Original 356 tyre
#21
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Doug,
Great to have you posting here! You are a tremendous resource. My plan for my '62 356 is to run 4.5" rims in the front and 5.5" rims in the rear. So for tire sizes, 165-78 in the front and 185-70 in the rear. Motivations are: reduce oversteer (like on an early 911), preserve delightful steering feel (one of the best aspects of a 356, if not the best), and help soften the on-stilts look of the car in the rear.
So, about tires. Considering Vredestein Sprint Classics, HR-rated tire which comes in both sizes.
Would also like XWX's in the rear, but is there a suitable Michelin tire for the front? Don't think there was ever a 165-78 XWX, was there?
Considering XAS's also, but again size (for the rear in this case) is a concern. Plus, XAS's require a tube, don't they? Can you run without the tubes?
Pirelli CN36'S for the rear would be great, but what about for the front? Could you mix those with CN67's on the front?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Great to have you posting here! You are a tremendous resource. My plan for my '62 356 is to run 4.5" rims in the front and 5.5" rims in the rear. So for tire sizes, 165-78 in the front and 185-70 in the rear. Motivations are: reduce oversteer (like on an early 911), preserve delightful steering feel (one of the best aspects of a 356, if not the best), and help soften the on-stilts look of the car in the rear.
So, about tires. Considering Vredestein Sprint Classics, HR-rated tire which comes in both sizes.
Would also like XWX's in the rear, but is there a suitable Michelin tire for the front? Don't think there was ever a 165-78 XWX, was there?
Considering XAS's also, but again size (for the rear in this case) is a concern. Plus, XAS's require a tube, don't they? Can you run without the tubes?
Pirelli CN36'S for the rear would be great, but what about for the front? Could you mix those with CN67's on the front?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
#22
Ouch! I'm going to do myself no favours at all here. I'm going to offend somebody who seems to value my opinion.
I would not put bigger tyres on the back than the front. I would rather buy a different car than change the balance of a 356. i strongly recommend fitting the same size front and rear. I would go 165R15.
I would suggest if you know you are going to be doing lots of cruising on dual carriage ways the go http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...helin-xas.html
If you are going to be spanking around lanes then the http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...rato-ca67.html will be more progressive and fun.
Yes you can Mix 165 CA67 with the http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...elli-cinturato but it they look very different.
You can put XAS on the front and http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...helin-xwx.html but again they will look funny
There isn't any 165/78X15 XWX. Michelin make the 165HR15 XAS which is Asymmertic and very different to an XWX
XAS is an excelllent choice. Yes they need tubes bujt that is not a bad thing. I think i would probably want to put a tube in any genuine period 356 wheel. I don;t think they had a safety rib on the rim.
I think if i had a 356 I think i would fit a 165HR15 https://www.cinturato.net/
here's the bit that p****s people off; when i bluntly state my bigotted opinions, so i will apologise before i spill the beans:
I would rather put a cactus down my under pants than fit Vredesteins on one of my classic cars.
I think if you want to put wider tyres on the back of a 356 than you have on the front you have bought the wrong car.
Sorry 89826
Dougal
Longstone Tyres
I would not put bigger tyres on the back than the front. I would rather buy a different car than change the balance of a 356. i strongly recommend fitting the same size front and rear. I would go 165R15.
I would suggest if you know you are going to be doing lots of cruising on dual carriage ways the go http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...helin-xas.html
If you are going to be spanking around lanes then the http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...rato-ca67.html will be more progressive and fun.
Yes you can Mix 165 CA67 with the http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...elli-cinturato but it they look very different.
You can put XAS on the front and http://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/page...helin-xwx.html but again they will look funny
There isn't any 165/78X15 XWX. Michelin make the 165HR15 XAS which is Asymmertic and very different to an XWX
XAS is an excelllent choice. Yes they need tubes bujt that is not a bad thing. I think i would probably want to put a tube in any genuine period 356 wheel. I don;t think they had a safety rib on the rim.
I think if i had a 356 I think i would fit a 165HR15 https://www.cinturato.net/
here's the bit that p****s people off; when i bluntly state my bigotted opinions, so i will apologise before i spill the beans:
I would rather put a cactus down my under pants than fit Vredesteins on one of my classic cars.
I think if you want to put wider tyres on the back of a 356 than you have on the front you have bought the wrong car.
Sorry 89826
Dougal
Longstone Tyres
#23
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Dougal, thanks for replying and no need for apologies.
Your advice is basically counter to everything I have heard about these cars. All the people I have been in touch with, including at Michelin themselves, say that tubes are not necessary. I have heard nothing but praise from people using Vredestein Sprint Classics. And your comment about not using different sizes front and rear is curious. Why wouldn't you want to adopt something which is very subtle, can be reversed in 10 minutes, improves handling and looks, and is something Porsche itself adopted (and still uses to this day) when it figured out what was going on?
Oh, and if you think I bought the wrong car, think again. I have been driving these cars since 1976, when I got my license. What is your experience? Any at all?
One wonders, do you disparage Vredesteins and not sell them because you really don't like them, or do you disparage them because you can't get them to sell?
Your advice is basically counter to everything I have heard about these cars. All the people I have been in touch with, including at Michelin themselves, say that tubes are not necessary. I have heard nothing but praise from people using Vredestein Sprint Classics. And your comment about not using different sizes front and rear is curious. Why wouldn't you want to adopt something which is very subtle, can be reversed in 10 minutes, improves handling and looks, and is something Porsche itself adopted (and still uses to this day) when it figured out what was going on?
Oh, and if you think I bought the wrong car, think again. I have been driving these cars since 1976, when I got my license. What is your experience? Any at all?
One wonders, do you disparage Vredesteins and not sell them because you really don't like them, or do you disparage them because you can't get them to sell?
Last edited by 89826; 08-30-2015 at 04:54 AM.
#25
Rennlist Member
"Ouch"!! Better get out the tweezers. How in the world did I end up with the wrong cars. Well, I've been driving and owning Porsches since 1972. Never heard I had it all wrong before now. Where have 89826 and I been all these years??
#26
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I am going to do some investigation into Blockley tires. Both sizes, 165 and 185, in a VR-rated tire. I know the speed rating is wasted on a 356, but a higher rated tire runs cooler at all temperatures-- a good thing. Plus, how else should I waste my money?