8&9x16 tire choices?

[baratta930]

All,

I have an 84 930 with 8&9x16 BBS wheels, I'm currently running 225/50/16 and 245/45/16, I need new tires and don't have the cash right now to go to 17" wheels (unless someone has a set of FM5s cheap

I'm trying to balance out the car's handling, and wanted to have more of a difference f/r in tire sizes.

Two questions: does anyone know of a high performance tire in 16" that is wider than 245 for the rear? If not then is anyone running 205s in the front on an 8" wheel? What's it look like? (I'm hoping to avoid that homeboy caddy stretched tire on a 12" rim look

Thanks in advance ...

Berardino
84 930

[ttweed]

For a widebody car, those are some pretty anemic tire sizes. Most SCs and Carreras can fit that setup. If you are trying to tame excessive oversteer, I would go to a wider tire in the rear rather than a narrower tire in the front. I would put 225 and 265 Kumho V700 Victoracers on those rims instead. The 265 is a tall tire, though, and it will raise your final drive ratio somewhat. Probably not ideal if you still have the 930 4-speed box in it, which has some pretty tall gearing already.

[baratta930]

Tom,

Agreed that it would be better to go wider in the rear, but the Kumho's were the only wider tire I could find (and those aren't even officially street tires).

I'm starting to think I should just suck it up and get some 17" wheels Maybe some fuchs like Jack has ...

Thanks

[dlearl]

Beradino-Last time my SC was in the shop, there were a set of 17" "ROH" (?) Wheels like I have advertised on the bulletin board. (Can't remember the widths) If you're interested, I'll check and see if they're still there tomorrow when I go to the bodyshop next door. (Nothing serious, but don't ask! )

I know nothing about these wheels, good or bad, they came on the car when I bought it and I think they update the looks of the car significantly. I would have bought these wheels myself as a spare/winter set but I have the OEM Fuchs as well with A/S's mounted allready.

[Rufblackbird]

Kumho has their Ecsta Supra 712s in 255/50zr16. We put them on the rear of a non factory turbo bodied car, and it was really close to rubbing.

[baratta930]

David,

If you could find out more info on the wheels that would be great. I'll dig around the web on ROH as well ...

Thanks

[dlearl]

Originally posted by baratta930
David,

If you could find out more info on the wheels that would be great. I'll dig around the web on ROH as well ...

Thanks

No need to search:
roh wheels

For some reason, the wheels aren't shown on the "flash" site. Only the html version. Model: "ZS Style".
The site is mostly "flash" though, not a lot of technical information

[jazzbass]

I currently have 205s on the 8" Fuchs on the front of my car - they fit just fine. They are Toyo Proxies, which I was told tend to run wide, so that may be why.

I'm not sure I understand how going to a smaller tire up front will balance out the handling, though. My thoughts are that it would just make you plow a lot more - which is how my set up seemed during my very limited amount of track time.

[dlearl]

>My thoughts are that it would just make you plow a lot more...

Just what cures oversteer, right?

[ttweed]

Originally posted by baratta930
the Kumho's were the only wider tire I could find (and those aren't even officially street tires).

Oh yah, they are "officially" street tires as they have DOT approval, but they aren't the most practical street tire by a long shot. They don't wear well, and they are not very effective in the rain except at full tread, but I have used them as street tires for many years here in Low Cal, as have a lot of others who value dry weather traction over other aspects of tire performance.

YMMV, though, as I imagine in Austin you get a lot more rain than we do. Getting some 17s would really be the solution to get you more choices, but then you're looking at large $$$$. If you're going to go for it, might as well do what my driving buddy "Ted" has done with his turbo look. Check it out in this thread.
335/35/17 rears and 275/40/17 fronts on custom 17" Fuchs-centered modular wheels.

BTW- Sumitomo also makes a 255/50-16 HTR-Z which is also a very tall tire (26.2" dia.)

TT

[baratta930]

Chris, I've been told that since I now have more grip in the front (225 vs 205, about 3/4" thread width diff), the fronts are holding on longer (should lead to more push, right), except that I have 300RWHP, so when I push the gas the rear end lets go at the same point as before, but BEFORE the front. Hence oversteer. What I really need is 275 or greater rears to balance out the 225 fronts.

Tom, yup when it rains in Austin, it definitely rains. The car is no garage queen, and I'd like to keep driving it rain or shine (not a daily driver but more of a whenever I want to driver .

I'm going to look into selling my BBS wheels and getting either the welded Fuchs like Jack has, or 3piece Fuchs, or Fikse FM-5s.

Anybody have an idea on value of my BBS wheels? 8&9x16, 3 peice wheels. I've seen 7&8 go for $700-900 and people asking $1600 for the 8&9s (doubt they sold at that price).

Thanks everyone for the help ...

[stlrj]

fronts are holding on longer (should lead to more push, right),

I think you mean less push?

the rear end lets go at the same point as before, but BEFORE the front

How much negative camber are you running out back?

Cheers,

Joe

[cstreit]

There used to be a 275/something/16 offerered in Bridgestone S02's...

[ratwell]

Originally posted by baratta930
I need new tires and don't have the cash right now

You didn't spend it all on Motorola stock I hope.

I'm hoping to avoid that homeboy caddy stretched tire on a 12" rim look

No way, that would be k00L. I'd go for it and throw convention to the wind.