Tires for Carrera 3.2

[tcj]

Dear All,

Yes I can imagine that this topic has been dealt before but still I want to ask you opinion:

1) What tyre size you would recommend for Carrera 3.2, 1984? I have 17" Cup wheels (7" in front and 9" in back).

2) If I would have best possible handling with some comfort what would be the best tyre in the market i.e. Michelin, Pirelli or some else?

Thank you for advices.

/TcJ

[Rick Lee]

AVS ES 100's. Best bang for the buck out there at www.tirerack.com.

[greglepore]

With 7's and 9's, probably 215/45 front and 245/40 rear. You might get away with something wider, but it won't be working optimally. Check the detailed specs for the tire that you choose.

Is price an issue? If so, the Yoko ES100's seem to be a common choice. More performance can be had at the expense of tire life with Kumho MX's
(read the recent tirerack comparison test of this tire on their site). I recently mounted a set of Falken Azenis on 8's and 9's, but they may not work for you as the only workable size combo available currently is 225/45 and 245/45. These tires have really incredible turn in, and stick like an R compound almost, but at the expense of high impact harshness. The 245/45 also increases the gearing enough to cost some grunt, which you may or may not notice.

If price is no object, I have no opinions

[Rick Lee]

I meant Yokohama ES100's.

[krichard]

I the same wheels you have and am running 225/45 up front and 255/40 in the rear. I have the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 and they rock. Check them out. They beat out s02 and s03s and they cost less.

[tcj]

Thanks for everybody,
Surprisingly the price is not an issue this time. I am convinced about the importance of the tires so I would like to try the extreme.
Locally(Finland) for me was recommended Michelin Pilot Sport or Pirelli PZero Rosso with following sizes:
Front: 205/50R17
Back: 255/40R17
Which diameters seem to be close to original size.

Any opinions on these?

Regards,
TCJ

[Kahuna]

I have Kinesis 8&9x17 with 225/45&255/40 on my Carrera. They fit fine and are just a tad taller than the stock 225/50x16 stock tires. Different tires do have diffent physical dimensions so check that out also. The 245/40x17 are a tad shorter than the stock tires but the whole purpose of this was to get more rubber on the road, hence 255/40. I currently have SO3s, which are good, but will likely switch to Michelin Pilot Sports or PS2s in the same sizes soon.

Originally posted by greglepore
With 7's and 9's, probably 215/45 front and 245/40 rear. You might get away with something wider, but it won't be working optimally. Check the detailed specs for the tire that you choose.

That's the sizes I had. Worked fine. Michelin or Bridgestone may be good options. I had very bad experiences with Dunlop SP9000. Grip was excellent, but they were extremely prone to flat spotting. Now I have Continental Sport Contact N1 which aren't prone to flat spotting it seems.

[stomachmonkey]

I've got an 84 running Kumho 225/45/17 front and 255/40/17 rear. Car is lowered to euro spec. Fronts needed minor lip rolling.

What you really need to do is check the specs on tires from different manufacturers.

Look at the same "size" tire, 225/45/17 in the different brands, you will note that the actual widths of the tires are different and the diameters are also different.

You want a tire that has a diameter of 25 to keep your speedometer accurate and not adversely affect acceleration.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Pirelli&model=PZero+System+Asimmetrico

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Michelin&model=Pilot+Sport

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Kumho&model=ECSTA+Supra+712

You will note that the Pirelli mounted on a 7.5 rim is 9.1 inches wide and a diameter of 25.2.

Michelin on the same rim is 8.8 in wide and 24.8 diameter.

Kumho is 8.8 wide and 24.9 diameter.

The Kumho is closest to the stock diameter of 25 and is narrower than the Pirelli which means it's less likely to rub.

Scott

[Bill Verburg]

I agree 225/45 and 255/40 unless you are an extremist. As mentioned different manufacturers products will not all fit the same.

For street use SP9000, Michelin, Pilot Sport, SO3 are all good choices.

[bento]

kumho ecstas for me
225 fronts and 255 rear on fikse 17x7.5 and 9 needs a fit of fender roll but then again it wasn't too big of a deal.

great bang for the buck (previously had bridgestone s-02 PPs and i think these are better for wet and dry grip)

db

db

[Rufblackbird]

for those with Kumho's....make sure you guys keep your pressures checked, and avoid all pot holes. We've been having problems with them...(I work for Hawaii distributor for Kumhos)

[Adam]

Bento, your car looks awesome with those wheels, man.

[bento]

thanks　adam,
going on three months without my baby. my friend drives it regularly for me while i am living abroad. i believe he his a happy 'babysitter.'

too bad the fm-10s are such a beast to keep clean.

[glee911]

Bento,

I agree the Fikse's look great on your car. Surprised I haven't seen your car running around SF. I have a black G50 coupe with factory spoilers and I am trying to decide between the Fikse's like yours or the BBS LM. I can get a set of the LM's for wholesale (around $2k). The Fikse's would be alot more since I can't get a deal. Anyone have pictures of a Carrera with the BBS LM's. Or should I leave well enough alone as I currently have Fuchs 8&9, BBS 3pc RS (1 set silver centers w/polished lip and another set with gold centers, and BBS 1pc (black center)? I know most guys here prefer the Fuchs and they are period correct but they seem somewhat boring.

[KTL]

tcj,

Are your cup wheels factory Porsche wheels or are they the replicas? Be careful if you have replicas. I had edit: 215/50 Bridgestone RE-71 edit: (too big of a diameter) tires on the front and the offset & tire width was enough to cause fender lip interference. Enough interference to slice the sidewalls of the tire. Not good!

Glee,

I'd go with the BBS LM. The Fikses are old hat (no offense to the Fikse guys out there), as it seems many people have them. I've seen a few cars with the BBS and they look good. Tell me these wheels aren't bad to the bone............

[glee911]

Kevin,

I agree that the LMs look great, especially on the newer 993s. I need a picture of them on the older cars that we drive. I am afraid that they may look too modern for our ancient cars. For $2k, they are about the same price as buying a set of used Fuchs 8&9's. Amazing that people are still bidding the price of the Fuchs to the stratosphere.

Sorry guys if this got off topic a bit. Blame Bento for putting up the picture of his nice car. Haha. Had to pin someone. LOL.

[KTL]

Oops. Yeah, I got off topic. Sorry 'bout that.

My next choice of tire is going to be the Goodyear Eagle GS-D3. It seems to have the best compromise of performance and wet weather ability. Price is reasonable too.

[bento]

which ever way you go, get ready to have your fingers torn to shreds trying to get brake dust out of the nooks and crannies, partcularly if you DE.

oh, and to keep it on topic, the kumho excstas are at least if not better than the 2-03s on the autocross course as well. 2/3 the price, all the grip. the pressure issue discussed above is the real deal however. ask me how i know (bent rear wheel incident at freeway speeds)?

regards from TKO.

db