply tires, this fact was reported by the editor of The Motor magazine in the long-term test of his E-type edition dated 4 August 1973, who ran a V12 fixed head.