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Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 1:59 pm
by Christopher Couhault
Hi Everyone, I was wondering what might be the correct tires manufacturer/size for a 1964 356C? Thanks!

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 2:47 pm
by Gary Carriveau
Check the dedicated "sticky" in the 356 Talk Main Discussion forum.
A great deal of useful information at: viewtopic.php?f=1&t=27101

Gary
'64 C Coupe

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2016 11:31 am
by Pat Daily
165 x 15 radials--hard to find at reasonable prices.

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2016 12:48 am
by Jan Kolm
Pat Daily wrote:165 x 15 radials--hard to find at reasonable prices.
Simple economics: When a monopoly exists, the price paid quickly rises to "whatever the market will bear" (in the 356 world, with deep-pocked investors pushing out hobbyists, the market will bear a lot). If you want a European brand with a classic tread design, your choices and price are limited. However, the Michelins appear to be cheaper than they were a year or two ago--possibly due to a stronger dollar.

However, if you don't care what your tread looks like or where they're made, the Nankang CX668 at $83.96 through Sears is what the Kumho Power Star 758 was five years ago. Tire Rack sells the Chinese-made "Classic" tire for $62.47 and Discount/America's Tire sells the "Veento G-2" online at $59 each. If you have a Big O Tire outlet nearby (or NTB/ Merchant's Tire/ Kingdom Tire), the "Classic" can be had for $49.95. I'm posting these prices on the "sticky" thread as well.

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 2:44 pm
by J. Leed
Where can I find evidence to prove to a concours judge that my 1964 356SC was delivered from the factory with radial tires? My Kardex says "Michelin 165-15" but does not specify whether they are radials or bias ply. In today's tire nomenclature, "165-15" means bias ply. AACA and some other organizations require proof that a car came with radials or points are deducted. Some of the information I have found refers to "braced tread" tires which is the way radials were described back in the 1960s but I cannot find definitive proof that the Michelins that were on my 356 were, in fact, radials or "braced tread" tires. Charlie White's excellent site has some advertising material for the 1965, not 1964, 356SC describing Michelin X tires as standard on the 1965 356SC. "Michelin X," of course, was a radial tire back in those days. Unfortunately, my Kardex does not specify "Michelin X," merely "Michelin 165-15." Does anyone know where definitive 1964 radial tire info for our 356s can be found?
Thanks.

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 5:08 pm
by Jan Kolm
J. Leed wrote:Where can I find evidence to prove to a concours judge that my 1964 356SC was delivered from the factory with radial tires? My Kardex says "Michelin 165-15" but does not specify whether they are radials or bias ply. In today's tire nomenclature, "165-15" means bias ply. AACA and some other organizations require proof that a car came with radials or points are deducted. Some of the information I have found refers to "braced tread" tires which is the way radials were described back in the 1960s but I cannot find definitive proof that the Michelins that were on my 356 were, in fact, radials or "braced tread" tires. Charlie White's excellent site has some advertising material for the 1965, not 1964, 356SC describing Michelin X tires as standard on the 1965 356SC. "Michelin X," of course, was a radial tire back in those days. Unfortunately, my Kardex does not specify "Michelin X," merely "Michelin 165-15." Does anyone know where definitive 1964 radial tire info for our 356s can be found?
Thanks.
I believe the standard bias ply tire for the U.S. market in the 1960s was the Continental Record, with "Record" in a modern font, not script, by 1963 (Dunlop may have been another standard tire). I believe Michelin had stopped producing bias ply tires in standard passenger car sizes by 1964. However, I don't know when the original X-stop radial was superseded by the zX radial. I have seen zX radials with the "z" inside the "X" and the "z" to the left of the "X."

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 5:50 pm
by Jim Alton
J. Leed wrote:Where can I find evidence to prove to a concours judge that my 1964 356SC was delivered from the factory with radial tires? My Kardex says "Michelin 165-15" but does not specify whether they are radials or bias ply. In today's tire nomenclature, "165-15" means bias ply. AACA and some other organizations require proof that a car came with radials or points are deducted. Some of the information I have found refers to "braced tread" tires which is the way radials were described back in the 1960s but I cannot find definitive proof that the Michelins that were on my 356 were, in fact, radials or "braced tread" tires. Charlie White's excellent site has some advertising material for the 1965, not 1964, 356SC describing Michelin X tires as standard on the 1965 356SC. "Michelin X," of course, was a radial tire back in those days. Unfortunately, my Kardex does not specify "Michelin X," merely "Michelin 165-15." Does anyone know where definitive 1964 radial tire info for our 356s can be found?
Thanks.
If you check the accessories brochures in Porsche: Brochures and Sales Literature--A Source Book, 1948-1965 by Merritt & Miller you'll see that the only Michelin tire listed in the 1961 356B brochure and the September 1964 356C brochure is 165 - 15 Michelin X.

Merritt & Miller also show "PORSCHE FACTS" which shows (Merritt & Miller page 272) that the standard tire for a 356C was "5.60 x 15 Sport" while the standard tire for a 356SC was "165 x 15 Braced tread" so it's fairly safe to say that the metric tire width implies a radial tire (braced/belted tread).

You might get Michelin to send you a letter confirming that the only 165 x 15 tire they made in 1964 was a radial.

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Thu May 19, 2016 7:48 pm
by J. Leed
Thank you. This is very helpful information.

Re: Correct tires for 1964 356C?

Posted: Sun Mar 12, 2017 12:58 pm
by Harold Singh
Good info!