need tires

John2244 · 01:58 PM

Hello, I am a new member and need some help.

I just purchased a 1969 Porsche 912 Targa and it needs tires. The current tires are size 205/60/15. After doing a little research it seems I should purchase tires in the range of 185/65/15 or 195/60/15 but I am lost as to what brand and model tire would be best suited for this car. Most of my driving will be around town, some 20 trips on the freeway, along with a couple of longer 300 miles trips per year.

Thanks for your help,

John

Turpin · Turpin's Garage

Quote:

Hello, I am a new member and need some help.

I just purchased a 1969 Porsche 912 Targa and it needs tires. The current tires are size 205/60/15. After doing a little research it seems I should purchase tires in the range of 185/65/15 or 195/60/15 but I am lost as to what brand and model tire would be best suited for this car. Most of my driving will be around town, some 20 trips on the freeway, along with a couple of longer 300 miles trips per year.

Thanks for your help,

John

Hey John,
My 69 Targa has 14" Fuchs so I can't give you exact sizing. The 195 sound right. As far as brands, Michelins or Yokohamas is what I usually use.
What area are you located?

Russ

John2244 · 08:09 PM

Russ,

Thanks for the reply and I am located in Southern Calif. I owned my last Porsche (356B) over 35 years ago so I have a lot to learn.

John

Bob Harriman · Bob Harriman's Garage

What brand 205/60 are on there now? That's not an easy size to find

Bob Harriman · Bob Harriman's Garage

I have 205/55/15. The 205/60 would be perfect for me. Some say the 205 will rub but I have not had that problem even with the car lowered. The SWB will definitely rub with 205 but our 69's have a flared rear fender.

John2244 · 04-02-2014, 09:44 AM

Hello Bob,

Nice car !! The current tires are Goodyear Eagle GT's and they are very old. Based on the date code they are at least 18 years old and could be 28 years old. This car has not been driven much in the last 30 years. Regarding your car being lowered maybe you can answer a question for me. My car seems to sit 1 1/2 to 2" lower than some older 912's I have seen. Do the LWB cars normally sit a little lower than the SWB cars ??

Thanks,
John

bob hogaboam · bob hogaboam's Garage

I have 195/65/15 on my 68. Kumho tires. Price is right and there good tires.

Bob Harriman · Bob Harriman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by John2244

Hello Bob,

Nice car !! The current tires are Goodyear Eagle GT's and they are very old. Based on the date code they are at least 18 years old and could be 28 years old. This car has not been driven much in the last 30 years. Regarding your car being lowered maybe you can answer a question for me. My car seems to sit 1 1/2 to 2" lower than some older 912's I have seen. Do the LWB cars normally sit a little lower than the SWB cars ??

Thanks,
John

I don't believe so. That could be an optical illusion due to the LWB rear fender change since the SWB rear is not flared. Then again, that may be why they flared the LWB. All the 912's look like they sit higher due to not having the large 911 muffler behind and under the engine. The muffler on the 912 is up higher. I know that the European delivered cars sat lower the way Porsche built them to sit. The US required they sit higher.

John2244 · 04-05-2014, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the reply.
John

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

John
You should head on over to 912bbs.org and have a look around.

Jim Chambers · 07:52 AM

The first consideration is how wide are your wheels. If you have standard 15" diameter 5.5" wide steel or 6" wide Fuchs I would strongly advise either the stock 165/80 or 195/65 tires. They are nearly the same diameter and will not alter your gearing or speedo accuracy. Since you have the flared LWB fenders the 195's should clear on the outside. They may rub on the inside at full lock but that is not a big problem.

Your car looks a bit lower now because the 205/60's are about 3/4" smaller in diameter from stock. However that would only lower the car by 3/8".

As Scott suggests, this topic has been discussed in great detail on the 912 Help Forum at 912.org. There is much more 912 traffic there than here.

Matt Monson · 04-06-2014, 03:38 PM

Pretty sure I saw Bob's car in the FOS corral this weekend. Nice 912. Sorry for the OT. I don't stop for many cars these days but stopped for this one.

John2244 · 04-06-2014, 04:04 PM

Jim,
Thanks for the information. I have 6" Fuchs and think I will buy the 195/65-15 tire. Still deciding on which brand. Regarding the height, the front is 24 1/2" from bottom of the fender through the center of the wheel to the ground and the back is 23 1/4". The shocks are also very old so that may be the issue of it sitting low. I have looked at 912 help, it is all very interesting reading for someone new to Porsche like I am.
John

Jim Chambers · 04-06-2014, 04:25 PM

Your car has definitely been lowered from stock.

John2244 · 04-06-2014, 06:35 PM

Jim,

Do the know the factory height settings or know when I can locate them?? I have looked in a few books but no luck yet.
Thanks,
John

Jim Chambers · 05:42 AM

Don't recall the numbers but it is not measured at the wheel well. As I recall it is the difference between the center of the torsion bars and the center of the wheel. The front is easy to adjust, the rear not so much.

Here is one post on 912 Help citing Clymer manual saying rear difference is 12mm. Search "factory ride height" on that board and see what you can find.

Determining height for rear suspension

Read all the posts in the above thread.

Also, shocks will not affect ride height, only the torsion bars.

Jaems · 04-07-2014, 08:37 AM

The were two factory heights for the 912. One for the US and one for the rest of the world. The US was approx a inch high do to the competition with the 911. If the 912 was out performing the 911 in tight courses. It would hurt the sales for the 911 and they were trying to establish the 911 in the US market. Also the 356 folks were more interested in the 912 because of it's engine track record. The 911 engine was still a unknown quantity at it's introduction.

The SWB design was better suited to the 912 than the 911, because of it's slightly better balance of front to rear weight ratio. At it's euro height the 912 was a better handling car.

I posted the procedure for height adjustment, about 8-10 years ago, over on the 912 board. You might search it there under Jaems and/or suspension height.

Jim Chambers · 04-07-2014, 09:18 AM

I wanted to know too so did an "advanced search" on 912 Help and here it is.

For those that need or want to change the height of their cars

John, there is much more info and a quicker response to questions on the 912bbs.

Bob Harriman · Bob Harriman's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaems

at it's euro height the 912 was a better handling car.

is

Thanks for the kind remarks Matt. I was hanging with Eric at PMB. Everything else was later car accessories.

Rick Becker · 04-08-2014, 06:04 PM

Looking for 195/60-15s for 15x6 rims myself, high performance choices more limited now for rim diameters < 17", here's a few though; ...

Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position

Yokohama YK580

What has everyone else found?