Wheels/Tires (84-944)

DeanCorleone · 08-27-2006, 06:49 AM

Hey guys this is my first porsche and my first car with 215/60R15's... and it needs new tires. I could just put some cheapes on there and be done with it, but I want to find a decently priced, and decently performing tire (for turns not straights). Do I need to replace with a 215/60R15? Having trouble finding tires companies that make that wide, and that small or a tire... Either way I was just wondering that - and also how wide are the front/rear rims on the porsche? They are stock 15" rims I believe.

Techno Duck · Techno Duck's Garage

You can fit up to a 225 width tire on there. I would try something like 225/50/15 if you can.

dehs · 08-27-2006, 11:21 AM

from my experiences. going from a stock 86-951 wheel/tire size to 18by8 front and 18by11 rears with a 285/30zr18 and 225/40zr18 fronts, the car handles and stops much much better. my point being that less tire means better handling: less fold on corners, yet your ride will be more uncomfortable in the bumps sence. but in my opinion, that is reasonable sacrifice. anyway i would go to a forty series tire if you can, it will lower your car a bit too which will help for cornering. anyway, there is my 2 cents....good luck

Dantilla · 08-27-2006, 07:25 PM

If your wheels are "Cookie Cutters", they are all 15x7.

If they are "Fuchs" (the classic Porsche wheels seen on most late '60's and '70's 911s) They are 15x7 in front, and 15x8 in the rears.

Both came stock with 215/60/15 tires. 225's fit well.

944s look great with wide tires in the rear, but a stock '84 handles much better with equal width tires front and rear. Putting wide rear tires on induces understeer.

A turbo has enough power for wider, heavier tires, but still isn't as much fun as when the same size is used all the way around.

Porsche started putting slightly wider tires on the rear of the 951 because a tendancy to understeer is deemed safer for the average driving public. Early 951s came with a 205/225 setup, while later ones went to 225/245.

The 944 drivers winning autocrosses around here are using 245s all the way around. The car drifts beautifully that way. Something you can't do if the back is too firmly planted.

I race an early '85 944 with the SCCA. The tires I use to get the car on and off the trailer are 225 in front, and 255 in the rear. People tell me the car looks great that way (it does), but it's not nearly as much fun to drive as when it has 225's all the way around.

UconnTim97 · UconnTim97's Garage

I have 225/45/16s on the rear and it looks like there is room to go wider on my car. From the manual, this is the stock rear tire size with the 16" Fuchs option with 205's in the front. I must say this set up handles like a dream!

Wider tires on the rear looks great.....

Edit for spelling

DeanCorleone · 08-28-2006, 11:56 AM

Wow I like this forum

Fast replys.

Either way they are a some-what golden wheel... all of them are 215/60R15 - now my new question is - Whats a good, affordable brand tire for my car that I won't need to replace every 5000 miles?

Thanks fellas.

Eldorado · 08-28-2006, 01:27 PM

i just asked the same question not too long ago... do a search under my name for "falken tires" and it should answer your question..

general consensus, great price for a quiet tire that is perfect for street use... Falken ZE-512

vbaron · 08-28-2006, 05:53 PM

Has anybody tried 225/50R15s all around? They'll fit on the original 15" Fuchs?

Dantilla · 08-29-2006, 09:49 AM

My race class has a 7" max width for rims, so we all use 225/50/15 Hoosiers.

That's as wide as I would go on a 7" wheel. There is some "pinch" to the tires, but the added grip is worth the trade-off of sidewalls that are less than ideal.

Also, Hoosier's 225s are wider than just about anybody else's 225 tires, so that would work fine on stock Fuchs.