Large tires on early 911

[JScaramella]

What should be the largest set of front tires I can run on a 72 911

Right now I have 205 55 16 on 944 Turbo offset 7" Fuchs front
and 245 45 16 on 9" Fuchs

Is anyone else running larger?

[thastings]

Why?
I assume this is used only as a street show car, not a driver's car.
You are already way over the "bigger = slower" line. Unless you have done major engine work (and body work), you are forcing the car to use its limited hp to turn over all that extra weight.
Bigger tires does not necessary mean more tread on the ground. That is a function of curb weight and air pressure. The square inches of thread on the ground stays the same, only it's configuration changes. Performance is a function of car design, weight and tire design.
I have 205 60 15's on my stock '72T and they do look good BUT I'm going back to the 195's on the front due to wheel well clearances (yes their rolled) on hard turns. As close as the rear tires are to being outside the fenders with the 205s, the 245s have to be outside the fenders.
Sorry to rain on your parade, but, even after 20 yrs of ownership, I still love the look of the stock early 911s.
Terry

[}{arlequin]

People have squeezed 225 tires on the front, but I'm not certain whether that is applicable to 16" wheels or only 15s....

[ttweed]

Originally posted by JScaramella
Is anyone else running larger?

I am running 245/45-16 Hoosiers and/or Kumhos on 8" 951 Fuchs on the front of my '73, with 275/45-16s on 9" in the rear (with RS flares.)


This is a common setup on track cars in my area. Some clearance work is required. Search the archives here, there are many posts on this issue. Bill Verburg has collected a huge amount of information on this page.

With respect to Terry's comments above, unless you are tracking the car, your current setup is completely adequate, although you might want to try a 225/50 in the front.
TT

[targa911S]

I'm running 205/60/15's all the the way around my 70S. No rub, look good and handle great. Although I do not race the car.

[drummer323]

My '71T has 11" flares in the rear and 9" upfront and I'm going to be running 225's on 15 X 8 rims and 345's on 15 X 11.5 on the rear. Lots'o rubber on the ground.

[Todd Simpson]

I use a 225/50/16 on the front with an 8' 951 wheel. You may be able to use the same 225/50 on a 7' wheel but you will need negative camber and rolled fenders to make it work. My fender lips were squashed flat prior to paint.

[Jack Olsen]

245/275 is about the max for RS/SC/Carrera size flares. You can run as big as 10-inch wheels in back, but you'll need to have custom offsets.

drummer323, why are you only running 225's in front? Unless it's a drag racer, that seems like a recipe for bad handling. I'd want to run at least 275's with 345's. My own car runs 255/315.

[drummer323]

Not to steal the thread, what size can I go on the 8" rims? They are avs 100's on their now.

[Tyson Schmidt]

Originally posted by drummer323
Not to steal the thread, what size can I go on the 8" rims? They are avs 100's on their now.

First of all, I'll answer Jack's question......

Because that's about the widest you can get for 15" wheels!

Now, Drummer, I recently found that Dunlop makes a 245/50/15 in the SP Sport 8000. Unfortunately, they don't make a 345 for the rear. But if you don't mind running one brand on the front, and another on the rear, this might be the hot ticket.

[ted]

Like Jack and TT said...
I actually have fit 17x8.5 fronts and 17x10 on mine, 245/40 fronts and 275/40 rears, rerouted oil lines and and a baseball bat helped. Put some steak on it.

[JScaramella]

Sorry Guys I should have mentioned that it's a track car and does have RS flares and a 2.7. The reason for the 944 Turbo offset up front was to clear the new Brembo brake kit I put on the car. 3MM Spacers and those wheels were needed for the proper fit. The 205-55 looks close now with the lips rolled. Maybe I have the car set too low?

Looks like I can go with 245 up front and 275 rear, looks like aligment tweeking will be needed.

PS Olsen- I've been waiting for your web site..whats up. RSR conversion is next on my list

[Lukesportsman]

Ted:
Love IT!

Can you shed some light on your actual BS setup for front and rear. I'm ending up with 265/35 on 10inch with a realized ET of 10mm. So far no oil line issues, yet mine weren't stock to begin. Bolts will need some selective grinding.

You give Jack a real strong running on the "perfect 911 stance" award. Is that a backdated car? Oh, just to stay on topic with the thread....I'm running 225/40's on the front of 72.

[ubiquity0]

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt
First of all, I'll answer Jack's question......

Because that's about the widest you can get for 15" wheels!

Now, Drummer, I recently found that Dunlop makes a 245/50/15 in the SP Sport 8000. Unfortunately, they don't make a 345 for the rear. But if you don't mind running one brand on the front, and another on the rear, this might be the hot ticket.

Who makes a 345 that would fit a 11x15 or 11.5x15 ?

[dd74]

Originally posted by Tyson Schmidt
...But if you don't mind running one brand on the front, and another on the rear, this might be the hot ticket.

Tyson: but it's not okay to mix compounds, right? R-compound tires, for instance with H-rated tires? Or can a mix-and-match of compounds be acceptable?

I'd like to run 45-series tires in the rear. I have 50s up front now. However, the 50s are Yoko AVS 100s, and the only rears I can find in 45 series are Khumo competition tires. Is a mix like this safe?

[Lukesportsman]

dd74,
I would think that the biggest problem with mixing compounds of any brand would be their different thermal qualities. Even if you mix compounds so that you have optimal handling at a static tire temp, it would change during a session as heat builds differently. The rate of thermal change will be different and their characteristics as they heat up would also be different.

I think this would be the risk of different brands. You could end up with the ideal ticket, but could end up with strange changing characteristics. You wouldn't know for sure until you try them. Some mixes could be ideal for a particular driving style, yet it could go completely opposite of what you'd want. With all that said, every new tire purchase is somewhat a risk isn't it.

ubiquity0:

They are OEM for Panteras. The Pantera org. often can get these tires in short runs and are obviously engineered for high horsepower performance. The guys with true performance Panteras are also often abandoning the 15" so this condition could get worse.

[masraum]

Wow, different compounds front and rear would probably make for horrible handling. With non R compound front and R compound rear you'd end up with a car that understeered like a drag car, and of course the other way around might be a little... exciting as well. You'd look like a WRC driver on an ice track.

[Az911]

Originally posted by ted
Like Jack and TT said...
I actually have fit 17x8.5 fronts and 17x10 on mine, 245/40 fronts and 275/40 rears, rerouted oil lines and and a baseball bat helped. Put some steak on it.

What's your ride height?

[azasadny]

I'm running 205/60/15's on 6" and 7" Fuchs on my stock '74 with no problems.

[Lukesportsman]

Bump: for more info on Ted's ride