What Size Tires for early 911???

J.HK · 03-26-2002, 07:28 AM

I have a 72 911T with a 2.4 motor.

I have restored the car so it is very original. This involved removing a lot of the "disco sled" accesories that previous owners had added ( fake 7'' wheels all around, big speakers on rear shelf, etc.)

I put the original 6x15 fuchs back on the car. It is not lowered at all. The car currently has 195/60/15 on it. They are Pirelli P4000.

Basically they look make the car look nice and original but they handle like pretty poorly. Obviosly the sidewall is quite large and you can feel it flex with moderate cornering.

Problem:

I like the originality of the large sidewall and dislike the poor performance.

Any tire suggestions? I would like to avoid a super super low profile tire because of the way they look but really want to improve handling... Thoughts??? Size, brand??

Thanks!

pwd72s · 03-26-2002, 08:42 AM

I'm currently running yoko A00AP's in 195/65/15 on 7" rims, am quite happy with the handling. The rub is that Yoko quit making the A008P in that size. Not sure what I'll do next, because 195/65 is the closest you'll get to stock diameter. A lot of guys have gone to 205/60....and I agree with you..the low sidewalls work, but they leave "air" in the wheelwells, yielding a look I'm not too crazy about.

9XI · 9XI's Garage

Paul,

What kind of 7" wheels are those? Are they they standard issue 7x15s from mid 70s? Or, are those early "R" wheels?

FWIW, I run 205/55/15s on stock '69S 6x15s. There isn't much, if any, gap in my wheel wells. Maybe mine was lowered a touch by the p/o. I get thumbs up on the looks all the time.

Raymond · 03-26-2002, 09:44 AM

i have a '70T coupe running 205 65 HR15 in front, 215 60 HR15 in rear. looks great because the rears are a little wider to fit the slightly flared stock rear quarters - a'la SC or Carrera.

no gap in the wheelwell and no rubbing and it doesn't look too far from stock, just more tough... i don't think anything bigger will fit the original 6x15 fuchs or under the fenders, especially the rear.

pwd72s · 03-26-2002, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 9XI
Paul,

What kind of 7" wheels are those? Are they they standard issue 7x15s from mid 70s? Or, are those early "R" wheels?

FWIW, I run 205/55/15s on stock '69S 6x15s. There isn't much, if any, gap in my wheel wells. Maybe mine was lowered a touch by the p/o. I get thumbs up on the looks all the time.

They're the 7X15 fuchs from the mid 70's...the "deep dish" look was a big fad back then. Kind of wish I'd stuck with the 6's, but now that the 7's have been on so long, I kinda like their look too. R wheels? From the side, they'd look like the old "deep six" wheels. $$$$ today to get those...when/if you find somebody willing to sell a set.

tmctguer · tmctguer's Garage

my '73 911E came from the PO with 195 x 65 pirelli's (6000's, i think.....) on fuchs. they filled the wheel well very well and looked good.

i rode 5 or 6 track events on them and they help up reasonably well. i wanted to push my tires a bit, so i just purchased a set of 225 x 50's for my set of 6" cookie cutter rims. i plan to use these for the track only.

i don't like the look of the new tires on the car, but i couldn't care less because they'll only been "seen" at the track where i'm expecting to see a reduction in lap time. (i get my first chance in mid-april.)

once my pirelli's are shot, i may go for a 205 x 65 to get a little more width on the tire, a look that i find appealing to the early 911's.

Reg · 03-26-2002, 02:50 PM

I have 205 60 15 Yoko AVS tires on my car. The tires are pretty good, and reasonably priced the last time I checked. My car (the way it stands) should have 80 series tires! I hope to remedy that if not this year, next.

Paul... I love the 7's. I dont know how you fit them in there as I bolted on a 16 x 7 with no tire and couldnt see it working on my car.

These days, I am keeping an eye our for a pair of 7's to try at the rear.

Does anyone run 15 x 6 front with 7's on the rear?

http://boards.rennlist.com/upload/mar17911k2.JPG

steve911 · steve911's Garage

for bang for your $$, Kumho Ecsta 712s are a really good bet. got mine at www.tirerack.com - give them a call and they can help.

no affiliation - just a satisfied customer

jguthr · jguthr's Garage

I agree...pre-74 911's just don't look quite right with low profile rubber. I'm very happy with the looks, ride and handling of my 205/60-15 Bridgestone RE-71's. Unfortunately, they don't make these anymore. When the time comes I'll probably go to a Yoko AVS Intermediate. Yes, my car has been lowered.

campbellcj · 03-26-2002, 09:04 PM

Another nice option for the early cars is to take off your 15x6" deep Fuchs and put them in storage. Get some 16x6" Fuchs with good 205/55R16 rubber (factory size on SC & Carrera fronts). They'll fit fine, look great, and handle far better than the skinny & tall 15" 185/70's or 195/65's.

Emery DeWitt · 03-27-2002, 03:14 AM

Chris was too modest to come out and say it, but I followed the 911E link in his signature, and the "Wheel and Tire" section of his site has pictures of everything - 15", 16" with black centers, 16" with chrome centers, 16" with polished centers. Thanks for the detailed look!

I had just been wondering if those 16X6 wheels would fit - Anderson's book shows the offset the same as an early 15X6.

Chris, did you do the polishing yourself?

Thx,
Emery