Tire Question

1bad914 · 10-09-2002, 05:02 PM

Why not 205 50 15. I know the 50 will cause some speedo problems but what other problems could running 50's cause. These will be mounted on original 2 Litre Fuchs, on a car that I will drive daily in the summer.

Randy

chrisreale · 10-09-2002, 05:06 PM

I think on some cars, the tire will rub on the inner wheel well. Not all, but some, and there is no way to determine if your car is one it will rub on, except to try it out. I put 195/60/15's on mine, and they work fine

URY914 · URY914's Garage

You also have to realize all 205's are not the same size. If you go to Tire Rack's web site and study the actual size of several tires which are labeled 205 you'll see. They provide specs (tread width, overall width, diameter etc..) on each tire. Make a list and compare them.

Loan Dog · Loan Dog's Garage

Check the inside lip of your rear fenders. Most older cars (70-72) do not have the factory clearance cut-out. Most cars after that do.If your fenders have the factory cut-out, you should easily be able to run 205 50's. I run 205 60 Comp TA's with no problem what so ever. Mine are mounted on original Empi 8 spoke wheels.
If you're still concerned about clearance, roll (flatten) the inner lip of both fenders. Works like a charm. Don't be afraid of those 205 50's! They'll make the car look great too!
Don Kiepert

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

Problems? None that I can think of except you will like how much better the car handles because of the lower profile tire. The speedo error is a small pain but what a heck a small price.....Plus the car is quicker due to the gearing change but lacks some top end (above 110mph)
I have been using 205x50x15 Dunlop SP8000 for 2 + years on 4 bolt Fuchs first then 5 Bolt Fuchs.
Geoff

chrisreale · 10-09-2002, 08:13 PM

all this talk about 205/50's is making me think I shouold try it out next tire change.

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

You could try out my car Chris, I just live near the University Village by Husky Stadium.
'Try it, you'll like it"
Geoff

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

Even with a flattened fender lip, a number of 914s won't accomodate 205-width tires in the back. The only way to tell if yours will or will not is to measure your current set, or just try the 205s.

Happily most seem to fit the 205s on stock wheels.

--DD

rich · rich's Garage

Better check the wheel width. When I was a young guy I put a set of 50 series tires on a 1965 Buick Grand port. I pulled out on the street and dropped the clutch. one of the tires blew off the rim. I had factory 5" chrome rally style wheels. The side walls were pulled way in from the 5" wheels.

chrisreale · 10-09-2002, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bleyseng
You could try out my car Chris, I just live near the University Village by Husky Stadium.
'Try it, you'll like it"
Geoff

Peer pressure. peer pressure.....

Hey, I am game. I will probably be getting my car back from the shop within the next month. I'll have to have you show me the "914 friendly" routes! I think a drive through the arboretum is going to be the one of the first roads I drive. I always want to blaze through there, even in my Subaru!

914timo · 10-09-2002, 11:24 PM

Yes, 205/50x15 tyres are fine under 914 as long as you have four. With six the gearing will be too short. That´s why I will chance to 16" wheels and tyres. But, those low profile 15" tyres where great with my old 1.7L four.

timo
914-6 3.0L

Bleyseng · Bleyseng's Garage

Yeah Chris, that is a nice drive especially when the fall colors are out (another week?). One of my favorites is the I-90 bridge going east at 6AM on a Sunday during the summer. Lots of heavy cold air for hp, I have hit 120mph on that bridge.
Let's meet up.
Geoff

mskala · 10-10-2002, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 914timo
With six the gearing will be too short.

Timo, please explain.
Thanks,
Mark S.
'70 914-6

tbil · 10-10-2002, 12:10 PM

If you do alot of freeway driving, like here in CA where you need/get to do 75 - 80 mph, those 50 series do drive up the RPM's and lower the mpg's. Perhaps not a concern for most, but if your car is a freeway commuter like mine, the 60 series may be a better solution.

1bad914 · 10-10-2002, 02:31 PM

I have a 3.5 mile drive to work, the speed limit is 35. I will drive the car on the highway once in awhile, to take it to local shows.
I think the 50's will be fine.

Randy

6 Shooter · 10-10-2002, 03:13 PM

I've been running 205x50x15s on 7s for 15 years. Using 5/16 spacers, wheel well lips have been rolled in, fenders have not been pulled out. I bought some Yoko AVS Intermediate 205x60s for another car and they seem to fit on the 6 so I took advantage of the Tire Rack close out sale and will be changing to 205x60s. They fit pretty tight, might need to reduce the spacer a little... since I've already bought the 60s, they're GONNA fit. Hopefully, you won't be seeing any paint burn marks....

rich · rich's Garage

6 Shooter, What type of 7" wheels are you running?

914timo · 10-10-2002, 11:54 PM

Mark, like tbil already explain, the RPMs are "too" high on freeway. At least they could be lower.....

The other reason is that I don´t need my first gear any more. I can make most of my starts with the second gear. Somebody might think that this is a good thing, but to me it says that there is something wrong with the gearing.

timo
´71 914-6 3.0L

mskala · 10-11-2002, 09:23 AM

Timo, "too high" revs is pretty subjective. You wrote it like the car won't work right or something. Many people have been running small diameter tires forever and you're not going to hurt anything by running 205/50, which is only about 10% smaller diameter than stock.

6 Shooter · 10-11-2002, 12:16 PM

Rich,
I'm running the early 7R factory Fuchs alloys with 5/16 spacers, front and rear. I bought them along time ago when they weren't so much $$$. I still didn't have enough $$ at the time and still had to borrow some $.