928porschepatrick

these tires: Bridgestone Potenza S02A N3 excellent tire

sweet928

Not available in my current sizes. However I'm leaning towards changing sizes. If I go 255 or 275 in rears I have more choices.

sweet928

Just playing around on TireRack...Seems if I go 235/40/17 front and 255/40/17 rear -- I can get these for half of what the Dunlops cost. We're talking less then $400 for a set of four tires. This is tempting $ wise. BUT I like how mean looking my fat tires look now.

So, Will @10cm less width be noticeable aesthetically and seat of pants wise for spirited pleasure use?

Jadz928

^^^^
What's throwing you off the Dunlop Dizz's?

sweet928

I talked to Tire Rack and they said they are auto cross tires and much shorter tread life. The Sumintos are a few hundred cheaper and have decent ratings. Might sound silly but I'm also thinking too much grip might be a little less fun. I like to wag her tail a lot. I'm still on the fence though.

Jadz928

I read ya! Makes good sense to me...

How about these BFG's?

Landseer

Yes, Jim, those will wag.

James Bailey

The first number of the tire size is the width at the widest point of the sidewall bulge and NOT the tread. It is measered on a rim of the width selected by the tire maker so just one reason why tires of the same nominal width have different tread widths and even different sidewall bulge width when actually mounted to the SAME size rim. One maker's "275" might fit while another's might not. Tire rack does post the tread width on some tires in the specifications section and you can also see overall diameter and revolutions per mile. That gives you some idea of how it affects the gearing and speedometer error. Just about ANY tire sold today is going to be far, far better than what came stock in 1979 or 1989 or 1999 Tires are a lot like wine the incremental increase in quality comes at a very high price with a rapidly diminishing return on the extra dollars. Yet the cheap stuff still gets you drunk...

sweet928

Here's how much room I have between the rear tire and the panel. (See pix) About a thumb width.

Seems that means I could go 275 in the rear from 265 currently. Right?

I really can't make up my mind. Go more narrow and save $, keep as is, which has been perfectly fun or go wider and more grip = maybe less fun.

Jadz928

You could go with 275's with that much space. I'd be comfortable with a index finger, sideways (90 oppesed to the direction of your thumb).

255's would look wrong the those rims, if they truely are 10" wide. The tire will look "sucked in" on both inside and outside sidewalls.

Similar to the folks who 285's on 11" wide wheels.

Go 235 front, 275 rear. With a treadwear rating higher than 300. With a tire diameter of 25" to 25.4"
Once you've picked out ones you would be willing to buy post them here for our review. Thanks!

Jadz928

So what did ya end up with?

mpesik

My 87 has 16" tires.-Toyo Proxies.
-Very good grip. Aawesome grip in the wet, though a bit of tire drone.
Previous owner paid $1196 for 4 with mounting- crazy !

Do they make Kuhmo Ecsta's anymore ? I was very happy with those tires. Need those for the 17" Cup One's.

sweet928

I put it off a bit longer. I stopped by a tire store and they said the Dunlop's were fantastic (and fine for street). On the flip side I found some new old stock Kumho's for $100.00 each online. I figured I can go to the end of the summer on mine and buy them later. I need front's more than rears but I don't like to replace half the tires -- so It's most likely going to be the Dunlops all around after all.

sweet928

Not anymore but they are around as new old stock.

sweet928

Finally got around to buying the Dunlops. I'll report my impressions next week.