'81 SC tires

[Targa4now]

Hello,
'81SC Targa purchase 2 days ago and am in need of new tread!

I have been pouring through the tire posts and am looking for advice. My current fuchs are 7x16 and 8x16. I found a post that recommended "225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear". I obviously want to put as much rubber under stock SC flares as possible and I would also like to lower the ride height sooner rather than later.

Will this combination get me in trouble??

Lastly, I have my eye on Yokohama AVS ES100s based on availability, versatility, and $. My intent is summer street driving in both dry and wet conditions...

Any advice before I drop the cash would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Jeff

[island911]

Originally posted by Targa4now
. . . I obviously want to put as much rubber under stock SC flares as possible . ..

Why?

It's a big misconception that "wider is better." Unless you have a problem overheating your tires, stick with the stock sizes. They fit 7&8's very well.

If you happen to know of a particular tire, that works particularly well, for say autocross, that happens to be in a wider size, then certainly, use it. But really, 'wider' does not make a tire grippier.

[Targa4now]

I like the fat look from behind first of all... Call me naive but wouldn't more surface area on the road result in greater friction, hence greater traction?

I am really looking for advice... you like stock size wheels, fair enough. What is your opinion regarding Yokohama AVS ES100s as a good value tire??

Jeff

[island911]

Lets say, a tire had 800 lbs load . .like a right rear tire. And lets say, it was inflated to 40 psi (pounds per square inch) ... how many square inches would the contact patch be for an 8" wide tire?

The 'trick' of that question is, it doesn't matter how wide it is. With a different width, the profile of the contact patch changes in aspect ratio, but the # of Sqr inches does not change.

So - same amount of rubber on the road.

I know a lot of people choose the yoko's, w/ good luck. I have had S03's and Dunlops. There are lots of threads on tires.

.. .oh, 20.

[SP2]

I like my Pirelli P-Zero Nero's. Stock.

[DARISC]

I run those Yoko's on those size wheels - fill the wheel wells nicely without overtiring (yeah, as island 911 points out, possible and not a good thing) the car. Daily driver, brisk, real happy with the wear - 16k on them and looks like at least another 10k or more to go. Cheap too (just over $400 fo four)! Agressive looking tread if you're into cosmetics, handle quite well and look fat enough to me on my SC.

[Targa4now]

I like the look of that SC. Tires fit well in the wheel wells. Are those Yoko's the sizes I quoted earlier (i.e., 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear)? Have you lowered your ride? That's exactly the look I am after and if I can get it for $400 buck even better.

Jeff

[TibetanT]

I agree on the Yokohama AVS E100 since I run a set on both my 1987 944's and my 1983 911SC. The 911SC is 7x16 fronts, with 8x16 in back.

Looks and feels good!!

[Dave Mac]

I purchased my second set of Yoko AVS 100's this fall,same sizes as your looking at. I agree as above, great wear, great in wet and dry and affordable for my 79 SC.

[DARISC]

I like the look of that SC. Tires fit well in the wheel wells. Are those Yoko's the sizes I quoted earlier (i.e., 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear)? Have you lowered your ride? That's exactly the look I am after and if I can get it for $400 buck even better.

7's & 8's x 16, 205/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear, RoW car that has been lowered further. Had to roll the front wheel arches a bit - tire shoulder profiles differ from brand to brand and these have a fairly beefy shoulder I guess.

In my opinion the 205's up front are preferable to 225's for a street car - quick turn in, don't load up the steering quite as much in low speed turns as 225's it seems to me.

If you go with Yoko's, be careful at first - mine were loaded up with mold release agent or something and were real slippery until it wore off (never experienced this before with new tires).

[JohnJL]

If you are not using your narrower tires near their max (and you shouldnt be on the street) then wider/bigger tires only mean more rotational mass for your engine to push. So no, bigger is not better. Its how you use them ;-)

[DARISC]

Oh, and I don't consider these tires good in the wet!

[DARISC]

If you are not using your narrower tires near their max (and you shouldnt be on the street) then wider/bigger tires only mean more rotational mass for your engine to push. So no, bigger is not better. Its how you use them ;-)

Eggzakly!

[fred cook]

My car is a 1980 SC coupe with 7x16 and 8x16 Fuchs. It is also lowered to the "European" ride height. The front tires are Fuzion (Bridgestone) ZRI 205-55-16's and the rears 245-45-16. There is no clearance problem with the rear tires. The fronts just barely clear the fenders and in fact, used to catch the fender lip until I installed a new set of Bilstein Sport shocks. This tire/wheel combination sticks like glue and has the "wide" look from the rear.
Hope this helps!

[TerryH]

I also barely touch the left front fender lip with 225's on 16x7 fuchs on hard right turns. Tires can very from brand to brand, but I'd probably go with 205 or 215 for the front next time. You can roll the fender lips.

Wish 255 was available in a street tire for the rear. Seems 245 is the max.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by JohnJL
If you are not using your narrower tires near their max (and you shouldnt be on the street) then wider/bigger tires only mean more rotational mass for your engine to push. So no, bigger is not better. Its how you use them ;-)

Tires are like spoilers. They contribute in a very large part to the appearance and contribute in a very small part to most of our driving needs. Hell, if we were only looking for gas mileage and wear, we might as well run motorcycle tires all around.

Do we need to swing the ass around a few times before we are allowed to upgrade to wider meat?

[island911]

Originally posted by TerryH
Tires are like spoilers. They contribute in a very large part to the appearance and contribute in a very small part to most of our driving needs. Hell, if we were only looking for gas mileage and wear, we might as well run motorcycle tires all around.

Do we need to swing the ass around a few times before we are allowed to upgrade to wider meat?

Spot on. fwiw, the porsche 550 had 3.25" wide wheels. -- it kicked ass.

also, fwiw, I find that the ass end swings around with ease, until the tires come up to temp. As you go wider (assuming same compound and pressure) the tires take longer to get sticky.

[81 911 SC]

I have 7&8's with 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rears and lower that euro ride height. I have not issues with rubbing. You'll be fine using this combo.

[TerryH]

Originally posted by 81 911 SC
I have 7&8's with 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rears and lower that euro ride height. I have not issues with rubbing. You'll be fine using this combo.

Can't agree with a blanket statement that 225's will be fine in every circumstance. If you drive like you're taking the DMV test, you won't have issues. If you want to enter the local autocross or a few tight canyon runs, you probably will have issues. Especially if you lower to euro height.

Camber settings also play into this.

[DARISC]

QUOT[E]I have 7&8's with 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rears and lower that euro ride height. I have not issues with rubbing. You'll be fine using this combo.[/QUOTE]

Can't agree with a blanket statement that 225's will be fine in every circumstance.

My SC pictured above is somewhat lower yet than its standard RoW height. Front camber is set at -1 deg. Running new Bilstein Sports and front strut brace. Front tire shoulders caught fender lips.

Had to roll the wheel arches or go to more neg. camber (faster tire wear and I don't track it so didn't want to do that). 225's won't work with my setup. No problems with the rears.

Regarding cosmetics; riding as low as it does, the width of the rears aren't that easily seen (and look beefy enough for me) and fat fronts look cool, but my eye's are always drawn to the rear (same regarding women ).

Also, what's the weight differential between 105's & 225's? The lighter the car is to begin with, the more pronounced the feel in the steering due to even seemingly small increases in unsprung weight - it really doesn't take much to feel it and it really ain't preferable.

I'm speaking strictly from a street car position - max. trac. on track = whole different set of issues & concerns, I realize.