Tire advice for 16" fuchs (front 205/55r 16) (rear 255/50r 16)
#16
Rennlist Member
The last time I was in the market for tires for my 1985 911, 205/55-16 and 225/50-16, I made sort of a radical jump to a set of Michelin A/S3+ all season tires, and I am very happy with the results. My decision was based upon the fact that both my 85 911 and 2011 997 were running summer high performance tires at that time, and, consequently, they both resided in my garage for several months during the winter. Now, with my 85 911 on all seasons, I drive it during the cold winter months, and only the 997 sits. To be clear, I don’t drive in snow, or if there is any salt on the road, nor do I track this car. Mike
#17
Rennlist Member
Just purchased these for my '87 Targa...
205/55-16F
225/50-16R
Michelin Pilot Sport 4's
205/55-16F
225/50-16R
Michelin Pilot Sport 4's
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DCI (09-25-2024)
#18
Addicted Specialist
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
If you have 7/8 x 16 you may want to run 205/225 as others here have already suggested. Definitely more tire options in this size.
Edward
#19
#20
Rennlist Member
#21
Racer
I am in the same situation with my cracking-tread Bridgestones from ~2006. Michelins are worth it if you put over 10,000 miles on your car a year. I do not anymore so I figure I will buy a sticky and short life tire since dry-rot is going to determine the life for the next tire. My plan is to go with Hankook R-S4. It is a effective and cheap track/street tire.
#22
Team Owner
I am in the same situation with my cracking-tread Bridgestones from ~2006. Michelins are worth it if you put over 10,000 miles on your car a year. I do not anymore so I figure I will buy a sticky and short life tire since dry-rot is going to determine the life for the next tire. My plan is to go with Hankook R-S4. It is a effective and cheap track/street tire.
My Bridgestone's are in the same boat.... after 15 years I was thinking i should look at changing them lol ..
#24
Team Owner
#26
Rennlist Member
Another alternative
I agree about the Michelins, I bought Pilot Sports for my 997 and what a difference it made from the cheap tires that were on the car when I bought it. On my 85, I bought FIrestone FIrehawk Indy tires, which are apparently rebranded Bridgestones. They were a noticeable improvement over the aging Sumitomos than came with the car. For 2k a year street and canyon use these are a great value and I think sticky enough. On one of my favorite decreasing radius on ramps I have to work to stay in my (non-sports) seat. Plus they look great, nice retro-look.
#27
Racer
I agree but only if you are going to put the miles on the car. The Michelins are not the best tire in any single category but they have no weakness either, other than tending to dry-rot sooner. They are by far the best well rounded tire and are actually one of the cheapest tires per mile if you wear them out before they rot. If you do not rack up the miles you are spending more for fewer years. That is my sensible view on it.
None of this would apply to their specialized race tires and I don't know anything about their race tires anyway except I would not expect very many miles out of them.
My propaganda on Michelin:
They are the best build quality.
Many are made in the USA.
My Michelin Pilot Exalto's had more traction in the wet than Douglas (cheap American) or Chinese Replacement Auto Parts (CRAP) did in the dry.
Michelin sport tires have as much ride comfort as a touring tire. Michelin sport tires have fantastic steering response like other sport tires but not the awful ride.
They do not make noise until they are worn out.
Michelin is going to be within 10% of the best tire in every category for that class of tire.
Michelin tires can be driven hard and easily rack-up 80,000 miles.
They last so long, I have had the same Michelin plugged or patched 5 times.
So if there isn't a category you can overlook, Michelin wins. It is not likely many people are racking up 10k miles per year so that opens other options. So I am putting R-S4's on the 911sc and Michelins on the long term family car. Uniroyals (cheap Michelins) often go on our back-ups.
None of this would apply to their specialized race tires and I don't know anything about their race tires anyway except I would not expect very many miles out of them.
My propaganda on Michelin:
They are the best build quality.
Many are made in the USA.
My Michelin Pilot Exalto's had more traction in the wet than Douglas (cheap American) or Chinese Replacement Auto Parts (CRAP) did in the dry.
Michelin sport tires have as much ride comfort as a touring tire. Michelin sport tires have fantastic steering response like other sport tires but not the awful ride.
They do not make noise until they are worn out.
Michelin is going to be within 10% of the best tire in every category for that class of tire.
Michelin tires can be driven hard and easily rack-up 80,000 miles.
They last so long, I have had the same Michelin plugged or patched 5 times.
So if there isn't a category you can overlook, Michelin wins. It is not likely many people are racking up 10k miles per year so that opens other options. So I am putting R-S4's on the 911sc and Michelins on the long term family car. Uniroyals (cheap Michelins) often go on our back-ups.
#28
Team Owner
#30
Team Owner
I agree about the Michelins, I bought Pilot Sports for my 997 and what a difference it made from the cheap tires that were on the car when I bought it. On my 85, I bought FIrestone FIrehawk Indy tires, which are apparently rebranded Bridgestones. They were a noticeable improvement over the aging Sumitomos than came with the car. For 2k a year street and canyon use these are a great value and I think sticky enough. On one of my favorite decreasing radius on ramps I have to work to stay in my (non-sports) seat. Plus they look great, nice retro-look.