930 Tires in 2025?

[zakthor]

Drove to get some goat curry today and suddenly 'tap-tap-tap'. Really loud from rear wheel. Stopped and indeed there is a big headed construction screw right in the middle of the tread of the left rear tire.

Went to the free repair place where I bought the tires and... the tires are from 2014 and the rears are at '0' (minimum), front wear is a '1'.

I really like those tires. Bridgestone RE11.

It is important to me that the tires have a stiff sidewall so they turn in well. I've had tires I've hated and returned and ok tires that wore too fast but I think these RE11 have been fantastic and great grip in the rain. But they've been discontinued for many years now.

I just need the stock sizes:

205/55R16, 225/50R16.

What is the current tire with stiffest sidewall? I'm mostly on street and maybe an autocross or 2 every decade.

Thinking maybe the RE71RS, anyone tried them?

[911 Rod]

What width rims are you running?
Those tires look pretty narrow for a 930.
I'm running 8"/9" on 225/45 and 245/45 and all I can find is track tires (R888R)

[Black_Hat]

I don't have any experience with RE71RS, but online reviews comparing them to Toyo R888R seem to be about even.

I had a set of Toyo R888R but they wore out quickly. I replaced them with Toyo R888 (Walmart had them on steep discount)

Under most driving conditions the R888R and R888 seem the same on the street.

They have a stiff sidewall

Negatives:
1. sketchy in rain
2. sketchy when cold
3. tread makes noise


positives:
1. stick great when warmed up
2. great value when on sale
3. many sizes including 16

[Mocker]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

What width rims are you running?
Those tires look pretty narrow for a 930.
I'm running 8"/9" on 225/45 and 245/45 and all I can find is track tires (R888R)

205 f and 225 r are stock tire sizes for pre-85 930s with 16x7 and 16x8 wheels--and yes, that's too narrow (especially in the rear) for a car with 300HP and all its weight over the back wheels.

If you've "modernized" (circa 1985) to 16x8 and 16x9 wheels, you should go with 225s and 245s. But even 245s are really not wide enough, especially for a car with a modern turbo and headers. That's why so many of us run 17" wheels with 9" and 11" widths, and more tire choices.

[flightlead404]

I run the r888's. I get about 3,000 miles of street driving on the rears, maybe double that on the fronts.

[mark houghton]

I'm running 205/55 and 245/45 R16 Fusion ZR1's, what the car came with and due for replacement. I haven't looked around but those 16" were getting hard to find several years ago if I recall.
I do have a new set of the same (folks here may have seen my post on the topic of NOS tires), well stored and no signs of deterioration but 14 years old. I'll most likely slap them on and get what I can out of them before upgrading to decent tires...if I can find them in that size.

[LeeS930]

If you're wanting to stick with the 205/225 - 16's I'd go with the Conti 02's/06's depending on taste. I run the Conti 06's they're a really good quiet street tire, mine have 6K miles with little visible wear. I've run Pilot sport cup and RE71 previously. The Conti's work in downpouring rain, winter chill, and summer heat. They're not dual use street/track tire but I'd feel fine with these at an autocross or two. They communicate front and rear traction quite well. I hope to do some track days in the future and I'll likely end up switching to the 02's for better hot temperature traction.

[Mr. Merk]

I think the easiest and most obvious answer is the successor to the long-discontinued RE-11 which is the RE-71RS

The Advan A052s are also a solid choice.

I'd stick with those sizes. Some folks will step up to the 245/45s but those are better suited for 9" wheels. They won't feel as stiff or tight on an 8" wheel.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by flightlead404

I run the r888's. I get about 3,000 miles of street driving on the rears, maybe double that on the fronts.

Oh no! That won't do!

The RE11 lasted me 16000 miles. Great ride and feel and all the grip I want.

I've never felt the love for the wider wheels on our cars - except for the look. My tires break grip its because I'm turning too fast, not because of the meagre 300hp.

I've driven a few 930 with wide 17" tires and I thought it made the turning too heavy and the ride was sort of plodding and draggy. Too much rubber. Could be the suspension wasn't setup right. Nature of our cars is understeer until oversteer. That is what makes it fun.

I sure hope the re71rs are as good as the re11. I liked the light and very direct steering and that they were predictable in the rain.

Car: tops of wheel well are at 24", polybronze bushings, monoball strut mount, torsion bars are 22/30, sway bars are 22/21. Shocks are bilstein standard in front, sport in the back.

[Mr. Merk]

Originally Posted by zakthor

Oh no! That won't do!

The RE11 lasted me 16000 miles.

I don't think I've ever seen any 911 get 16k out of the rears!

My rear tires usually last 3000-3500 miles of local/fun miles, up to 7k if mixed with long road trips (Arkansas to California and back)

What are the date codes on your RE11s? I'd light-heartily say you didn't wear them out fast enough!

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by Mr. Merk

I don't think I've ever seen any 911 get 16k out of the rears!

My rear tires usually last 3000-3500 miles of local/fun miles, up to 7k if mixed with long road trips (Arkansas to California and back)

What are the date codes on your RE11s? I'd light-heartily say you didn't wear them out fast enough!

They were purchased in 2014.

Two days at track, 2 driver skills classes at the airport and one autocross. Otherwise just commuting or joyrides on twisty roads.

Seems incredible to me also, the prior kumhos were not as grippy and saw almost 20k. But then yokohama a032r lasted less than 4k...

I had the original re71 on my sc and they went over 20k.

[Mr. Merk]

Haha, awesome.

10 years is definitely time! We usually shoot for no more than six, but ten is max.

In past years I often hadn't even paid off my tires before they needed replacement, but I've definitely slowed down (speed and miles) in the past couple years thanks to Johnny Law.

I tried out a set of DWS06+ all seasons last year, knowing I was doing more road trip, less sending and no track days. I still managed to wear the rears out. Fronts look new.

[ChrisD87]

I just installed Michelin Pilot sport Exalto N-spec tires...I don't know if these are a new design but the dates are 2025 and this is basically a Pilot sport 4s in 930 sizing. I don't think you could get an all around better tire/better looking tire for the 7-8 x 16 Fuchs.
I can't recommend them enough.

[Okiikee911s]

I run a 215/55 and 245/45 R16 Fusion ZR1's,

[911 Rod]

Originally Posted by Okiikee911s

I run a 215/55 and 245/45 R16 Fusion ZR1's,

What width rims?

[zakthor]

Bolt was huge and 3 of 4 tires had arrived so i brought that wheel in for new tire. Unfortunately they installed backwards, with ‘inside’ proudly displayed.

Brought car in today for install and to get that tire reversed.

I brought my jack pad and the kids did a great job. They knew the 930 and the term ‘widowmaker’.

Result? Tires are still new and squishy but ride is smooth and turn in is fast. For the 5 miles of city driving home i dont think i can tell the difference from the re11. I think i made a good choice.

The worst tires ive had on this car, some all season michelins and bridgestones - i could tell before one block that i hated them and i returned them the next day. Crazy what a difference tires make - they made the car feel like a volvo station wagon.

[zakthor]

Ok well.. took car out this 60f evening for some calming hairpin curves. Impressions…

Gee the ride is kind of rough. The decade old re11 were smoother. Aren’t new tires supposed to feel soft?

Side walls are crazy stiff. Turn in hits like a bat.

Very very sticky. I couldn’t feel any slip on any corners. Car just turned and flung us around. No hint of understeer, which is concerning,

When I got home there’s gravel stuck all over the tires.

On the one hand they feel like the tires this car should have. On the other hand the car is kind of a brute now. I liked the re11 so much. Soft, smooth, grippy and predictable.

These new tires will take some getting used to. Hard to admit but this might be too much tire for me. I’ve got to see how they are in the rain. So far I’ve no clue when they might slip.

[Mr. Merk]

What kind of pressures are you running? Read your sidewall indicators. I had to dial mine down a lot, especially in the rear. You might get a softer ride and less oversteer/more understeer.

[zakthor]

Originally Posted by Mr. Merk

What kind of pressures are you running? Read your sidewall indicators. I had to dial mine down a lot, especially in the rear. You might get a softer ride and less oversteer/more understeer.

For pressure I started with stock 29/34. Problem is I've not got them to slip at all. Not even a hint. I guess I could go to a parking lot and play but I think I'll just wait until it rains.

I'm in the same boat now as every other over-tired sports car - the capabilities are just too high for the street. I was close before with the re11 but at least I could feel them start to yield.

I drove the car twice this weekend and I'm loving the forceful response. I also really like that they have no flatspots.

If they last > 7000 miles and don't get too noisy then these are my new favorite tire.

[mark houghton]

Originally Posted by zakthor

For pressure I started with stock 29/34. Problem is I've not got them to slip at all. Not even a hint. I guess I could go to a parking lot and play but I think I'll just wait until it rains.

I'm in the same boat now as every other over-tired sports car - the capabilities are just too high for the street. I was close before with the re11 but at least I could feel them start to yield.

I drove the car twice this weekend and I'm loving the forceful response. I also really like that they have no flatspots.

If they last > 7000 miles and don't get too noisy then these are my new favorite tire.

For my '87 with 205:55/245:45 tires, spec is for 29/44. I currently have them aired up to 32/40 on just now installed new tires. I guess there isn't any magic number and have always wondered why the good doctor Porsche wanted 44 psi in the rear. This has been discussed ad infinitum here I'm sure.