Best tire size 1974 LE
08-15-2020, 01:20 PM
#4
for best display and driving like the original michelin 165x15 coker tire sells them. Perfect size and fit for the 15x5.5 wheel. We put 185/70x15 or 195/65x15 on the wheels for driving and that extra bit of width for handling, but it increases the harshness of the ride, and road noise
09-02-2020, 05:36 AM
#5
for best display and driving like the original michelin 165x15 coker tire sells them. Perfect size and fit for the 15x5.5 wheel. We put 185/70x15 or 195/65x15 on the wheels for driving and that extra bit of width for handling, but it increases the harshness of the ride, and road noise
can i guess that the idea that the Michelin was the best driving and display tyre before the recent re introduction of the 165VR15 Pirelli CN36 N5? they are both great tyres and the Michelin is also now N homologated as well.
to compare the 2 i would suggest that the CN36 had the edge in the wet and in the wiggly bits. But for motorways and dual carriageways the XAS comes into its own with fantastic directional stability.
back to back testing would be interesting. i have driven quite a few cars on XAS and love them. i have driven a TR6 on CN36 and they were great. and the CN36 was a 185/70R15 on a car that should fit a 165, so the same scenario as you guys. though a very different car.
i think we might have a terminology difference here in that fitting wider tyres won't handle better it will give more grip, particularly if the car is set up to take advantage of it, with stiffer springs and extra adverse camber but this of course takes away from the driving pleasure of a road car and turns it more into a track tyre which is a very different thing. Race tracks are beautifully smooth (well supposed to be) and (again in theory) you are either flat out or hard on the brakes.
if you do want to go wider on the road a 185/70VR15 Michelin XWX, Pirelli CN36 or even the Avon CR6ZZ will still give reasonable progressive handling, because they have a proper suitable carcass design, but if you go for a modern 185/70R15 you will find yourself moving into the realms of the 195/65R15 which is designed to offer completely different handling characteristics on a very different chassis. for instance a 185/70R15 Pirelli P6000 is a great tyre, and for a later 911SC they are great, but for a 914 with road set up they will not handle anywhere nearly as well as Pirellis Cinturato CN36. Pirelli aren't stupid they wouldnt make 2 totally different tyres if they didnt have to. they know that the right tyre suits the right application.
without making the appropriate adjustments to your car modern low profile tyres will only give you extra grip in a straight line under braking and accelerating. in the corners as the car rolls it will lift footprint off the road and let go more suddenly than a proper rounded shoulder tyre. i think wheel spins are cool and the joy of a classic rear wheel drive sports car is in the wiggly bits
i know there are cheaper 195/65R15 tyres out theere, but it is a shame to sacrifice the handling of your car for the sake of saving a few quid on tyres. would you spend £1,000 on a stereo and then spend £50 on a set of speakers?
if you are in the States Contact Lucas Classic Tires. they are the official distributers of the correct Porsche homologated Pirelli Cinturato range this includes the later P7 range. these tyres are not available through tyre rack. Lucas also supply the trade, so you can get your restorer to fit the good stuff too,
the international distributors of the Pirelli Collezione tyres are listed on here https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/collection
You probably dont want to believe what i am saying, because of course what we would like to hear is " yep those cheepo wrong size tyres from the tyre dealer down the road are fine." what i am actually saying is "spend a bit more money by the right thing and your car will be more of a pleasure to drive, but you need to buy them off a proper specialist or tell you local tyre dealer or Porsche restorer to contact the classic tyre specialist and then he can still provide the fitting service". the distribution of these obscure tyres is done by specialists to keep the stock fresh.
don't believe me but beleive Pirelli and Porsche.
