Tires...

[anakilat]

I'd like some advice or suggestions for tires for my 1980 928 with 15" wheels.
The tires on it are 215/60/15. I have a set of brand new (in the box) set of 15" cookie cutters that came with the car so I am not planning on changing wheel size. I'm in middle GA so heat and rain are issues, snow not so much. It will be driven in town and hwy about equally. I'm a fairly aggressive driver, but this won't be used for auto-cross. I'll probably have a set of used but undamaged cookie cutters for sale soon.

[MPDano]

Although others will differ in my opinion. Put what was on that car when it was new. You can find some 16" Phone Dials all over the place. Heck theres even a parts car being sold on ebay for a little over $200 with Phone Dials. Take the old tires off and get the rims Powdercoated. I did glossy black but you can also make it stock and do them in Silver.

I love my Phone Dials.

[rhjames]

a minimum toes of 225/60/15 is recommended.

215 is too small for the 928.

--Russ

[m21sniper]

+1 on the phonedials. i have them on my 928 too. I run 245/45/16 ZRi fuzions on them.

[anakilat]

I was really hoping for brand/model recommendations. Who makes the ZRi Fuzions? What is everybody else running? What should I stay away from?

[MPDano]

Michelins are great tires, but can be expensive. I use 225/50/16's on all 4. Yokohamas are nice and sticky tires but they don't last long.

My car is not worthy of brand new tires, I can always find good used minimum 60% tires on eBay. I actually found a seller of my tires local, so I just picked them up. Shipping is expensive on tires. Try Craigslist too. I bought my wifes BMW X5 rims and 95% tread Bridgestones for $600 total. We went from 17" rims to 18" BMW Oems's. Bridgestones are Run Flats too. The deals are out there my friend, and in this economy, a deal is a deal.

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by anakilat

I was really hoping for brand/model recommendations. Who makes the ZRi Fuzions? What is everybody else running? What should I stay away from?

Fuzion is the maker. They're cheap, quiet, and pretty sticky.

Avoid Kuhmo's- they wear out really fast. So do Good Years.

[MPDano]

Yup, Kuhmos are what we were replacing on the X5. They were new when we bought the car last year. They were showing metal 2 months ago.

[nightfly]

Fuzion is the maker. They're cheap, quiet, and pretty sticky.

I understood that Fuzion is Bridgestone's 'discount' brand. I bought my car with the ZRi's on it, and replaced them once with the same brand, size and model. So far, so good.
I don't drive it in the snow, but do in the cold with no problems. They also seem to be quite good in the rain so far. They aren't expensive, and I'll probably buy another set when these wear out. I don't know how long a new set will last, having bought the car with the tires pretty worn, and the new set only has 3000 miles on them, still look new.

[lfausty]

falken 91v not so crisp edge for comfy corning and in the north country all season radials 215 60 narrow and taller than 225 50 and with using 15 inch stock rims still have fuel efficient tire revolution, and less tire wear out. works for me 78euro up to 82 us anyway.

sumitomo good too, think 200?, good year eagle, just plain driver car not straight line with too crisp edge cornering would be tougher (uncomfortable for touring feel) and too rounded track corning (slide,rolling factor)

[Danglerb]

I don't expect to put on a lot of miles or drive in the rain, so I am edging toward a DOT legal track tire.

ECSTA V710 225/50 R16 92W BSW

[rhjames]

if you go to Tire Rack website, you can get lots of feedback on any brand of tire.

easy to do comparisons as well.

I have Toyo T1R's on mine, but in 19 inch sizes.....

they do very well in rain, no issues on dry.

--Russ

[anakilat]

Tires purchased and installed yesterday!

I ended up getting a set of Yokahama YK520's. Price/Performance/Noise were about what I wanted. I would have liked a more challenging tread pattern and a wider tire, but that would have required different wheels. While I'm sure 16's would be nice, I've got a perfect set of 15's that I just couldn't waste.

Thanks for everyone's insight.

[Danglerb]

Did the 928 ever come with 15" wheels or are those from a 944?

[anakilat]

Yes my 1980 euro did have the option of 15 or 16 inch wheels. It's in the owners manual. Mine came with 15" from the factory. The 928 phone dials are not the same as the 944 phone dials. I'll see if I can post pictures of them side by side tomorrow for you. I'll include the page from the owners manual as well.

[tedward515]

Yes, the early automatic 928 came with the 15" phone dial in the states, while they were optional in most other markets. These where for a "softer" ride. In 81 and 82 for the US market with the introduction of the 16" forged slot/dish wheel on the competition package the 15" phone dial became standard on the non comp pack cars man or auto. In 83 the US market only got the S and no regular 928 so after that it was only the slot/dish wheels. Although I'm sure you could spacial order 16" phone dials if you wanted them bad enough. The last year I think that they came standard in the states was in 80. In other markets the 16" phone dials I think were offered right up to the s4.

[Alan in AZ]

Originally Posted by lfausty

These are the automatic ~"phone dials" not the same as were delivered on the manual cars - similar looking from a distance - very different close up....

Alan

[Normy]

I'm not sure what to do with the 15 inch wheels.

Frankly, I think you need to change over to 16 or 17 inch wheels. They are cheap and plentiful, and they will update your car quickly. If you want period correct wheels, then you should put period correct tires. Didn't these cars originally come with Pirelli tires?

The best tires I have ever put on this car were Falken RT-615's, which are a barely-street legal racing tire. They grip like glue, and you will find all the autocross drivers using these on their cars. Tread life isn't good, however.

My last set lasted me only two years- that is about 5000 miles~

Listen, if you don't mind changing them out at $500 per set every 5-10k miles via www.discounttire.com, then this is the tire to have on Porsche 928's. I'm half-way through my second set. I'm even thinking of putting them on one of my other cars, a Ford Aerostar minivan....

N!