INPUT NEEDED: !974 911s Tire Choice

[Irhmsd]

So, it is getting close to the end of the resto of my 1974 911S and the dry rotted tires need to be replaced. The car has the original 15" Fuchs wheels from the factory. This is not a carrera so the wheels in the front and the back are the same size. I currently have the dry rotted Michelin MXM (I think) on the car. This is just a pleasure car, back roads, no track use. With that as background, what are your tire recommendations for me to consider? Pirelli P6000, another set of Michelin MXM? Thoughts?

[Targalid]

I run Toyo Eclipse, 205-60-15 on all four so I can rotate them.

[Zaz]

I've got Michelin Pilot Sport's on my 74 (205/55 16's). Very satisfied.

[Avanti]

Went through the same search for my 77. Search old threads. For a pleasure driver, a lot of people liked the Falken Ziex. Relatively inexpensive. Their updated version last longer than the previous version (960?). I put them on my 77 cause they looked like a safe gamble. My car was being revived after an 18 year nap and didn't want to put anything on too $$ until I got to sort the car sorted. Plus not much available in 15". Overall I like them.

[enzoducoing]

Hello
I have said this in other related posts, the best low cost performance tire for 6jX15 or 7jX15 wheels on a narrow body 911 are the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport in 195/65/15. They are the closest to the OEM size are very comfortable tire but hard enough on the side walls to take your car to another level, so much better than Pirelli's P6000.
The catch is that for some absurd reason this size is not sold in the states, only in Europe, Asia and Latin America. You owe yourself to have someone at a southern border get you a set from a mexican Bridgestone dealership, they are about $100 a piece.
I have them on 7jX15 Fuchs wheels and on a set of 7X15 ATS Classic wheels. I have used them on two track days and the handling was better than a set of 205/55/16 Potenza RE11 that I also have on 7jX16 Fuchs. Even the instructors who drove the car commented on the great feel grip and response of this tires. I know the RE11 is a better tire but the balance of the OEM size on a narrow body works better with the RE760S.
Mind you my car has an unrelenting carburated 3.8 that has huge torque abd the car feels nimble and predictable everywhere.

[Frog76S]

Hello enzoducoing,

Those Bridgestones fill out the wheel wells nicely and gold ATS contrast well with the red. Do you have spacers? With the 7J x 15, wondering why you went with 195's instead of the wider 205's or even 215's?

I've got a barn find 76S Targa that will soon need new tires. She's got 6J x 15, but would like to find some 7's to fill out the wheel wells a bit more. I've read that the 15's are getting harder to find, but are easier to drive than the 16's. Back in 911 game after sold my 89 13 yrs ago and don't recall how those 16's drove.

Thanks again for the great info!

[enzoducoing]

Originally Posted by Frog76S

Hello enzoducoing,

Those Bridgestones fill out the wheel wells nicely and gold ATS contrast well with the red. Do you have spacers? With the 7J x 15, wondering why you went with 195's instead of the wider 205's or even 215's?

Thanks again for the great info!

Hello Frog76S
I run 1/4in spacers in the back and 1/8in in the front in both ATS and Fuchs 7X15 wheels.
You can also get 215/60/15 in the Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport down in Mexico but I found that when you go too wide (in relation to the wheel width) on a tall profile tire, instead of more grip you get a bulging side wall that does not work as it was designed and you end up with a tire that flexes unnecessarily making the car feel less precise and not specially grippy. I would only go to a 205 or 215 if I could fit an 8in wide wheel (which you can't in a narrow body) or if you go to a 16in larger wheel that would end up with a lower side wall tire like the 205/55/16.
Even then I have tried these and the car's balance worked out better with the 195/65/15. I guess it is easy to think that bigger is better but it not always works that way, specially in cars that are not all-out race cars.
This is particularly evident in wide body cars where you could potentially fit ridiculously wide tires. If it's not a car that is intended for the track only with a lowered race suspension, you easily end up with a car that is a pain to drive in the street, that tracks every single nuance on the road and that fights you in every turn, To me that is not a fun car to drive, nor a safe one because its limits become very unpredictable. I know this because I made the very common mistake of thinking that wider was better in my 930 and ended up hating it so much. Now I try to find a total car balance that is not based in track width and have come with better solutions for my wide bodied cars too. Porsche engineers where not asleep at the wheel when they decided to put such tiny tires in their wide street cars.
Hope this helps.
Cheers
MD

[Irhmsd]

Thx guys. Any other recommendations?

[Charles Freeborn]

205/60/15's with all seasons' for every day use. Running Goodyear eagles, but nla in that size. Bridgestones are a good choice too.