Need help with 911 sc tire sizing and suspension height

[Jpicardi]

Have an 82 911 sc with Fuchs 15x7&8. Was thinking about 205/55/15 front and 225/50/15 rear. To get the gap between tire and rim down I would need to get the suspension height to about 24.5. Right now the previous owner installed 215/60/15 rears. They look good but makes the rear end feel too soft. Any suggestions or experience with this set-up is appreciated.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Jpicardi

Have an 82 911 sc with Fuchs 15x7&8. Was thinking about 205/55/15 front and 225/50/15 rear. To get the gap between tire and rim down I would need to get the suspension height to about 24.5. Right now the previous owner installed 215/60/15 rears. They look good but makes the rear end feel too soft. Any suggestions or experience with this set-up is appreciated.

205/50 on 7ET23.3 x15 & 225/50 on 8ET10.6 x15 was the oe fitment on my '76 C3, You can lower the car a lot w/ this setup because the tires are so short. It also greatly improves the acceleration due to the short tires effect on gearing. You can certainly substitute 205/55 x15 on the same 7s w/ little issue(they are a tad taller so the ride height will probably need to be a tad higher.

I don't like tall tires like 215/60 on the back, though the were oe fitments on the '73 RS.

[Norton911]

I have both 205/55 r15 (F) and 225/50 r15 (R) and also 195/65 r15 and 215/60 r15 .

The car feels much more fun To drive with the taller and less wider tyre, absolutely changes the way the chassis flex and in terms of real life, problably more suited To the road. The limits are there with some warning first! Much safer in a spirit drive cause You can have a little less grip but more suspension acting than a short sidewall tyre. It flexs more...and give that sort of 911 behaviour that we all know...more direct and easy To put on some corners (Even with less grip and less planted). Its a pleasure To feel the chassis with those kind of tyres. Also much more easy To find tyres. I use yokohama C-Drive all around and in rain its much better also! The steering feels much better with 195/65 than 205/55.
Use GOOD BRAND TYRES ALWAYS! Yokohama are my best for 195/65 and 215/60 .. Much better than Pirelli P6000 N tyres that Porsche recomends... Those Pirelli sucks!


On the other hand, the choice of 205 and 225 are more suitable To racing, track, fast driving, also because there is much more Sporting tyres (I have pirelli Pzero assimetrico and p600 in front) also michelin's exalto PE2 and used also bridgestone S02 (the same that 993 used when new).
Also Toyo R888 if your plan is To fly To the track!

The car has more grip..more planted.. High speed corners... The back doesnt goes so easily...
But sometimes we need less grip on the back tyres and more direct steering and the chassis pointing fine with the curve (corners) . And because of that i prefer the tall sidewall in An. Old 911!

Not talking about Rs, turbo, engine Powerful conversions or street racing cars, ...just a normal factory 911 SC with 200hp and normal bushing suspension settings and OEM stabilizer and koni/ bilstein shocks.

Different behaviour.. More planted, more sticky on the limit but.. I prefer driving a normal 911 3.0 with the old style. And with 15" the car is a lot more classic with bigger sidewall. Also You preserv more the bushings... And bumps on the road. Less stiff..less hard. Enjoyable!

Depends a lot of WHAT SUSPENSION and what is your intention (track?, road?)
If You have good shocks and good bushing You can feel the best experience with 215/60 in a normal 911 SC. The same as using 16" wheels or 15" wheels... I prefer 15" wheels!
And im not being a purist... But i have 90.000km driving this car and a lot of tyre and wheel sets...

I think 195 and 215 are just perfect for the normal suspension and character.. You can have more confort and feel the 911 floating as they should in the corners... More feeling, more pleasure.
Nowadays i prefer my fuchs with 195/65 - 215/60 !
I have 205/55 and 225/50 in my Porsche steelies "906 wheels.. For any track i enter.

On tracks.. 205/55 (or 205/50) front and 225/50 on the back.

Just grab some yokohamas in 195/65 and 215/60 in 15" fuchs wheels and then You see what i mean. You can preseve a lot more of the car with this setup and enjoy a more pleasure driving.

Regards
Norton

[Jpicardi]

Thanks! How about suspension lowering with the taller tires. Can I get the car down pretty low?

[Norton911]

Originally Posted by Jpicardi

Thanks! How about suspension lowering with the taller tires. Can I get the car down pretty low?

Well To put "pretty low" its better To fit the 205/225 tyres. The suspension is going To travel in a different way. Depends of your shocks and suspension healthy.
I guess all the tyres and sets will fit properly.

Pretty low i dont Like... (Stance) just for photos.

I advise To lower a little bit the front just To maintain a better wheight distribution, and improve the handling of the 911. In the back i dont know how is your car but photos may help.

[Jpicardi]

Here it is currently with 205/55/15 front and 216/60/15 rear. The rear is very high for my taste.

[Norton911]

Yes it is.. And a huge difference in sidewalls also.
Try To put some 225/50 on the back..