Anyone tried Michelin XZX?

green71 · 06-04-2001, 05:22 PM

I'm looking to replace my old, ratty no-name all-season radials with a set of 165R15's. NOBODY ON EARTH makes a performance tire in this size, which is why I'm looking at the XZX. At $250 out-the-door, it seems like a decent deal, but they have to be ordered. I can't even seem to find a photograph of these tires!

Has anyone tried them as an all-arounder? Have you liked them or not? What are your thoughts?

Thanks,

Mark

campbellcj · 06-04-2001, 05:35 PM

Isn't the XZX the old Michelin they've been making for like 35+ years, i.e. back to 356 days? I think it was a skinny, high profile tire used on various VW's and Porsches amongst other vehicles.

If that's the one...well, personally I'd probably look for something a bit more modern...why exactly do you want to run 165's? Is this a concours car?

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Chris C.
73 914 2.0
70 911E Targa
campbell.chris@gte.net

green71 · 06-04-2001, 05:50 PM

The current 165's offer plenty-stiff steering action. I'm not sure if it's related, but the steering rack was retrofitted with one from a '73 914 (the car is a '71). PO told me the '73 rack required fewer turns lock-to-lock.

Anyway, though it drives & handles pretty well, it's a workout at slow speeds. I wouldn't want it to get any stiffer, and I'm afraid that wider tires would yeild stiffer steering.

Also, where would the additional tire go? I don't have much lateral clearance under the rear fenders (just over 3/4" from tire to fender edge). I recently saw 205's on an unmodified 914; I have no idea how it all fit under there.

Chris, do you have another suggestion? My budget's not huge, but I can do better than the $250 I mentioned earlier.

Thanks,

Mark

RogerU · RogerU's Garage

I have them on my car. They came with the car when I bought it, so I can't compare to anything else on a 914. The car is so light, I bet they will dry rot before they run out of tread. My car has a 1.7 liter engine, so it's not powerful enough to break the tires loose unless accellerating through a corner with a loose surface.

Some possitives to having skinny tires:

1) They do nice, controllable 4-wheel drifts!

2) Aerodynamic advantage over wide tires is probably good for 1/2 mph top speed increase and 1 mpg mileage increase.

-Roger

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Polly's Patron
Chrome Yellow '72 1.7

SteveStromberg · 06-05-2001, 07:08 AM

I have purchased Five sets(25 tyres) of XZX's in the last year, they
are about $75 each for the set I bought last week.Steve

green71 · 06-05-2001, 07:26 AM

Steve,

I'll take that as an endorsement of the tire! Any chance you can post or email a photo? My local Michelin dealer doesn't even have a pic of this tire, and they have to order it. The Michelin web site doesn't have a pic, either.

I realize it's not a particularly high-zoot tire, but I'm hesitant to drop the $$$ on something I've never even seen.

Thanks,

Mark

MCLEODRE · 06-05-2001, 09:18 AM

I bought a set of 165 x 15 XZX's for my '73 914 2.0L at the local Costco here in So Cal about two years ago. The cost was about $50 each. My car is a daily driver, I'm pleased with the tires' performance and they show very little wear.

The XZX was original equipment on my first 914, a '74 2.0L that I bought new.

Doug M · 06-05-2001, 09:58 AM

If you like the way a VW bug drives go ahead and keep the 165. A 914 doesnt really come alive until you put some real tires on and lower it some. At least use 60 series,like the Yokohama 509. I bought some Pirelli 195 50 15 P6000 for $42.00 at the Tire Rack.
Put some meat on there, your car will appreciate it. You need to have at least 5- 1/2" wide wheels.One of my cars had the 4- 1/2 with the 165 michelins,bad shocks ....... what a ride, just like a bug.

Paint Legend · 06-05-2001, 11:48 AM

Mark / Green 71-

I am upgrading my tires to Yokohama's. I have a used set of Starfire Metric 165R15's that I'll ship to you for $ 120 for the set.

I would say there is 80% of tread or more left.

That should meet your budget!

Best regards,
Tom

green71 · 06-05-2001, 11:56 AM

Tom,

I'm more interested in which Yokohamas you're going with! What size are the tires & rims?

Thanks,

Mark

Roland Kunz · 06-05-2001, 03:18 PM

Hello

The first modern radial steel ply Tire was the Michelin X witch came back in 1962 with the Carrera 2,0 and was stock on all 1963 Porsches.

The XZX is a some 30 year old base design on the shoulder but Michelin allways keept up with newer rubber compound.

Mainly the users are Oldtimerdrivers and so Michelin focused a bit more on long period usabilty and a more forgiving handling as old cars suspension will not be as sharp as modern cars.

The XZX profile has very large blocks who will support handlingand lonlivety. The low is a bit watershynes but on not to wide sizes there is no problem. in a low profile they would swim or be called intermediate.

Winter usage is possible I tried it with a 356 BT& some years ago ( In europa they make winter rallyes for Oldtimer )

Porsche also has a HR ratet Pneumant tire on stock. Pnemant and Yokohama do belong to the Michelin industrie. The pneumant where special made for early 356/911/914 and give fantastic handling. The Michelin has also to work on old Healys, Jaguars or Citroens and therfore are not so tailor fittet.

As far i see you must have rims with wider stance and not rolled fenderlips on the rear.

185/70/15 will also fitand was the standard tire on the last 914 years or came as oprion.

The 165 are the correct tires the car was developed for. Make a 914 very light and nimble also very esay to control in off throttle situations. Even with those tires you still can outperform average modern cars.

It is fact that a lowering and wide tires will make the car a bit faster but not much funnier to drive. And i loved to have skinnys on my 914/6 and blow away ultrawide supercars.

Grüsse

914Hugh · 06-05-2001, 08:29 PM

Refer to other posts regarding tire width, rim size, and clearance (In a nutshell, if you have a wheel like the 'Riviera' (pictured, not much more will fit under the fender.)

This was my second set of xzx's. very dependable since I bought them several years ago (at I think $30/tire). these have sat around for awhile, so I am not suprised to see the dry rot.

For $250 though, i would prefer to go with something a bit wider and more of a performance tire.

Nevertheless, here is an ok picture, so you can see general shape and tread pattern. -

-Hugh

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

If you can only fit 165s, chances are you have VW Bug wheels. There are Rivieras that are made with an appropriate offset/backspacing for 914s. On those, you can fit 195-width tires pretty well on just about all 914s.

Personally, I think a nice modern tire in 195/65-15 works very well indeed on a 914. The car stays pretty well balanced, but the limits of adhesion are farther out.

--DD

green71 · 06-06-2001, 01:55 PM

Thanks for posting the pics, Hugh.

I believe the rims are Empis. Here are a couple of shots:

I'm beginning to warm up to the idea of a larger tire. Any ideas on what size(s) would fit these rims?

Thanks again,

Mark

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1971 1.7l 914
Willow Green

campbellcj · 06-06-2001, 02:24 PM

Since ride quality seems important to you, I'd second Dave D's recommendation for the 195/65 size. You should have no problem fitting 195's under your fenders and on your wheels, assuming they are 5.5" wide and a proper offset for the 914.

If you could find a 185/70, you might like that even better, and it would still be nominally 20mm wider than your original "bug/356" 165/80+ XZX's.

Good luck,
Chris C.

green71 · 06-06-2001, 08:42 PM

I've done a little math . . . looks like a 185/70R15 will have a height/profile closest to the 165.

What happens when you change the overall ride height? It's got to have some effect on the final drive ratio, right?

Also, is there any concern with a "balooning" effect with larger tires on my rims?

Mark

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1971 1.7l 914
Willow Green

Roland Kunz · 06-07-2001, 07:38 AM

Hello

http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/michelin.html

The factory did offer wide stance steel sport rims ( ET 24. The same ones where used on the 1303 beetles. Mostly produced by Kronprinz. Esay to spot by the 4 high spokes

They came stock on the last modellyears in germany if you ordered the handling package but not the appierence package. Standard orders had also similar looking but ET 40 rims and 165 tires.

The ET 24 rims fit with 185/70/15 but the rear fenderlip must be rolled. ( Most 72 on have that )