Tires for 16x7 / 16x9

[francesconyc]

I just bought wheels 16x7 / 16x9 ET15 (group4wheels)
Hey, here are some of the names and words that may be used here and i'm super confused how to find the righ tires:

i only found these (matching of course)

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
205/55R16
245/45R16

i cannot find michelin or pirelli in that size. any other brand that look good on a SC 1982?

[ccallana]

I am running the Bridgestones right now... I like them so far...

There are 2 Pirelli's and 1 Michelin option, Yoko makes a couple as well.

Outside of the Potenzas, they end up being pretty expensive (the Michelin MXX period correct tire in 245 runs over $400!)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?zip-code=95630&frontWidth=205%2F&frontRatio=55&frontDiameter=16&rearWidth=245%2F&rearRatio=45&rearDiameter=16&performance=ALL

[blucille]

I was running the Yokohama a008's in that size, expensive, wore out quickly, went thru 2 sets of rears in 1 season....and the big problem was they always had a shake about them...rebalanced multiple times, just never good....sticky, and if they weren't shaking, they drove well...quiet enough.

Decided on the Bridgestone Potenza sport, 300 treadwear was just right for me. I've got 10,000 miles on them and they will keep going....absolutely no complaints. They even do well when the temps drop.

[proporsche]

Originally Posted by blucille

I was running the Yokohama a008's in that size, expensive, wore out quickly, went thru 2 sets of rears in 1 season....and the big problem was they always had a shake about them...rebalanced multiple times, just never good....sticky, and if they weren't shaking, they drove well...quiet enough.

Decided on the Bridgestone Potenza sport, 300 treadwear was just right for me. I've got 10,000 miles on them and they will keep going....absolutely no complaints. They even do well when the temps drop.

Yes yokohama are know for the wear..and now the shakes
I went through the same with Pirelli Roso--insane price and many times trying to ballance them sold them in 2 days.
Later i found out all Pirelli made in Bulgaria are like that..If you call you want them made in germany or italy -there is no garanties..
i found myself older Continental Conti -very happy with them as i was past 25 years.
Too bad here in Europe balancing wheels on car does not exists..
Ivan
look here the ballance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqSC3n4xGOY

[francesconyc]

Originally Posted by ccallana

I am running the Bridgestones right now... I like them so far...

There are 2 Pirelli's and 1 Michelin option, Yoko makes a couple as well.

Outside of the Potenzas, they end up being pretty expensive (the Michelin MXX period correct tire in 245 runs over $400!)

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?zip-code=95630&frontWidth=205%2F&frontRatio=55&frontDiameter=16&rearWidth=245%2F&rearRatio=45&rearDiameter=16&performance=ALL

Thanks, good to know!

[francesconyc]

oh btw yes i should say i'm in US, so availability may differ. the Potenza seem a good price.. Pirelli Zero i agree 400 per tire becomes too much, i love driving and not keeping the car in museum

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by francesconyc

I just bought wheels 16x7 / 16x9 ET15 (group4wheels)
Hey, here are some of the names and words that may be used here and i'm super confused how to find the righ tires:

i only found these (matching of course)

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
205/55R16
245/45R16

i cannot find michelin or pirelli in that size. any other brand that look good on a SC 1982?

1986 coupe here -

I run the Potenzas and now have about 3-4,000 miles on them. They are date coded 2022 and I purchased new a year ago. Usually like my tires fresh but the deal I got was too good to pass up.

So far so good. Wear has been good. Used to run Pirelli but the prices are just too much for me as much as I usually burn through tires. This year has been on very low mileage year for me...

Erik

These are 245/45 and 205/55 in the photos. They were on 16x9's and 7's and are now on 16x8 and 7's. The rims are also from Group4...The 245's fit and looked nice on my 16x9's...just wanted to give you a reference.

[darrin]

francesconyc - the limiting factor for you, tire selection-wise is your 16x9 rear wheel choice. FWIW, 16x8 wheels in the proper 911 offset "fill out" the rear wheel wells similarly to 16x9 wheels and can use the MUCH more readily available 225/50-16 tire size. Don't know if it's too late for you to exchange your 16x9 rears for 16x8s, but wanted to point this out.

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by darrin

francesconyc - the limiting factor for you, tire selection-wise is your 16x9 rear wheel choice. FWIW, 16x8 wheels in the proper 911 offset "fill out" the rear wheel wells similarly to 16x9 wheels and can use the MUCH more readily available 225/50-16 tire size. Don't know if it's too late for you to exchange your 16x9 rears for 16x8s, but wanted to point this out.

Make sure the offset is doable also. I was going to order the 16x9 LMZ rims for my carrera but was told the offset on the Group4 16x9's was really only doable on the turbo body style. I think it was ET0 vs the traditional 16x9's ET15???

I ordered the 16x8's not because of tire selection but was told by the owner they did the offset different than traditional 16x9's, Fuchs, etc...


Make sure and check that - he stated they still may fit but wouldn't recommend, shipping from Europe, etc, as exchanges would be costly.


EDIT: Looks like they might be producing ET15 offsets now in 16x9's...

[fallingat120mph]

Originally Posted by proporsche

I went through the same with Pirelli Roso--insane price and many times trying to ballance them sold them in 2 days.
Later i found out all Pirelli made in Bulgaria are like that..If you call you want them made in germany or italy -there is no garanties..

Ivan

Went to the same with Rosos and this was when I lived in Germany. Actually shipped a new set back to the states when we moved back but really did not like at all and sold after a few months. This was years ago so not sure of how they are now...

I purchased at my German Porsche dealer without the VAT so they were a decent price for me, but now, with new pricing, not sure I would buy aside from a last resort.


Erik

[ccallana]

My 16x9s are Euromeister Fuchs, with ET15... fit quite nicely actually. I like the look of the 245 from behind... from the side looks the same as the 8" 225 as the extra space is on the inside....

I put 225s on the 9" wheel for a while - they worked, but it was quite a stretch.. not recommended.

Lot of folks jump up to 17s just to get more tire choice...

[shoooo32]

To the OP - don't overthink it and buy the Bridgestone Potenza Sport

They're a great three season sports car tire that are well made and decently priced. I'm on my third set (forth if you count it's predecessor RE-11)

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by ccallana

My 16x9s are Euromeister Fuchs, with ET15... fit quite nicely actually. I like the look of the 245 from behind... from the side looks the same as the 8" 225 as the extra space is on the inside....

I put 225s on the 9" wheel for a while - they worked, but it was quite a stretch.. not recommended.

Lot of folks jump up to 17s just to get more tire choice...

9ET15 gas 8.3m more f/s and 17.1mm more b/s than 8 ET10.6

225/50 on a 9 is a full inch beyond spec, very not recommended

17s have more choices in tires, sizes and wheel specs than is available in 16, but many like their Fuchs

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by francesconyc

I just bought wheels 16x7 / 16x9 ET15 (group4wheels)
Hey, here are some of the names and words that may be used here and i'm super confused how to find the righ tires:

i only found these (matching of course)

Bridgestone Potenza Sport
205/55R16
245/45R16

i cannot find michelin or pirelli in that size. any other brand that look good on a SC 1982?

If you want uber sticky tires Yoke A052 come in 205/55, 205/50 and 225/45 the 225/45 is the best front match for a 245/45 rear wrt to ultimate performance. 20/50 would be next best

A008 also come 205/245

P7 & Rosso come in those sizzes

[almostordinary]

Originally Posted by blucille

I was running the Yokohama a008's in that size, expensive, wore out quickly, went thru 2 sets of rears in 1 season....and the big problem was they always had a shake about them...rebalanced multiple times, just never good....sticky, and if they weren't shaking, they drove well...quiet enough.

Decided on the Bridgestone Potenza sport, 300 treadwear was just right for me. I've got 10,000 miles on them and they will keep going....absolutely no complaints. They even do well when the temps drop.

I have had two pair of the A008s for long cross country trips and the shakes were terrifying. I just ordered another set of A052s which I love but I wouldn't trust them driving from Los Angeles to Canada unless it was bone dry the entire route. I really like the A052s for their rigidity and stickiness... my bank account and wife don't mind the $$$ hit either.

[almostordinary]

...also answering OPs question, here are the sizes I run with the staggered 7s and 9s on my 87. I have a 6mm spacer in the rears.