Pirelli CN36 Tires

[jyl]

Back in the day, I remember thinking that Pirelli CN36's were the coolest looking tire around. Even today, I'd buy them, if they performed like modern tires. Is my memory gone all soft in the head? Were they actually good tires?

[Heel n Toe]

I remember people using them at autocrosses and running good, consistent times. I liked the look of 'em, too... but never drove any.

[Halm]

Yeah, that was a very cool looking tire. I remember it too. Today, I am pretty sure someone is either importing it again or a reproduction of it is available someplace. Harvey Weidman???

Alternatively the Michelin XWX from the same time period is still available at Coker Tire, at a steep price.

Finally, I would be great to know how a tire from that era performs against a modern tire. But looking at Tire Rack, even in a 195/65x15 size, there is not much still made to compare against.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by jyl

Back in the day, I remember thinking that Pirelli CN36's were the coolest looking tire around. Even today, I'd buy them, if they performed like modern tires. Is my memory gone all soft in the head? Were they actually good tires?

I ran them on my Speedster for autocross. They were great tires. I still have an old set in the shed. They are worn down to almost no tread - perfect for autocross. But they are 25 years old and probably hard as a rock by now.

[javadog]

They were good, back in the day, but they would feel like all season tires compared to what we have today. I used to run the Coker XWX tires on a Lamborghini and I hated those.

JR

[Shaun @ Tru6]

1980s Yokohama A008s are the pinnacle for coolest looking tire for me.

[DanielDudley]

They are available in 15 inch sizes from Lucas Classic tires. The only listing I found new.

[URY914]

I had CN36's on my 914. 165 in the front and 180 in the rear.

[Halm]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

They are available in 15 inch sizes from Lucas Classic tires. The only listing I found new.

Cool. Just looked there and wonder if the "175"/70x15 is a misprint. Was there ever a 175 tire? "185"/70 was the popular size, I thought. And compared to the Coker XWX, they are cheap!

[rockerarm]

Originally Posted by Halm

Cool. Just looked there and wonder if the "175"/70x15 is a misprint. Was there ever a 175 tire? "185"/70 was the popular size, I thought. And compared to the Coker XWX, they are cheap!

Yes, Pirelli did make the 175/70HR15 tire and it was factory installed onto the 1973 VW Sports Beetle, or Sports Bug. They were fitted to the 5 1/2" Sports Wheel.
In SoCal during the Cal Look scene this tire was very nice to use on a lowered front end. Some guys would use the CN36 185/70VR15 tire on the rear.
Bill

[dafischer]

Back in the early 80's I had 185/70VR15 CN36's on Minilites on my 70T. Looked great and handled great. Bought them mounted and balanced from Tire Rack. Much better than the peeling chrome steelies with 165s.

[joe payne]

Back in the day the hot tire was the Phoenix Stahflex 3011. Who remembers?

[wdfifteen]

I still have a 10 year old set on my Speedster. Back in the day I would get worn out CN36s for autocross tires. They were good tires.

[rockerarm]

I was reminiscing about this tire today and googled it and here I am. As a young, 25yo, dealer VW tech back then I did not how good cars could handle as VW's didn't and Porsche's did. I bought a '69 squareback from the original owner when the coil brft broke off the fan shroud, shorted out the term 15 wire thru the ignition switch. The car had the stock 4" wheels with 165 Semperitt FABRIC radials, and on the drive home from Orange County to Redondo Beach some idiot cut me off and I made an evasive lane change at 60mph. I literally thought the car was gonna swap ends that day. Not long after this while at a local swap meet I recognized the thread design on a pair of tires this guy had and had a closer look at them. They were Pirelli CN36 in a 185/70VR15 size. I think I bought them for $15 ea, took them home, and mounted them on a pair of steel 5 1/2" 914 wheels. With no other change this heavy tail end car now handled as if it was on rails. This is where I learned the importance of slip angles' affect on car handling. What a tire.
Bill

[rockerarm]

Originally Posted by joe payne

Back in the day the hot tire was the Phoenix Stahflex 3011. Who remembers?

Oh Boy, I remember, but Santa didn't bring any! I remember seeing the adds in, I believe, Road & Track. And I think I have an old Car and Driver where they did tire tests and this tire was one of the best, if not the best. 205/60x15 was my flavor, but don't recall if it was HR or VR.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by rockerarm

I was reminiscing about this tire today and googled it and here I am.

My first reaction was, "When I start reminiscing about tires please just shoot me." But to tell the truth, as a young guy we had lots of long discussions about tire. The Michelin X was THE hot setup until Semperit came out with a radial with a better tread pattern. There was a better Michelin in there somewhere and Pirelli came along with the CN 36. Then the Japanese got involved and the number tire choices exploded. OK, you can shoot me now.

[porsche4life]

This thread is worthless without pics!

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My first reaction was, "When I start reminiscing about tires please just shoot me." But to tell the truth, as a young guy we had lots of long discussions about tire. The Michelin X was THE hot setup until Semperit came out with a radial with a better tread pattern. There was a better Michelin in there somewhere and Pirelli came along with the CN 36. Then the Japanese got involved and the number tire choices exploded. OK, you can shoot me now.

Don't shoot me, I'm only the piano player.

My TR4 used Michelin X's. Great looking tire. Now, a set of 4 from Coker will probably cost as much as that Triumph did.

Ahh, nostalgia.

[Steve Carlton]

I'll never forget Pirelli CN36s- loved them. My dad had them on his Alfa in the 70s and I bought some myself later on. I thought they stuck good, and when you reached the limit they would break away smoothly and progressively. Unlike the Michelins at the time, that would completely let go all at once. Funny thread!

[jyl]

I'd like a shirt with that pattern. Kind of an inside thing.