185/65 tires, how will look on car versus stock 165 tires or 185/70?

[jjs3rd914]

Will be buying new tires to put on a set of Pedrinis. Wanted to go with 185/70 tire size to replace the 165 standard tires now on the car as the 185/70's are about the same diameter. New 185/70 tires are not available for a decent price (if at all). 185/65 tires are available but the diameter is 1 inch less. Anyone have a picture of how these look on the car with the shorter diameter? I could go with 195/65 tires (also close to stock dia.) but I believe they might rub against A/C lines in the front (and maybe back) of my fender wells?

Comments/photos?

Thanks,

jjs3rd914

[tshih]

What profile ratio are the original 165's (75, 70, 80?). I think to compare the same size tire-wheel combo just multiply the width (165mm times the aspect ratio 65% for 165/65/15)=ytimes new ratio or the correct width=165*0.65/0.70

[jjs3rd914]

Thanks for the reply. I beleive the original 165's were 80 series. All the tire calculators reveal the following,

165/80 have 25.4" dia tire that was on the car
185/70 have 25.2" dia
185/65 have 24.5" dia tire now on the car which is 0.9" less than original
195/65 have 25.0" dia

I went with 185/65's because 185/70's are not available for a decent price. I wanted a wider tire than 165/80 but was reluctant to go too wide as with the 195/65's because of the mentioned A/C lines. Plus 185/65's are plentiful and less expensive. The 185/65's are on the car (yesterday) and look fine. I will post a picture shortly.

Thanks,

jjs3rd914

[jjs3rd914]

Here are the 185/65 tires mounted on Pedrinis. We may lower the front just a hair to fill the wheel well a little more. Otherwise the almost 1 inch less in dia. from the stock 165/80 tires does not seem to be that noticeable.

jjs3rd914

[SirAndy]

http://www.914world.com/specs/tirecalc.php

Andy

[jjs3rd914]

Looks Great. I think the Fuchs look great on a 914.

It looks as if the front end on your car is lower than mine. Looking at the distance between the rim and the fender lip , mine appears much larger. Did you lower yours after the smaller dia. tires were installed? The rears look about the same. When I took my photo the gas tank was almost empty so that may contribute a little. Once filled I may lower the torsion bar screws to get a more even look.

Again thanks for the post as it gives all of us a bench mark when it comes to getting new tires of a different size than the original 165's.

jjs3rd914

[bandjoey]

Went to Discount tires and bought Barum (Braziliam) tires 195 60 complete with lifetime everything installed for $294. They're on Perdini wheels. Look great and good price.

[ionman]

I'm running 215/65 tires on the stock 5.5 inch rims- probably a wee bit too wide for the rims, but they don't rub anywhere.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

215s? You're a very lucky 914 owner! Very very few cars indeed can fit 215s under stock fenders.

--DD

[ionman]

If you notice the 72 914 behind the red one, it too has 215/65 tires, same rims. No rubbing, no pulling out the fenders to fit. Actually this one will rub the inside if the wheel is hard over.