195/65 tire recommendations?

[Eric Wills]

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[Edward Rega]

Good reading. I was going to put Michelin’s on. Now I’m thinking pirellis. So you had no Clearance problems in the front running 195s ?
1961 356 Super 90. Thanks

[Jim Breazeale]

Glen

Like you, I was devastated when I found out that Bridgestone discontinued the RE60 Potenza 195 X 65 X 15 tires that I had on my
C with 5.5 wheels. Those things were really great. I wanted to put a set of tires on the car to drive in the Valkyrie Rally from The Bay Area to Durham NC for Luft 2020. I would have been motoring with a bunch of hotrod 911s and needed a tire that was up to the challenge. I searched and searched and couldn't come up with anything that looked interesting. I wound up buying a set of 185 X 70 X 15 Vredestein Sprint Classics. I was prepared to be underwhelmed but did surmise that I would be able to drop a couple hundred RPMs at freeway speeds which would be OK on a cross continent trip. Most of the driving was slated for back roads including a run up and down Pikes Peak and the obligatory run up the Tail of the Dragon. My expectations were not met at all with the new tires. They were fantastic! I've chased internationally known Pro drivers in the hills of Central California and even done a serious track day with these tires and I still can't believe they are as good as they are. Buy a set, you won't be disappointed.

Jim

[Douglas Carrie]

Just curious but when I was young (in the 50's and 60's) some friends bought retreads (I think that is the correct term) for their cars. I'm probably wrong but both tires pictured here look like retreads which have had the "new tread" separated.
Also, I just purchased a 1965 356C that has Michelin XZX tires on it. 2016 dates and made in Serbia! Can't give any pros or cons. Purchased by a prior owner from Coker Tire for $136 each.

[Al Zim]

Older Michelin tires had two (2) distinct characteristics. the first was that the tire was smooth inside on the sides and the treads. The true Michelin tire does not have rubber quills sticking out of the tread on the tire. My conclusion is that someone is copying Michelin design and they are being sold as Michelin! the latter is certainly a questionable situation.

[Douglas Carrie]

These XZX's do have quills. I think of Coker Tires as relatively well known so I'm surprised that they'd misrepresent the brand. Their address is in Tennessee and the tires were shipped to the prior owner in Arizona. "Made in Serbia" does make them questionable though!

[David Jones]

I think there is a good chance that Coker uses tire firms wherever they can get manufacturing facilities to use the molds they purchased for the vintage tires they sell. I have never been to the Coker tire manufacturing facility and have no idea where it is. The Chattanooga facility seems only big enough for the museum and management offices so I believe their manufacturing is done elsewhere. Anyone know for sure?

[Martin Benade]

I have heard repeatedly that all Michelins are really made by them, maybe that is true but still it could mean various things. I wonder if the XZX is really a complete tire design, or merely tread pattern styling. And I wonder that regardless of who makes them.