Wheels/Tires - 87 Carrera

[Kurt S]

I've spent the last few hours seaching the archives for the answers I seek but still I am uncertain. Forgive me for rehashing what has been discussed many times in the past.

I have an 87 Carrera Coupe. It is not lowered. Currently it has 15" Fuchs that I believe are 7" and 8" widths (haven't checked for sure yet)

If this is the size wheels I have, tire selection is sparse. Does anyone have knowledge of putting 225/50-15 fronts and 245/50-15 rears on these wheels and putting them on a narrow body'd car? I have found Dunlop SP8000s in those sizes at Tire Rack.

Or, are they any suggestions for other tire sizes of the same tire brand/model that work? Ideally a 205/60 and a 245/50 match up but no manufacturer I can find makes both sizes.

Thanks!

Kurt



[This message has been edited by Kurt S (edited 09-15-2001).]

[Kurt S]

No one??? Wow.

[wckrause]

If you're trying to stick with a stock tire diameter on 15x7 and 15x8 inch rims, then you (and I) are out of luck.

I run 205/55 and 225/50 on my 15" rims. Lots of choices for that size. Diameter is reduced by an inch though.

------------------
Bill Krause
'79 911SC Euro
MY PELICAN GALLERY

[rbertels]

I also have an 87 (Coupe) with 15 inch wheels. A few months ago I went with 205/55 and 225/50 as suggested.

There are plenty of choices. I went with Yokohama A032R's because the car isn't a daily driver. I use it for Auto-X's and the occasional Driver's Ed.

The upside of the reduction in diameter resulting from these sizes is that you lower your car by about a 1/2 inch.

rbertels
87 Coupe

[Kurt S]

Well specifically I'm thinking a Dunlop SP8000 in 245/50-15 for the rears. If the 8 x 16" wheels can run a 245/45 I should be able to use the 245/50 on my 8 x 15s.

For the fronts, ideally, a 225/50-15 but that might cause rubbing issues.

Just shuddering from the $2100 price I was just given for a set of 16s.

Still researching.

[movin]

I have an '87 and it has 16" rims. What gives? Was there 15" and 16" rims available on the '87? Factory fit was 205 55 16 on front and 225 50 16 on the rear. I wish I could fit 245 or 235 45 16 on the rear but the rims are too narrow.

[movin]

Originally posted by movin:
I have an '87 and it has 16" rims. What gives? Was there 15" and 16" rims available on the '87? Factory fit was 205 55 16 on front and 225 50 16 on the rear. I wish I could fit 245 or 235 45 16 on the rear but the rims are too narrow (8").

[Gary J. Spinella]

You can fit the 245/45/16 on the rear with 8" rims. My car has exactly this combo with excellent results.

[Kurt S]

The 15" was standard with the 16" being an optional size that I'm told most people went with. My car has 15 x 7s and 15 x 8s.





[This message has been edited by Kurt S (edited 09-18-2001).]

[avi8torny]

I too have an 87 911 with 15x7's and 8's like Kurt and have had great success with the Yoko AVS Intermediates. The stock front size was not available so I went to a 205/60/15 which has the same rolling diameter and for the rears, 215/60/15 which is the stock size. I have done a number of DE's with this combo and it sticks like glue. My winter project is change out the t-bars to 23/30 and change all the bushings. I will eventually go with 16x8's and 9's when the budget allows, maybe next year.
Messing with the rolling diameters to get a better "look" will effect performance in some way, probably negatively. Any thoughts?

[Randy W]

Kurt S, the wheel/tire combo you mention should fit, though those tires will be slightly wide for their rims. A 225/50-15 may be close to the front fender, depending on your car.

[Clark Griswald]

You can run a 225/50/15 on the front, however you may need to roll the lips. It is also about 1/2 inch lower than stock and 1 inch less in diameter. I have used this as a track setup.

For a street car I would go with 205/60/15 on front, and in fact this is what I have on my 77. It is stock diameter.

[addictionMS]

Just to add confirmation to those above me, I have an 1988 Carrera and I run a set of 15" rims with 225/50/15 all round and I have a set of 16" where I have 205/55/16 in the front and 245/45/16 in the rear. I also have a buddy who is running 265/30/17 in the rear. I don't know what he has up front.

My front lips are rolled, and the car is very low (rear sway bar mount hits on speed bumps, and the tow hooks on the front are all but ground off) so even on a very low car these combinations will fit.

Here is my car wiht the 15" on and 225 all round

[don911]

Kurt S,

16" wheels won't set you back that much. I bought my 7's and 8's for $1200 with tires. Tires were not much but I got a year out of them. There's a set of 7's and 9's for sale now on ebay if you're interested in 16's.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=597729993