Recommended tire size on Zuffenhaus Fuchs?

[UrQuattro]

Hey all,

So I have a set that is on order, and the delivery time should be pretty short.

I have an 81 SC with stock flares.

The wheels are 8" front and 9" rear, by 17".

I'm trying to figure out the best tire setup for these wheels.

My GUESS at the front is 225/45 and either 245/40 255/35 or 265/35. Does that sound right?

I don't want to end up putting too much tire on the rears compared to the fronts so that I can avoid push at turn in and during sharp turns on the track.

Thanks in advance.

Michael

[paulgtr]

you can put as much tire as you can get on the back and not worry about understeer. the faster you go the more the back end want to lead the front. a good set of adjustable sway bars will help balance the car to your liking.

[175K911]

The rears should be 255/40-17. Plenty of room.

For the fronts I always ran 235/40-17's on mine and they worked pretty well but I rolled my fender lips and ran -2.5 degrees of camber. The 225/45 didn't put enough tire on the ground for my track use, but will probably fit by just rolling the fender lips.

[UrQuattro]

I've got LOTS of track tome, and I know what you are talking about. Hell, the NASA instructor that drives a tricked out 89 carrera went for a ride with me and was a bit, um, surprised at how well I would handle the real limit (yeah I spun a couple times over the weekend, but it was from overly harsh turn in due to missing the turn in point as I was carrying a LOT more speed than I ha the laps prior, and the tires were getting greasy).

Anyway, I just went on tirerack and they at first said 205/something front, but I don't want to stretch a 205 tire on to an 8" wheel. Not a smart idea IMO.

But I got a good recommendation for the rear, 255/40. I think those paired with 225/45 up front should work out really well.

Plus, a set of the direzza star spec tires are a little over 650 a set, and are offering 80 bucks off with a mail in rebate if I buy four.

So that's what I'm gonna do.

Yeehaw.

And these zuffs are gonna be unique. Color matching the centers to my car.

And then I'm gonna get the hand painted center caps that Weidman's wheels does as a final touch.

Will definitely post pics.

Michael

[paulgtr]

the 225 fronts will be a tight fit. I had a tire rub on the right front. fenders are rolled now to make room.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by UrQuattro

Hey all,

So I have a set that is on order, and the delivery time should be pretty short.

I have an 81 SC with stock flares.

The wheels are 8" front and 9" rear, by 17".

I'm trying to figure out the best tire setup for these wheels.

My GUESS at the front is 225/45 and either 245/40 255/35 or 265/35. Does that sound right?

I don't want to end up putting too much tire on the rears compared to the fronts so that I can avoid push at turn in and during sharp turns on the track.

Thanks in advance.

Michael

things to watch out for
f/r height differences , it's easier to set a car up w/ tires that are close to the same height
too tall a rear tire adversely affects gearing
wheels need to be in the spec range for the tires

Toyo R1
205/50 & 255/40 are a good match for 7 & 9
235/45 & 275/40 are a fair match for 8 & 9 but to tall for many tastes

BFG R1
225/45 & 255/40 are an excellent match for 7-8 & 9

Other tire lines may have other slightly different options as not every line offers the same sizes and actual physical size varies for a given nominal size

[Canada Kev]

I have Starspecs in 255-40 and 225/45. The rears fit with lots of clearance, but the fronts required fender rolling. Wasn't an issue with a wooden bat I wasn't worried about chewing up a bit. Just be patient and a bit careful.

[UrQuattro]

Thanks everyone for the input. I'm gonna be going with the 225/45-17 on the 17x8s up front and the 255/40-17 in the rear on the 17x9s.

And after looking at all of the options, I'm gonna stick with the Dunlops.

I'm really psyched about these wheels. Theyre gonna be gorgeous.

Michael

[wildcat077]

Michael,

I'm running the Dunlops in 225/45/17 and 255/40/17 on 7.5 and 9 inch Fikses with lots of room on my 89 narrow bodied 911 !
Just roll your front fenders if your suspension is on the soft side for track days ...
The Dunlops are very grippy,even in wet conditions and a lot of people at my track events are using them as well,except for the guys with their GT3's who have tires for every different track condition ... lol

I have a friend with an 88 Coupe who's running the 8 and 9 inch, 17 inch Zuffenhaus wheels with the Dunlop tires at the track,i'll try to download a picture of his car for you !

Cheers!
Phil

[wildcat077]

There you go ...
Although he has the stock suspension and stock brakes with a lot more rubber than came with the car as he tore both rear sway bar mounts off last month as well as having brake rotors in a nice shade of purple after every event

Cheers!
Phil

[agrimmitt]

Michael:
I have a custom set of 7.5x17 and 9x17" built for fuch centers with BBS hoop. I run 225/45 in the front and 245/45 or 255/50 in the rear. I think you should maybe think about 205's in the front on 8". I hope I'm worry, but I think you will find very littler room to play with. Is you height and camber stock also? See my garage for more details/pictures or drop me a message
art
agrimmitt@pelican

[phigreg]

Originally Posted by UrQuattro

Hey all,

So I have a set that is on order, and the delivery time should be pretty short.

I have an 81 SC with stock flares.

The wheels are 8" front and 9" rear, by 17".

I'm trying to figure out the best tire setup for these wheels.

My GUESS at the front is 225/45 and either 245/40 255/35 or 265/35. Does that sound right?

I don't want to end up putting too much tire on the rears compared to the fronts so that I can avoid push at turn in and during sharp turns on the track.

Thanks in advance.

Michael

Depending on how aggressive you roll your fenders, wheel offset and how much negative camber, your sizes may vary.

I was able to get 255/40/17 fronts and 275/40/17 rears.

More reasonable is 235 or 245/40/17 up front.

Greg

[wildcat077]

I think he's looking for more of a street setup with occasional track days without having to run tire eating - camber on the street and grinding down spring plate bolts and relocating oil lines !
I'm running -2 in the rear and - 1.5 front which is still pretty much streetable,although i could have easily stuffed wider tires ...

Cheers!
Phil

[Plavan]

Originally Posted by UrQuattro

Hey all,

So I have a set that is on order, and the delivery time should be pretty short.

Anyone else find this kinda funny?

[oh snap]

Originally Posted by Plavan

Anyone else find this kinda funny?

I wondered about that too, but I didn't want to bring it up...

Maybe they have caught up with production? Maybe they had a set for SCs ready to go? I'd love to hear that the wait times are down to a couple of months or less.

[Plavan]

Originally Posted by oh snap

I wondered about that too, but I didn't want to bring it up...

Maybe they have caught up with production? Maybe they had a set for SCs ready to go? I'd love to hear that the wait times are down to a couple of months or less.

That would be great if they did.

[m110]

I run 225/45 & 255/40 star specs and don't have any rubbing while driving spirited, no track time. My fronts are 7.5.

They do rub on the driver's side at full left hand turn lock but not a problem. The rears have plenty of room...I did hit a nail and lose tire pressure on the freeway and after a little deflation the rear inner sidewall hit the spring plate bolts and ripped the tire apart by the time I was on an off ramp. Those wheels and tires are great...mine are holding up well.

What pressures are people running on the star specs in that size?

[UrQuattro]

Hey all,

I was checking the available sizes in the direzzas, and there is a 215/45-17. I'm wondering what your opinions are on me going with that size vs. the 225/45-17.

The cross section is 1/2" smaller, and obviously the rolling diameter is smaller, but that shouldn't affect anything really, should it? The height difference is only 0.4", so I don't think it would look overly small.

They weigh 3lbs less each, so it's a LITTLE bit less unsprung weight. And the shorter sidewall should help with steering response and crisper turn in.

The tradeoff is that I would likely have less ultimate grip up front. With 255/40-17s on the rear, I'd imagine that having a lot of rubber up front would be important.

My biggest reason for considering this size is that it might fit a little better under those front fender than the 225/45, and hopefully not rub on wither the fender or the wheel well.

I will be going to the track with the car, so keeping a really good balance and minimizing understate is really important to me.

So, any input would be appreciated.

Thanks!
Michael

[UrQuattro]

Quote de oh snap

I wondered about that too, but I didn't want to bring it up...



Maybe they have caught up with production? Maybe they had a set for SCs ready to go? I'd love to hear that the wait times are down to a couple of months or less.

That would be great if they did.

Call Keith. If you want a set for your SC, I am almost positive that he'd be able to fill your order and get them to you within a week, depending on shipping. I think they have a few sets yay they can assemble right away and ship out.

It depends on the finish though. If you just want the standar black centers like the originals, from what I know after talking to him, they have the centers in stock as well as the barrels for 8/9x17 sets.

If you are going with the classic look of the 70s style cars with the polished petals, or the RSR finish, then the wait is about 3-5 weeks. In order to get those wheels made, they have to send the blank centers and outer barrels to Weidman's wheels to have them finished. That is what the wait is.

If you have a turbo car, then I believe the rears are backordered, but I am not sure.

My wheels are a custom job. Instead of going with the blak centers, it was decided that going with color-matched centers would look best on my car because of the color. I showed Keith a picture of my SC, which has BBS style American racing 3piece wheels that have centers that happen to be very close in color to my car. That's where the idea for the custom centers came from. It is an extra 250 over the standard wheel for the custom color.

I should have my wheels in hand, ideally, by the 26-27 atthe latest.

I hope that helps answer your question.

Michael

[UrQuattro]

And yeah, I'm gonna be driving mostly on the street, with track days about once a month.

Sitting on various shelves at my buddy's shop are a set of f/r bilstein sports, front and rear monoballs (he modified a set of front strut mounts to be able to have more camber by shaving off some of the excess material on the inboard side of them), a triangulated strut brace, Brey-krause harness bar for the targa - with the integrated targa bar attachment points, rebel racing front control arm bushings/housings, 22/28 torsion bars, factory short shifter (though I think I gonna get a wevo instead), turbo tie rods (though I'll admit I fell for a lousy description in the classifieds a long while back before I knew better and ended up with the crappy german brand, but they'll work for a while).

For the rear spring plates, I'm holding off for the upcoming revel racing solution which is gonna be really sweet.

I already have the larger carrera sway bars installed, along with a nice sparco Milano 2 seat in beige.

My buddy is going to be helping me install all of this stuff in a few months, and he's gonna raise my spindles up as well. So, I'll need a bump-steer setup too.

I bought a Stratton ducktail which will be painted and installed once I have the money to do it. I also bought a carrera front valence that already has the factory front spoiler installed, and has amber fogs. I just need to rattlecan the valence itself in a color close enough to my car and it will look just fine.

Then there's the interior, where i have a full carpet kit in sliverknit, linen in color, to replace the champagne factory carpet. I also have a bunch of automotive grade alcantara in champagne, which I am going to use to cover the dash, door tops, rear tops, and knee pads. The steering wheel is on a quick disconnect and is a classic fittipaldi model with the little racing helmet on it, who's leather happens to be champagne in color.

And, arriving on Monday is the exchange targa top from Dan Petchel at Cars Inc. So that I can get rid of the leaky, windy top that I've been dealing with since my dad got the car in 2001, and since I inherited it in 05, but finally got the road in July of 09.

So, all that with the Zuffenhaus wheels should result in a fairly decent 81 targa, yeah?

Did I miss anything? Other than power enhancements I mean. I'm in CA, so those are unfortunately inaccessible to me. Grrr.

I just can't wait till it's done.

Michael