Should I sell my original 15X7 and 8 Fuchs?

[kmoush]

I recently purchased my 86 Carrera, with 15" 7 and 8 Fuchs. I need new tires and tire selection in the sizes I need are pretty much limited to HP All Season tires. I have HP All Seasons on my Audi A4 Avant, that handles well, but that is passenger car and not a 911.

So I am considering purchasing 16X7 and 8 wheels to increase my selection. I want Summer HP tires. Yes, these tire sizes too are getting harder to find, but 17's just seem too extreme for a car that will be predominately a DD, AX perhaps 5 times a year.

Given the fact that any tires I put on the 15s would be limited to 60 series HP AS or AS, and pretty much for show, do I keep them for future resale value? NOTE: my car has been a DD its whole life, has terrific patina, and I plan to keep in top mechanical shape, and drive it like it was meant to be driven....a DD and NEVER be a garage queen.

I am interested in your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

[ben parrish]

No, do not sell them. The reality is that the comfort tires of today are better than the performance tires from 1986.
I would keep the 15's on the car and enjoy the better ride comfort in the city.
If you change to a bigger size, box up the current wheels and keep them. I sold my original 16's about ten years ago and regretted it almost immediately...luckily I stumbled across a set locally and picked them up for a song. Within a year of that purchase, I switched back to 16's from 17's .

BTW, I once put a set of 15's from a friends car on my car for an auto cross run...I was surprised at the additional torque coming out of the corners.

[RSTarga]

Keep them and buy your 16's if you want.
Don't sell anything original you take off your car.

[nvr2mny]

Totally agree with Ben & RS.

[javadog]

There may be tires made for the 15's that are available outside the US. A while back, I know that Bridgestone made some and I know that Pirelli and Falken do too. Sometimes we look at what's on the Tire Rack web site and think that is all that is out there, but that's not the case. You might do a little more research.

There are always low profile DOT race tires available that would fit, if you want a lot of grip and don't need tires that last 10 or 20k miles.

JR

[milnejk]

I really like the look of your car with the 15s and paint to match centers. If you change wheels, I would try to get the new wheels painted to match also.

I run 15s on my 911 and use Toyo RA-1s. for a daily driver they may not give you enough mileage, but they work great for me as a week end driver. I have never worn a set out, but just change and put new every 3-4 years.

The 15s will be lighter and depending on tire size the diameter will be less giving a slightly lower effective gear ratio. I like both these attributes.

If you change and can afford to keep the 15s, I would do so. Fuchs investment is better than stock market..

John

[Algernon]

Have you considered General Altimax RT43 tires. They come in 195/65R15 and 215/60R15 - the original sizes, as well as several others.

[Driven97]

I have 17s that are on the car most of the time, but my OE 15s go on every fall once the AX season is over.

As much as I try to enjoy my car, I'm keeping as many original parts as possible in the unlikely event that I ever decide to sell the car.

[rdimarco]

15's are cool. These are BFG Rivals 225/45-15 & 205/50-15 on 7 & 8s.

[49willard]

I am new to my 911 and my 86 cab came with 16's and the original tire size tag visible when I open the rear deck lid indicates that the originals were 16's. Were some 86 Carrera's built with 15's?

[kmoush]

Originally Posted by 49willard

I am new to my 911 and my 86 cab came with 16's and the original tire size tag visible when I open the rear deck lid indicates that the originals were 16's. Were some 86 Carrera's built with 15's?

Yes. According to Bentley manual, for the non-turbos 15s were Standard (6 and 7s) and Option 1 (7 and 8s) for years 84'-88. For the same years 16s were Option #2 (6 and 7s). '89 came Standard with 6 and 8s, no Option #1 or #2 are listed.

[49willard]

Thanks for the clarification. My son and his wife met when they both worked for Bentley Publishing.

[shaunmbenson]

Those wheels are gorgeous and would be awful to try and buy down the road when you decide you liked the stock look and feel - store them and enjoy their appreciation