best tires for 911sc

911-m5 · 08-05-2003, 06:13 PM

What do you think are the best size and model for stock 16 inch 6's and 7's?

Allan

Groesbeck Hurricane · 08-05-2003, 07:00 PM

I only do street and use Goodyear Eagles. They are inexpensive and good quality. But the ones I bought are not Z-speed rated.

Bob's Flat-Six · Bob's Flat-Six's Garage

205/55 ZR 16 front and 225/50 ZR 16 rear That's the stock size.
You don't have to go with a Z rated tire but if you do I like the Bridgestone SO3's. The pic is of a 205

Hladun · 08-05-2003, 07:43 PM

I use Bridgestone RE730's. Cheaper than SO3's and they have a high wear factor (long life).

masraum · 08-05-2003, 07:45 PM

Agreed, the best sizes for the 16x6 and 16x7's are 205 55 and 225 50, you can fit larger tires on the rims, but for what you might gain in width you'll loose due to sidewall flex.

Bridgestone Potenza S03's are all the rage right now, I have the RE 730's which are a step down and they are great.

If you never see rain, then the BF Goodrich KD's are supposed to be the stickiest you can get without going to R rubber.

911 · 08-05-2003, 10:11 PM

Allan,

I think it depends on what you are using your SC for? Daily driver? Limited track use? Full on track use?

Bridgestones offer great performance w/ the 730s & S03 (durable). I've also heard some great things about the Kumhos Ecsta MXs, as well. In fact, I'll probably be getting a set of these.

Steve mentioned the KDs by BF Goodrich. These tires are very sticky, but do they come in 16s? I was looking for them three years ago and I believe the smallest size they had was 17.

Anyway, I'm sure you'll get some great advice here. Good luck w/ your tire search.

Rich

911-m5 · 08-06-2003, 05:25 AM

thanks guys

chuckr · 08-06-2003, 05:33 AM

I am really enjoying the Yokohama ES100's on my 83SC.
I replaced Bridgestone RE730's which I did like but thought I'd try the Yoko ES100's . The 100's seem to corner just a bit better, and that is the only difference I can tell so far.

Superman · 08-06-2003, 06:46 AM

More info. Tire Rack considers the S-03 to be a "summer" tire, not "all season." A tire that does not perform in the wet would be unacceptable to me, for reasons most of you know. On the other hand, it seems to me I've heard that the S-03 performs magically in the rain. Is this correct?

My general question is the same as 911-m5's. What is the absolute best tire for my stock SC, which will be driven hard in the rain all winter. The proverbial "rode hard and put away wet."

1fastredsc · 08-06-2003, 06:56 AM

I thought that the 730's were discontinued? Well anyhow, stock tire size i believe (according to my owner's manual anyway) is 195 front and 205 rear. The best tire size is 205 front and 225 rear. Which tire to go with is purly preference, for instance road noise and comfort isn't a problem for me. As long as the tires stick and are relatively price friendly then i'm happy. Therefore something like the kumho mx's are for me.

masraum · 08-06-2003, 07:16 AM

Superman

Quote:

Tire Rack considers the S-03 to be a "summer" tire, not "all season."

In tires "all season" means snow, that's why the S-03 is rated the way it is. According to the Tire Rack numbers they score well in the dry and the wet, but no score for snow.

1fastredsc, yes, 730's are discontinued, you are correct.

Quote:

stock tire size i believe (according to my owner's manual anyway) is 195 front and 205 rear

is talking about 15" rims, for 16" rims the sizes are 205 55 and 225 50.

911 · 08-06-2003, 07:16 AM

I believe the 730s are being replaced w/ the 750s...

Superman · 08-06-2003, 07:19 AM

Thanks, Steve. I'd still like to see more opinions here. What is the absolute best street tire? I suspect it is the S-03. Being a Michelin man historically, I am obviously not afraid to spend a few bucks on a tire. On the other hand, is there a tire, as good or nearly as good as the S-03, that is a nice bargain. (A set of S-03s will be just over $600, I think).

Rot 911 · 08-06-2003, 07:26 AM

After a lot of research, including posting on this board, I bought the S0-3's when my Dunlop SP8000's wore out. I now have about 3000 miles on them and they stick better than the Dunlops (which of course were older and worn) no noticeable tire noise, and having driven the 911 a number of times in the rain, do quite well on wet roads. For winter I run a set of Bridgestone Blizzacks.

masraum · 08-06-2003, 07:31 AM

Lots of people are raving about the Kumhos(sp), but there have been some weird issues that have popped up to. The one most recently here was of tread that separated and came off of the carcass, but we reasoned that it could have and probably was due to underinflation. I think one of the key selling points of the Kumhos is the cost.

I really liked my RE 730's, but the 750's that are replacing them seem a little softer, the sidewalls. I liked the 730's better. Hopefully next summer when my tires are again worn out I'll be able to afford the S-03's or their replacements.

Danskman · 08-06-2003, 08:03 AM

I've had my S03's on for just a month now, and I like them a lot. Excellent street tire. I've yet to auto-x on them, but on the street they've really exceeded my expectations. 205/55zr15 and 225/50zr15. $599 installed at Big O.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

I saved a good amount going with the Yokohama AVS Sports - my first choice was the ES100's Yokohama - but they were out of stock. My priors were the AVS Intermedaites - great tires but wore down quickly...

911SC Pilot · 08-06-2003, 08:22 AM

On my 76 911s (sc) , I run P215/60 R15 93H Pirelli P6 Radial Cinturato Tires.

cab83_750 · 08-06-2003, 08:24 AM

What? No Firestones!

Per my research using TireRacks web, the firestone eagles were awesome. Chk them out! They are awesome!

island911 · 08-06-2003, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Superman
. . . I'd still like to see more opinions here. What is the absolute best street tire? . ..

I picked up a set of S03's ($600) right before this last round-up. (I previously had Dunlops . . ..replaced because they where just old.)

During the drive I was thinking of starting a new thread called "Bridgestone s03's SUCK!"

These s03 tires seemed to respond like cheap tires . . .in a hard turn, they would start making noise early (like cheap movie sound effects) and the slip angle was obvious.
Randy Wells rightly pointed out to me that "but they don't let go" Which was true, BUT they felt like they were really sucking up a whole lot of energy getting around the corner. (like a cheap tire) The Dunlops that I had previously, felt very solid (efficient) around the corners, up to a higher threshold; then they would quickly start to wash-out.

Anyway, these s03's seem to be improving with miles, and air pressure tweaks. (which is why I didn't make that s03's suck" post)

I will certainly credit the s03's as being a safer tire (from a grip standpoint) It seems you can really be a sloppy driver with these tires. . .they just eat-up any misdirected energy. The downside being, they eat-up any directed energy too.

I have yet to drive thhem in rain, though fully expect them to do much better than most. (the s03's seem to have the most generous open-tread area of the preformance tires)

Anyway, "best" is relative to what you like.