9SIX8

Hi All,
I have a stock 94 with 16's 7&8s. I'm interested in getting new tires for it, and I'm looking for something very grippy and quiet. If I can't have both, I'd rather have grippy. The car currently has BF Goodrich TA Force tires that I don't at all. Don't seem to hold too well for me.
Suggestions? I was thinking Michelin Pilots, Bridgestone SO2 or SO3, or Continental Contact II. Also, any one have a good front/rear tire pressure mix? I know for an older 911, the mix is 28 front 36 rear, works great. Thanks.

BruceWard

I know people using Pilot Sports on factory 16s who likes them. I have victoracers on mine. I suggest that you get 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear. The added width will give you more grip.

SpeedBump

The Bridgestone S02 is a great tire with great dry grip. I have been toying with the idea of trying the S2000 version of the S02 on my 968 as the Honda will gain you 1/2 inch of contact. The Yokohama AVS sports are nice as ar the Toyo T1. All of them will wear out quickly on the rear but that is the price you pay for grip.

Mark

NeedPorscheSpeed

9SIX8, I currently have Potenza S-03s on my stock 1989 951, and they have been superb! I agree with Bruce: go with 225/50/16 front and 245/45/16 rear. They won't cost you much more, and you will gain some extra grip. Also, in agreement with White968, I can definitely report that the Toyo T1-S has outstanding grip! I have a set on my 400HP 1986 951, and I have been amazed by how little the rear tires spin on takeoff!

I know that you specifically wanted advice as to what to put on a stock 968. So, why didn't I chime in on what I have on my 968? Well, first, I have 17" 993 wheels on it, and secondly, the previous owner shod them with Kumho Ecstas... The time to replace those tires won't arrive soon enough! I think the tire compound is way too hard to grip well. The other day, in a maneuver that was very routine, the rear end of my 968 started to come out around a curve. That has never happened in my other cars. Maybe the Kumhos would grip better once they warm up to operating temperature. To be fair, I hadn't been driving the car long when the rear wheels started to let go. At any rate, at this point, I don't recommend them.

The next set I put on the 968 will probably be Potenza RE-750s. They seem to have the best traction/grip to treadwear rating (380), and they are at a nice price point.

Good luck, and you certainly can't go wrong with the ones that you listed.

John Etnier

I switched from S-03's to Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's and am very impressed with them-
http://65.61.16.109/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=5622

mike_hammond

GSD3's here too, awesome performance especially for the money. Second choice would be the Toyo T1-S.

Personally I think you'd be better to stay with stock sizes or get bigger rims to suit the tyre choice properly. Too wider tyre on a narrow rim will give greater flex in the tyre wall which for my money counteracts any possible grip you might get.

Mike

BruceWard

Mike,

I do agree that you should not put tires on that are too wide for the rim. I use 225/50/16 and 245/45/16 on the stock 16x7 and 16x8 wheels for autocross and find it to be a very good combination. The wheel width is within spec for the tire.

It is wider that the factory tires but still within reason adn spec.

mike_hammond

Hi Bruce,

why do Porsche only fit 225's on 17x7.5" rims on the CS if 7's will do, and they put 9" rims for 255s on the rear. I know some cabs I've seen with 17's only had 7's and they were shod with 205's.


Mike ??

BruceWard

I wish I knew why Porsche went with 205/225, but I suspect that the shape of tires in 91 was a little different than today.

The spec sheet for the GSD3 at Tire Rack can be found at http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...Eagle+F1+GS-D3

It shows the 225/50/16 as having a wheel width range of 6 - 8 inches with a measured width of 7". For the 205/50/16 the width range is 5.5 - 7.5 with a measured width of 6.5". The 225 seems like the perfect fit and the 205 really wants to be on a narrower wheel.

Perhaps different sidewall materials meant that in 1991 the narrower tire was better.

As for 205s on 17x7 wheels, those are not 968 wheels they are from a 911. I would not use the narrower 911 front wheels with or without wider tires.

9SIX8

Thanks for the info. I thought 225/245 would be too wide, but if you suggest that, I'll look into it. Do any mods need to be made like rolling fenders? Also, I have the GY GSD3 on my BMW and like them very much, but I want to be exposed to as many tire combos as possible.

BruceWard

No need to roll the fenders, they fit fine.

The wheels in my sig are 235/40/18 & 265/35/18.

This is a factory wheel with 225/50/16 front



and the rear



and a similar shot with the 18s for comparison

NeedPorscheSpeed

The wheels on my 968 are almost the same. The only difference is that mine are 17s instead of 18s.

Miles968

I recently bought a set of Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3's and could not be happier. Very grippy and quieter than another set I have had in the past. They also do not seem to track/pull like the previous sets. Great so far both wet and dry and we will see how long they last.

9SIX8

Hmmm, the 17 cups look pretty sweet...

9SIX8

anyone have a good place to price 17 cups? Huge difference in price from Mille Miglia's to OEM 7.5/9's. Any thoughts to the quality difference? I mostly do hard local driving on twisty roads.