205/60R15 options?

[Skip Newsom]

Replaced my 20 year old Michelin Pilots (I know, I need to drive more) with Vredestein Quatrac all season tires- not happy with them, sidewalls are too soft...
Mushy feeling and less straight line stability. Not planted and precise like I'm used to.

My driving is typically back roads, spirited and mostly good weather, it's been known to rain here now and then so wet traction is good, H or preferably V rating.

I would have been happy to put another set of Michelin's on but they've quit making them in this size.

Any suggestions from the brain and experience trust for a stiffer sidewall choice?

[jac1976]

icarp always has good recs on tires.

Tire Size and Brand

[ToySnakePMC]

I, too, was originally looking for 205-60 performance tires last year and was sadly disappointed. But, I am quite pleased with Yokohama’s Advan Fleva V701 in 205-55-15.

It’s a tad shorter sidewall, but it works very well with this slightly stiffer suspension refresh. I took this pic after chasing 20 or more other air cooled cars through some unending twisty NC mtn roads as I was amazed how well this car and these tires performed. We beat on them pretty hard for two full days.

[Skip Newsom]

Thanks for the suggestions!

I do have stiffer torsion bars and Elephant bushings F&R.
Also have a shock top brace installed, lowered, aligned and corner balanced a decade (or more) ago.
Ride height could go up a bit- driveway slopes down from the road and I already have to go at it angled to avoid scraping.
Fender lip heights are 24 1/4"

The Yoko's look and sound like they fit the needs- not overly spend y either.

[ToySnakePMC]

Sounds similar. This one is 21mm front and 27 rear, SC sway bars, and Rebel Racing bushings. Fender lips heights the same, but my tire is slightly shorter than yours. Like you said, not spendy but they’re fun and responsive.
Patrick

[HarryD]

The only downside to the 205/55-15’s are:
-Winky Speedo readings; and
-Slighly odd shifting points.

[icarp]

Originally Posted by jac1976

icarp always has good recs on tires.

Tire Size and Brand

Well, I am happy to see some of you might like my tire choices .

I think these are a perfect for narrow body cars

https://www.prioritytire.com/goodtrip-gp-16-205-60r15-91vas-a-s-all-season-tire?gclid=CjwKCAjw_uGmBhBREiwAeOfsd41W8Uf0JYl292C Bw3GEROTA2xMpa2rXFxSpiGsO-5t-HOVKVI2bUhoC8swQAvD_BwE

I have these on a few well aligned narrow bodies, they will out drive almost all of you.

Fun controlled grip , polite conversation.

Ian

[Skip Newsom]

^Another great suggestion^

Thanks Ian!
I tend to go long periods of time without needing to replace tires, then they come in batches- my Ram needs tires too, that's a completely different conversation!

Tire brands seem to have grown exponentially in the last decade or two, and I'm way out of touch..

I'd never heard of "Goodtrip" tires- about half the cost of the Yokos, last set I had of Yoko's was on my '67 bug, very wide profile on wider than stock wheels, individual air shocks in back, heavier anti sways and a 1776cc dual port motor putting out about 100 HP.
It stuck like crazy unless the road was wet then things got squirrely quick

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by ToySnakePMC

I, too, was originally looking for 205-60 performance tires last year and was sadly disappointed. But, I am quite pleased with Yokohama’s Advan Fleva V701 in 205-55-15.

It’s a tad shorter sidewall, but it works very well with this slightly stiffer suspension refresh. I took this pic after chasing 20 or more other air cooled cars through some unending twisty NC mtn roads as I was amazed how well this car and these tires performed. We beat on them pretty hard for two full days.

Running the exact same tire and size on my nearly identical silver ‘77. I’m on Fuchs, but have some 6.5 Minilites in the garage…soon to be headed to NC.

[tk32]

On the slightly more expensive side: I have been dreaming about 205/60R15 (still a long way to go before tire purchases...) and found these:

The /55s are great with a lot of options from sticky track to GT all season, I think I will want a slightly more period look with taller sidewalls and with a wider tire (something about cake and eating it...). /70s are too tall to run a wider tire on the stock narrow cars without serious excessive camber and/or jacking it way up*

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/michelin-primacy-205-60r15.html

A lot less expensive than the wild AVON and Michelin TB-15 some folks run though! Similar to Mr. Ian's these are speed rated all season probably designed for heavier GT cars of the 70's or '80s is my guess ...

Sweet bug Skip!

* Lots of research, no experience

[jac1976]

Originally Posted by tk32

On the slightly more expensive side: I have been dreaming about 205/60R15 (still a long way to go before tire purchases...) and found these:

The /55s are great with a lot of options from sticky track to GT all season, I think I will want a slightly more period look with taller sidewalls and with a wider tire (something about cake and eating it...). /70s are too tall to run a wider tire on the stock narrow cars without serious excessive camber and/or jacking it way up*

https://www.cokertire.com/tires/michelin-primacy-205-60r15.html

A lot less expensive than the wild AVON and Michelin TB-15 some folks run though! Similar to Mr. Ian's these are speed rated all season probably designed for heavier GT cars of the 70's or '80s is my guess ...

Sweet bug Skip!

* Lots of research, no experience

Nice find.

[Nditiz1]

I bought a set of the GP16 based on Ian's recommendation. I thought them too good to put on the car I'm selling so I went with maybe the next best choice. Walmart carries an H rated 205/60 made by Douglas. They feel good on a 76 narrow body running 15x7 cookies. The local driving school runs Douglas tires on all there instructor cars.

[bmoyer83]

Waking this thread back up. Looks like the Goodtrip tires that @icarp recommended aren't currently available. Any new recommendations for this specific tire size? P205/60R15 Thanks!