tire size of early 911 and 15"x7" rims - 205/60 vs 225/60

[racemor]

I wanted to see if anyone has tried this size combination on a narrow bodied early 911. Right now I'm running Bridgestone S03, size 205/55-15 and am looking at a taller BFG gForce Sport. Take a look at the comparison of specs listed on Tire Racks site:

tire size rim range meas. rim sec. width diam.
S03 205/55 5.5-7.5 6.5 8.4 23.9
BFG 205/60 5.5-7.5 6 8.2 24.7
BFG 225/60 6-8 6.5 9 25.6

What I'd like to know is if the 205/60 is going to look too skinny on the 7" rim and if the .6 width difference will be a problem fitting under my fenders (which are already rolled). Where are these section widths taken from? I liek the added with of the 225 if it will work.

Any help is appreciated.

[IROC]

I ran 205/60s and 225/50s on 7x15s on my '76 before I flared it. IMHO, the 225/50s were the way to go. I think 225/60s have too large of a sidewall (even 215/60s look "large" to me).

If the choice is 205/60 and 225/60, I would go with 205s. If you'd entertain 225/50s, that's the ticket in my view.

Mike

[araine901]

Depends how nearrow. and what tire. I have 15X6 rims in the back on my '66 911 and with Yohahama 205/60/15's it is tight on both sides, But I had two differnt brands before and they both offerd more clearance. Not all 205/60/15's are created equal. My car has less room, no flares at all

[IROC]

'73s have more rear flare than a '66, however...

Mike

[cmcfaul]

I don't think 225/60 or 50's will fit. They most likely won't fit in the rear fenders and will rub in the front when turning. This is especially true if your car has been lowered intentionally or by the torsion bushings wearing out.

What I did and highly recommend is to buy 16/6 or 16/7 rims and fit 205 50's or 55's. This is the maxium rubber I can fit on my car.

Chris
73 911 E

[Porschekid962]

why not 225/50/15? my dad has 15x7's up front unflared with that kind of rubber with no problem, the car has been lowered a bit as well. the rears are flared and he runs 8's with 245/50//15's so i cant comment on rubbing issues with the back. but so far we havent had any problems with the front whatsoever.

[sturco]

FYI,on my 71 911 the 205-60-15's on 7' Fuchs rub the inside of the rear fenders only. This due to the sidewall bulge is up there a ways. I switched to 205-50-15's on 7's for the track and the 205-60-15's on the street. The 50 series tires bring the sidewall bulge down far enough so there was no more rubbing. Minimal clearance for oil lines etc. though. I recently flared the rear with SC flares and street combo is 225-45-15 & 205-50-15 which fills out both fenders.Track tires will be 225-50 on 8' & 7's all the way around. There is no way I could fit an 8 in the rear without flares. Good luck, Steve

[sturco]

Forgot to advise those 205-60-15's for the street were on 6" Fuchs with 1/4" spacers. Steve

[Tspringer]

I just attempted to run 225/50ZR15 Hoosier R3SO4 track tires on my '69 911S. They rubbed on the rear fender arch and my fender lips are rolled. No way they would work.

I have previously used 225/45ZR15 and that is what I am going back too. I also am now going to try and run the exact same thing on the front, using 7x15 Fuchs all the way around.

[racemor]

Thanks for the input guys, but the advise on lower profiles is headed the wrong way from the look I'm trying to get. The 205/55 I have now are great and do not rub with little extra camber I have in the back now. Fronts are no problem at all. But, I'm trying to fill the wheel well a little better than the modern low profile tires do. That's why I'm thinking about using this BFG, it is about the only 60 series "summer ultra high performance" tire available. I'll have another set of sticky, low profile tires for track and autocross when they are needed.

[DohertyCM]

Racemor
I run 205/50/15s on the track.... and 205/60/15's for everyday driving.
The 50s' rub some and the 60s dont. I have a narrow 74 911. Its all up to how the car height is set up. I have seen 225 50 15 on another 74 but the car is set up at standard height or higher. Mine is set low for the track.

Chris

[Britain Smith]

Originally posted by DohertyCM
Racemor
I run 205/50/15s on the track.... and 205/60/15's for everyday driving.
The 50s' rub some and the 60s dont. I have a narrow 74 911. Its all up to how the car height is set up. I have seen 225 50 15 on another 74 but the car is set up at standard height or higher. Mine is set low for the track.

Chris

Can someone explain to me how a lower profile tire would rub while the taller tire does not?

-Britain

[Nitrometano]

My 1972 911 Porsche have 215/60 R15 Pirelli and look good. Not to skinny or too big.

[DohertyCM]

Beats the heck out of me but when the 50s are on and Im really on the gas the tire rubs the edge. The 60s dont. My car is set up low, so maybe that has something to do with it. However my winston 50s are wider on a 7 inch cookie cutter wheel vise the Kuhmos on the standard 6 inch fuchs wheel. Which is problaby the real reason.

[DohertyCM]

Try this link also. It will help with the selection of tire sizes.

http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

[racemor]

Britain, if I this right, the 50 or 60 is an aspect ratio of wheel diameter and tire width. So if 2 tires have different withs, say a 245 vs a 205, but both are 50 series, their sidewall height will be different.

[DohertyCM]

thats right because the "50" means 50 percent of the tire width. There for a lower tire than a 60..

Chris