15 inch Fuchs: 6´´ or 7´´?

[morini]

I have been offered a set of like new (but 16 year old) original Fuchs in 15 with 7´´width for a good price. I am considering these for backup and to maybe put them on the rear of my 15/6 equipped cars, so that I can go slightly wider in the back. Both my cars have slim hips (71 911T and 77 911S) and I prefer original tyre sizes (brand new Vredestein 185/70-15 now).

1. Will the 185/70-15 be too narrow on a 7´´wheel?
2. Does it make any sense to have a staggered setup when the difference is only 1 inch? A 215/60-15 Vredestein Sprint Classic will fit the wheels, but will it fit a slim 911 without modification?
3. I see that Fuchs does not make this size anymore (15/7). Is it a sought after size?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by morini

I have been offered a set of like new (but 16 year old) original Fuchs in 15 with 7´´width for a good price. I am considering these for backup and to maybe put them on the rear of my 15/6 equipped cars, so that I can go slightly wider in the back. Both my cars have slim hips (71 911T and 77 911S) and I prefer original tyre sizes (brand new Vredestein 185/70-15 now).

1. Will the 185/70-15 be too narrow on a 7´´wheel?
2. Does it make any sense to have a staggered setup when the difference is only 1 inch? A 215/60-15 Vredestein Sprint Classic will fit the wheels, but will it fit a slim 911 without modification?
3. I see that Fuchs does not make this size anymore (15/7). Is it a sought after size?

Vredestein spec's their Sport Classic tire in size 185/70 x15 for a 4.5 to 6.0" wheel so if that's you choice stay w/ the 6s

in size 215/60 x15 the wheel spec has been impossible to find but in general that size will be spec'd for a 6.0 to 7.5" wheel. The issue will be that this tire on a 7 will burn the paint a couple of inches up from the lip in the back

7x15 Fuchs are a desirable selection if you want to increase grip and use a 205/55 or 205/60 tire. Any of these latter combos can be used at any corner, whether to stagger or not and the details of how to implement the stagger depends on how you want to tweek the handling

[chrismorse]

searching through the posts, you will find many owners who have upgraded to the 15 x 7, on the rear and many on the front as well, either to fit different tires, performance, or appearance.
My dad’s straight, stock car, with stock alignment and height, had the occasional tire rub with 205/60 x15 pirelli cn36 tires, on original 15 x 6 Fuchs. The tire rub was about 2-3 inches up on the lr fender. There is some variability in clearances, even in unmolested, bone stock condition.
More rear camber may yet fix this problem.
I believe there are some different offsets, or back spacing, which may move the tire more inboard, allowing the use of the 7s.
have a look at the rim, flip it over and measure the distance from the back of the wheel to the mounting surface.
Or, put one on the car and see how the fit compares to your 6 inchers.
7s are on my bucket list, but I need to finish the suspension, brakes and fuel injection conversion first.

Good luck, let us know how it measures/fits.
chris

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by chrismorse

searching through the posts, you will find many owners who have upgraded to the 15 x 7, on the rear and many on the front as well, either to fit different tires, performance, or appearance.
My dad’s straight, stock car, with stock alignment and height, had the occasional tire rub with 205/60 x15 pirelli cn36 tires, on original 15 x 6 Fuchs. The tire rub was about 2-3 inches up on the lr fender. There is some variability in clearances, even in unmolested, bone stock condition.
More rear camber may yet fix this problem.
I believe there are some different offsets, or back spacing, which may move the tire more inboard, allowing the use of the 7s.
have a look at the rim, flip it over and measure the distance from the back of the wheel to the mounting surface.
Or, put one on the car and see how the fit compares to your 6 inchers.
7s are on my bucket list, but I need to finish the suspension, brakes and fuel injection conversion first.

Good luck, let us know how it measures/fits.
chris

205/60 x15 pirelli cn36 tires

Pirelli doesn't make a 205/60 x15 CN36

[Jack Stands]

I always wonder if there wouldn’t be a market for some performance tires in the 15” size. Wouldn’t Yokohama still have the molds for an A008 in a 15” size? Perhaps as a preorder program? Just thinking out load.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Jack Stands

I always wonder if there wouldn’t be a market for some performance tires in the 15” size. Wouldn’t Yokohama still have the molds for an A008 in a 15” size? Perhaps as a preorder program? Just thinking out load.

Time and tech march on, there are several excellent performance tire choices in 15,which to use depends on the wheels and priorities

If you like Yokes A052, 195/55 x15 is a great choice for 6 and almost period look, CN36 185/70 is not far short also on 6, For the folks w/ SC/Carrera hips Ao52 205/50 & 225/50 on 7 & 8 is fantastic, for a more period(taller w/o being too tall) A048 205/60 on 7

There are numerous other ways to go too

[piscean911/914]

there are very few tires in the closest to stock 195/65 15 and 215/60 r 15 sizes for 6" and 7" wide wheels - in fact i only know of two - pirelli and sumitomo

- i have been running 205/55 15 and 225/50 15's for about 15 years, in whatever brand these were available, but i can't find those sizes together anymore - i bought 4 ea severals years back, and i've used those, but they are now a bit old, so i'm going back to stock

- it's a lot easier to run no staggered wheel/tires when it comes to finding replacements, but they look pretty good

- you may need spacers on the rears for 15x7's, w/the '77 being easier to fit than the '71

hope this helps - b

[PatrickM]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

Pirelli doesn't make a 205/60 x15 CN36

Boy o boy do I wish that they did.
I need replacements for my 205/60/15 Yokos on my 15x7's.
Since they don't, I guess that I will be getting a set of the 185/70/15's for my new shoes.

-Patrick