What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" tire?

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
Post Reply
Message
Author
User avatar
David Campbell
356 Fan
Posts: 162
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 5:54 pm
Location: West Georgia

Re: Vredestein production quandry

#301 Post by David Campbell »

Thanks everyone. I received feedback from Universal Tire that the 165/80/15 would not look great on 5.5's. More confusion. Geoff if you get time to post a picture on your car I would appreciate it. Mike, after years of "tricks" with this car, I hope to "treat" myself to some fall driving in the North Georgia Mountains by Halloween!
They are helpful at Coker but apparently the delivery date for the production run is not firm yet. At least that's the email I received this morning.

Bill, I saw where the Vredestein 175/70/15 is still available. This is the comparison results I found on tire website:
185/70-15 175/70-15 Difference
Diameter inches (mm) 25.2 (640) 24.65 (626) -0.55 (-14) -2.2%
Width inches (mm) 7.28 (185) 6.89 (175) -0.39 (-10) -5.4%
Circum. inches (mm) 79.16 (2010.62) 77.43 (1966.64) -1.73 (-43.98) -2.2%
Sidewall Height inches (mm) 5.1 (129.5) 4.82 (122.5) -0.28 (-7) -5.4%
Revolutions per mile (km) 800.42 (497.36) 818.32 (508.48) 17.9 (11.12) 2.2%


I'm sorry for not posting on the Tire sticky thread, but I'm really trying to nail down all necessary purchases now that we're getting close.
1961 B Coupe
1966 VW Type I
1987 944 NA
2000 Boxster S

User avatar
Paul Allen
356 Fan
Posts: 37
Joined: Mon Jul 18, 2016 12:10 pm
Location: ohio

Re: Vredestein production quandry

#302 Post by Paul Allen »

I just bought 165 CN36 Pirellis, they also have 185/70-15.

http://www.lucasclassictires.com/185-70 ... egoryId=-1

There are some errors on the tire size chart on this site, I posted a corrected version here:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27101&p=270160#p270160
1964 C sunroof SOLD

Ashley James
356 Fan
Posts: 449
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2016 2:38 pm
Location: Near Stroud, Gloucestershire, UK
Contact:

Re: Vredestein production quandry

#303 Post by Ashley James »

Don't forget that although the nominal size may be 165/80s actual sizes tend to vary between makes and given the relatively small difference between the two options......?....

Edwin Ek
356 Fan
Posts: 1898
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:16 am
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: Vredestein production quandry

#304 Post by Edwin Ek »

The 165's on 5.5" rims will look fine. The sidewall is effectively shortened, so the ride will be slightly harsher. Usually when the sidewall is shortened (lower profile) the handling gets crisper. Not quite true in this case because there is still the same amount of rubber to squish.

The Pirelli CN36 tire is a great choice and now part of Porsche's official N-spec program. Available in both 165-80 and 185-70 sizes. By all reports it is nicer than the Sprint Classic, but more expensive.

Tire Rack is the official tire dealer for Porsche. I checked, and they are selling these N-spec CN36'ers. Lucas Tire is right down the street from me, and they are an excellent company.

Interestingly enough, there are 2 versions of the 185-70 CN36 tire in the marketplace right now: VR-rated (same as it ever was) and WR-rated (the new N-spec Porsche model). I am trying to learn if there are truly 2 versions or if it is just different labelling. Lucas Tire sells both.
#6386

User avatar
Randy Mittelstet
356 Fan
Posts: 295
Joined: Sat Jun 14, 2008 7:37 pm
Location: Denver

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#305 Post by Randy Mittelstet »

Earlier I said I would report on my tire purchase. I've had the Nanking CX 668 tires on for several months now. Today our club drove some fast parade laps at a track that included some great tight curves and straightaways. The tires felt fine with plenty of grip. The drive to the track was at 70 mph for over an hour. I could not feel any vibration and they ran quiet. Good street performance as well. They are 165-80 on 5.5 rims and look just fine to me on the roadster. I went with the 165's to keep the original steering feel. The tread design looks good on older cars. Discount Tire ordered them for me and charged $58 each which included mounting and balance. They matched the best price I could find from online dealers. Just bring in a printout of the ad. It took me way too long to pull the trigger on a tire decision but i'm very satisfied with it.
Randy Mittelstet
Denver
1960 early Roadster

User avatar
Brian R Adams
356 Fan
Posts: 3289
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:34 pm
Location: N. Nevada

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#306 Post by Brian R Adams »

Trond Vidar wrote:Driving on tarmac with dirt or sand you can hear it being thrown into the wheelhouses, quite different to the older Dunlops I were running a few years ago. Only reason I can think of is that they are more sticky.
More likely the tread is what's different, and picking up debris, rather than the "stickiness" of the rubber.

Brian
Welcome to the era of policy-based evidence-making.

Difficile est saturam non scribere (Juvenal)

Ed Cooke
356 Fan
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2016 2:07 pm

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#307 Post by Ed Cooke »

Abingdon Spares now carries Blockley radials, 165VR15, and excellent V rated radial, $129.95. abingdonspares.com

Timothy Vick
356 Fan
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 1:50 am

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#308 Post by Timothy Vick »

Does anybody have any feedback on the Pirelli CN36 tire? They were tough to find when they were first introduced but I've seen a few on the road. Maybe it might be early but is there any wear data? Performance data? They are quite expensive compared to other options. Are they worth the price?

Edwin Ek
356 Fan
Posts: 1898
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:16 am
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#309 Post by Edwin Ek »

Timothy Vick wrote:Does anybody have any feedback on the Pirelli CN36 tire? They were tough to find when they were first introduced but I've seen a few on the road. Maybe it might be early but is there any wear data? Performance data? They are quite expensive compared to other options. Are they worth the price?
I have heard and read good things about them.

Auto Bild Klassik, a German magazine focusing on classic sports cars, ran a comparison test in July 2016 which included Pirelli CN36, Vredestein Sprint Classic, Blockley, and Michelin XWX. The CN36 tires came out on top fairly easily. The testing was thorough and evaluated several aspects of performance.

For me at least, wear data isn't so relevant because I don't drive my car that much. It's more likely that the tires get too old before they wear out.
#6386

Timothy Vick
356 Fan
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 1:50 am

Re: What type & size of tires to use / what fits? / "best" t

#310 Post by Timothy Vick »

I just went down to Pirelli World in LA to take advantage of a $200 PCA rebate on a set of four tires. I was expecting a tire price around $225 each based on some past discussions. They are pricing the 165 size tires at $300. What price are you paying???

Edwin Ek
356 Fan
Posts: 1898
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:16 am
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: New Tire Recommendations from Porsche Classic

#311 Post by Edwin Ek »

An update to this, if anyone cares. Pirelli has stopped making the 185 CN36 VR-rated tires. Only the Porsche N-spec version, WR-rated, is available now. Porsche and Pirelli say that it is no problem to have a VR-rated 165 in front and a WR-rated 185 in the rear.

There was a tire comparison test in a German enthusiast classic sports car magazine, Auto Bild Klassik, in the July 2016 issue. 4 tires were tested: Michelin XWX, Vredestein Sprint Classic, Pirelli CN36, and Blockley.

The Pirellis won easily, the Vredesteins were second, the Michelins fell down in wet testing, and the Blockleys were a distant fourth.

And a year later, my car is still not on the road. But soon ...
#6386

User avatar
Scott McAdams
356 Fan
Posts: 197
Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2014 9:59 am
Location: Friday Harbor, WA

Re: New Tire Recommendations from Porsche Classic

#312 Post by Scott McAdams »

Ed - Once again, thank you for staying on this! My goal is to get a set of these on my car this summer. I'm sorry to hear your car is still not on the road. I haven't had my car out yet this year either -- we've been stuck in a rainy pattern here since October....
356B S90 Roadster, '60 (gone)
Targa, '84
C4S, '08
Macan GTS, '23

Timothy Vick
356 Fan
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 1:50 am

Re: New Tire Recommendations from Porsche Classic

#313 Post by Timothy Vick »

Pirelli World in LA is pricing the Pirelli CN36 165 size tire at $300 each. It might be the Porsche recommended tire but under what conditions are they worth it? I expect mine will age out with lots of rubber remaining.

Edwin Ek
356 Fan
Posts: 1898
Joined: Sat Jun 21, 2008 11:16 am
Location: Santa Monica, CA

Re: New Tire Recommendations from Porsche Classic

#314 Post by Edwin Ek »

Tim,

I just bought some 165's from the same store. Got the emailed receipt yesterday. (I bought them over the phone and have not picked them up yet.) I was charged $250- but I have to call. Guy I was dealing with said they would be less than that- I have to check my notes.

The store was willing to match prices for me. I mentioned Tire Rack and Hennessy Porsche in Atlanta.
#6386

Timothy Vick
356 Fan
Posts: 45
Joined: Tue May 10, 2016 1:50 am

Re: New Tire Recommendations from Porsche Classic

#315 Post by Timothy Vick »

Edwin Ek wrote:Tim,

I just bought some 165's from the same store. Got the emailed receipt yesterday. (I bought them over the phone and have not picked them up yet.) I was charged $250- but I have to call. Guy I was dealing with said they would be less than that- I have to check my notes.

The store was willing to match prices for me. I mentioned Tire Rack and Hennessy Porsche in Atlanta.
$300 is the out the door price including tax and fees, no installation. Tim

Post Reply