Correct tires for 1964 356C?
Posted: Sat Jan 23, 2016 1:59 pm
Hi Everyone, I was wondering what might be the correct tires manufacturer/size for a 1964 356C? Thanks!
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.Pat Daily wrote:165 x 15 radials--hard to find at reasonable prices.
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 However, I don't know when the original X-stop radial was superseded by the zX radial.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."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.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.