SC tire size help...Sorry for the OLDEST question...

[911 tweaks]

Interested in what tire size(s) will fit on a std body 911 SC...
Running 8" (951) on the front...
Running 9" (930) on the rear...
My guess is 225/50-16 on the front 8" fuchs...
Rear would be 245/45-16 on the rear 9" fuchs...
#1. Will this work on a std body 911 SC...??? If so, any suspension or body alterations necessary...??
#2. The tire I am planning on using is the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec after reading many, many, great results on dry & wet conditions & great bang for the buck also...

Thx for any & all input...please include if you have run what you suggest = I need REAL useage info please at least on the rims...... Any Dunlop Z1 tire feed back also welcome...
Thx, Bob

[Oh Haha]

Those are perfect sizes for the car/wheels but depending on the ride height, you may need to roll your front fender lips.

[Brian in VA]

Did you find the z1 in 245 45 16? All I could find actually available (with matching front tires for 7s) was Nexen ( at 1 site only, everywhere else sold out) and toyo. Unless you go track only. Even Fuzions are gone. A lot of places list a lot but if you call they don't have them (before everyone starts posting google results again )

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 911 tweaks

Interested in what tire size(s) will fit on a std body 911 SC...
Running 8" (951) on the front...
Running 9" (930) on the rear...
My guess is 225/50-16 on the front 8" fuchs...
Rear would be 245/45-16 on the rear 9" fuchs...
#1. Will this work on a std body 911 SC...??? If so, any suspension or body alterations necessary...??
#2. The tire I am planning on using is the Dunlop Z1 Star Spec after reading many, many, great results on dry & wet conditions & great bang for the buck also...

Thx for any & all input...please include if you have run what you suggest = I need REAL useage info please at least on the rims...... Any Dunlop Z1 tire feed back also welcome...
Thx, Bob

You'll find that 225/45 x16 gives you fewer clearance issues, unfortunately the * spec tire is not available in either 225/45 or 245/45 x16 sizes nor does Tirerack have any other tire available in those sizes anymore. Toyo does offer those sizes in an R888, there may be others somewhere out there

[911 tweaks]

thx guys for your replies here...

It looks like you all are right = I cannot get the Z1's in the sizes I was hoping/guessing were appropriate for running the 8's & 9's...s**t...

I know this opens up the big barn doorr, BUT, what brand of tire is as close to the Z1 & NOT $200 ea like the Michelin PS2's...?? Kuhmo something...??

I am only looking for a 10k mile tire to last 5 yrs as that is the max miles the car will see over the next 5 yrs & if the tires are junk then BUT were performing NASTY till then = goal reached... :-)

Thx...Bob

[911 tweaks]

ok...I have done some research and this is what I have found per a write up by Tire Rack on line:
1. best street performance tire is michelin pilot sport ps2 @ $200+ each...too much $$ to me...
2. 2nd best Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec...not avail in my sizes (225/50 & 245/45 on 16's)
3. 3rd best Hankook Ventus V12 Evo...not avail in my sizes...
4. 4th best Kuhmo Ecsta XS...not avail in my size...
5. Hoosier Pro-Street Radial...$225+...WTF...

Now what...?? ANY tire suggestions that are like ANY of the above tires, will fit the sizes I want & cost as close to $100 ea...?? Maybe I am dreaming here...???

**GOAL: as high a performance dry tire as possible...7.5k+ tire mile life is ok...some wet performance all the better...street legal tire for mostly auto-x/de & some street driving to & fro events...

I don't want to go to 15" or 17" rims...I guess I will have to consider a less performing tire than the above 5 tires listed...what do you guys suggest...??

Thx, Bob

[gordemann]

I recently replaced my Toyo T1s tires for a set of Nexen N3000 tires.I have 205/55/16 in front and 245/45/16 in the rear.I am very pleased with the tires so far.I bought them from Tire-easy.com.

Details: Nexen N 3000 245/45 ZR16 94W - tires-easy.com

[darrin]

Not sure that 225/50 fronts are going to work for you on a narrow bodied car without a LOT of fender rolling. I'm still working to get my 205/55s to not rub on 7" 911 offset fronts.

You also might find that "settling" for 225/50 rears will get you a LOT more options that, in the end, will still provide NICE traction.

BIG fan of my continental extremecontact dw tires as summer tires

[Brian in VA]

Bob, sorry man, you won't find any of those in 245 45 16.
I'm certainly no tire expert, but from looking around I was under the impression the 225/50s were an alternative for 8s but not on 9s. I could of course be wrong about that.

[911 tweaks]

thx all for your input...I appreciate it...

Gordemann...what size wheels are you using & did you have to do any body mods & how is your suspension set up...??

[gordemann]

I have 7's in front and 9's in rear and no modifications to the car....

[911 tweaks]

gordemann...in looking in your garage, I presume your 83' SC has std body = no rolled lips, no ground down suspension pcs...how about the suspension set up = are you running the car lowered...?? negative camber or such to get the tires to fit...??
I know you just posted no mods, but just making sure... :-)
Thx, Bob

[gordemann]

The car has been lowered.Thats bascically it.There are no other mods.No special cambers specs,no rollled lips,etc...

[darrin]

Originally Posted by gordemann

The car has been lowered.Thats bascically it.There are no other mods.No special cambers specs,no rollled lips,etc...

Have you run other 205/55-16 fronts on your 7" wheels?

It's my understanding that different tire models have different widths, even if the same size is used. Thus, a 205/55-16 nexen may be narrower than a 205/55-16 continental extreme contact DW allowing your nexen to work without rubbing but forcing me to roll the insides of my fender lips to not rub with my continentals

[gordemann]

The car came with Continentals which I replaced with Toyo T1s's which were replaced by the Nexen's.I have never had a problem with 205/55/16's .

[darrin]

Thanks -- looks like some cars (mine) are pickier than others -- never had problems when I had 6's up front, but my 7s have required some judicious rolling of the inside fender lip to get things set up right.

[pitsqrd]

I know members of this forum who have had 245/45/17 and 274/40/17 on their SCs with rolled/trimmed fenders and appropriate offset wheels.

I am putting 225/45/17 and 255/55/17 on 8 and 9 inch wheels on my 79 SC. I have rolled and trimmed fenders and moved the rear oil lines high up in the rear right fender well anticipating these wider wheels and tires.

Hope this helps

Thanks

[toddu]

Sell your wheels and get proper offset 7's and 8's. May even have $$ left over to get proper size * specs.

Todd

[911 tweaks]

an update...a trusted source said that 205/55-16 will fit well on 8's & 225/50 will also fit well on 9's ...

Anyone using these sizes & want to share your experiences...

Thx, Bob

[pitsqrd]

yeah they will work. I have 205/55/16 on my 7 inch fronts and 225/50/16 on my 8 inch wide rear Fuchs.

Correct offset Fuch, no spacers and no fit problems at all. By the way they will be for sale soon.

Thanks

One more thing, you can roughly calculate fit of the tires you are considering on your 8 and 9 inch wheels by dividing the section width of the tire by 25.4mm/inch. E.g. 205 size tire consideration for 8 inch wide wheel, 205/25.4 = 8.07 inch. This means the 205 tires are just wide enough to fit the 8 inch wheel; also 225/25.4 = 8.85 inch. The sidewalls on the 225/50/16 will taper in slightly on your 9 inch rear wheels and expose the inner and outer wheel lips a bit (wheel lips wider than sidewalls).

Suggest you go with wider in the rear, but make sure you match the aspect ratio so the front and rear wheels are approximately the same diameter.

Hope this helps.