Street tires

I have a 70'911E with Fuchs 16"x6" rims and my current tires are Michelin 205-55-16.

I'm looking for decent street tires at a reasonable cost. Tire Rack shows Potenza RE71's, Dunlop Sport 8000's and Yokohama Intermediates all around $90 which seems reasonable to me.

Any advice appreciated - thanks.

I just opted for some Yokohama AVS Sports for my 911. They look nice and from the reviews they're a top-rated tire as well. A little pricey at $150 a pop, but they appear to be worth the cost.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

Check out the new Khumo's on the tire rack site.Good performance, fair price ?

I have some fairly strong opinions about tires but I'll be gentle. The number one safety and performance part on your car is the tires. If your brakes don't stop you it is because your tires are sliding. It makes little sense to scrimp on tires with ordinary cars, and our cars are not ordinary. And their engines are not in the front. Also, the "fixed" cost of a set of tires is so high (mounting, balancing, tire discard...) that it makes the 'optional' cost for good tires seem like a no-brainer. And this comes from someone who used to buy ALL tires from junkyards. My opinion.

I would however like to understand them better. I know there are various compounds and I feel that good compounds are available now that wear well. But I don't even know how to read the 'speed rating' on tires. I hope someone will enlighten me. Mine are Michelin XGT V4. the rear also says P225/50 R16 91V. And then DOT B9 VP EVD X 238. I understand sizes.

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'83 SC

There is a nice 'set' of references from Pirelli and Euro-Tire at the following URL's:


Aspect ratio -- www.eurotire.com/%7Eeurotire/tiretech.html


Speed ratings -- www.eurotire.com/%7Eeurotire/pirelli/speed.html


The Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) -- www.eurotire.com/%7Eeurotire/utqgs.html


There is one thing for sure -- no Porsche should ever be fitted with tires having a UTQGS 'grading' of less than 'AA'!!! Any tire 'claiming' to be a high-performance tire, with a grading less than 'AA' (such as AB, BB, or BC) ... is a JOKE!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

[This message has been edited by Early_S_Man (edited 06-08-2000).]

The previous reply is correct in that tires are the single most important handling change you can make. That said, much has to do with the type and quantity of driving you do. I have heard good things about the Yok AVS for the money, one negative I was told is that they start to ride rough as they wear. Do you have a budget that you want to go by? I really think you are in two catagories, tires around 1K, Bridgestone SO2, Michelins, and BF Goodrich G-force kd. The next range would be in the $5 to 700 range which I think the AVS would fall. If you put lots of miles on your car, this would be a good choice. Myself, I put 5-6000 a year, so longevity wasn't as much a factor. I chose SO2 pole position and have been pleased. They do good in rain also.

I have heard good things about the Kuhmo tires. One of my best friends is a tread designer with the company in Cleveland, actually. I had a shot at their z-rated street/track rubber for cost, but at the time I was low on cash and didn't opt.

They sure look nice, and it seems their track tires rate *quite* highly - and they offer shaved versions of their tires from the factory. This tells me they're pretty serious.

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Mark Szabo
1986 911 Targa 3.2

You guys all sound like my wife.

"Just buy the best because I don't want you around the house complaining about cheap tires for the next couple of years because you tried to save a hundred bucks."

I might stick with the Michelin XGT v4's.

Thanks for the help.

Get the best tires you can! After upgrading
my brakes I was broke and still needed tires,
I went with B.F.Goodrich Comp T/A's VR4's
I got them at a good price and they looked
good BUT I am very dissapointed with them,
yea, they're holding up OK and I get good
milage, but in rain.... well.. not good,
and any hard stopping is equally bad in
rain or shine, I slide for days, as soon as I
can afford it, I'm out to get myself some
better tires.Good brakes are no good without
equally good tires!