Rrrockhound

I won a set of tires at my first DE. Nice problem to have, but now I'm going nuts trying to decide what to do. I have an early 85 944 with 15" cookie cutters, meaning early offset wheels. I can't see wasting a set of new donuts on these wheels, especially since not much is available in 15" anymore. I actually like my cookies, but I want something better to mount the new tires on for the track. I've tried finding 16" genuine Fuchs, but everything is $1500+ for a set. I've ruled out Fuchs replicas (and Fuchs more than 20 years old) for safety reasons. That leaves me with the possibility of switching to later offset wheels and spacers, but I don't know if spacers are a good idea on the track, or even allowed. I'm so frustrated I'm tempted to just get some tires for the truck and forget about it. Ideas anyone?

schwank

944 spec allows a spacer for early cars... What kind of tires did you win, anything you want?

Get a set of Toyo racing tires, and I GUARANTEE there are a lot of spec guys who would happily trade you any street tire for them. They are not cheap and they are available in the sizes you need. Where do you get this deal from?

924RACR

15" track tires are cheap... well, cheaper than bigger ones!

M758

15x7 wheels are the 944 spec racing wheel of choice.

I have 3 sets of these wheels with 225/50 R15 Toyo RA-1's on them. I think they are a great value and perfect match for the 944 NA. As compared to 16" wheels the 15" are actualyl faster since you can get a gearing advantage from the short 50 series side walls. 17's and 18's may ultimatly be faster, but these tires are twice as epensive and that does not mention the cost of the wheels.

BTW... you should be able to get set of 15x7 cookies for $200.

Take alook 15" cookies on my race car!

chrisp

Use early offset 16x7x8 phone dials. They are like $400-$500 for a set. I have some if you have any questions.

1AS

The tires are the disposable component. If you had won the wheels and needed tires, I would understand.
If you have really been in only 1 DE, it's a little premature to go over the top. Good tires always work better than bad ones, so why not get the best tires in your size and feel good about it? What did you have to do to win the tires? Drive well or get lucky?
AS

Rrrockhound

I wish I could say my driving skills won me the tires, but it was actually the luck of a drawing. True, tires are disposable, but I'm pretty sure I want to continue with this DE thing, which is why I wanted to upgrade my wheels. I guess I should add that the tires are provided by Dunlop, and no competition tires are included in the prize. This limits me to whatever Dunlop makes in 15" street tires, if I stay with my cookies. I searched Tire Rack and only came up with 2 models, which both struck me as sort of sport-compact oriented. That was how I started thinking of 16" wheels.

M758

Do you have another car that needs tires?

Rrrockhound

I have 4 other cars but none need tires too bad. I kind of like your idea of keeping the cookies, or more likely, getting a second set.

Bill L Seifert

I agree with the guy that recommends the early Phone Dials. Get 8x16 and 7x16, and get some good Dunlop 16's to go with them as your free set, I think 225-50-16 all round. Those are good street tires, then buy a set of 225-50-15 Toyo R1's for DE's with your cookies.

By the way, the newest Fuchs will be 18 years old next year. The newest cookies are yours or 84's or early 85's which is 21, 22, and 23 years old. Check them for cracks, but all us racers are still using them both.

Bill Seifert

1983 944 Race Car

Riff

If you do not currently need tires, sell the certificate to someone who needs large dia tires. You could sell it for less than the cost of new tires for someone looking at a $800 tire bill for $600. You win, the buyer wins.

Rrrockhound

I've found a reasonable set of 16" Fuchs that I might go with if they're in good shape. They're even within driving distance. If that doesn't pan out, I'll try to find a set of phones. I might as well keep the certificate and use it myself, because I will definitely need the tires next year.