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

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Jerry Powell
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65 356 C tire selection

#436 Post by Jerry Powell »

While waiting for my brake calipers to be restored at PMB, I have decided to get new tires.
Currently have 195 65 15 on 5 1/2 inch rims.
Will probably put 2500 miles on them per year.
I drive at posted speeds, never over 80 mph, with some spirited driving on the right curvy roads.
Large selection at Tire Rack where I will purchase them and quite confusing.
Appreciate your comments on below tire or other suggestions.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js ... mpare1=yes

Thanks,

Jerry

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Thomas Sottile
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#437 Post by Thomas Sottile »

On my S.C. I use 165/15 on 4.5 rims and 175 /80 on 5.5no no need to go any wider the stock suspension was designed around those sizes

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David Jones
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#438 Post by David Jones »

I am using Sumitomo HTR A/S P02 Performance Radial Tire - 175/65R15 84H on stock 356C rims. Bought from Amazon for less than $55 a tire with free shipping. They are a slightly smaller diameter than the 165 x 80 x15 but my speedo is only 2 mph fast at 65 mph so I can live with that error. I have not driven far on them so far but they seem as good as anything else I have driven on over the years. I mounted and balanced them myself and they are vibration free at over 4K rpm in top gear.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
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Jon Schmid
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#439 Post by Jon Schmid »

Look at the sticky above. A whole slough of opinions on tires.

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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#440 Post by Edwin Ek »

Jerrold, how do you like the steering feel with the big tires on the front? Have you driven a C with 165's or even 185's?
#6386

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Dave Wildrick
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#441 Post by Dave Wildrick »

My 65 C coupe had 205s x 65s on 4 inch rims when I bought it in 2000. They were way too heavy and looked ridiculous. I swapped them for Kumho Power Star 165 x 15s, which I liked a lot. When that model of Kumho became no longer available in 165s and the dates on "new" Kumho Power Star 185s that Discount Tire had in stock were already a couple of years old, I switched to Michelin Defender 185/65/15 XTs. I now have these on both of my C coupes, and they seem to hold up and perform very well. At Costco and several other vendors, they were about $100 each.
Dave Wildrick
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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#442 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

To me a modern tread pattern looks out of place on an old car. I have the Vredestein Sprint Classic on one car, $121 each at Universal Tire and the Michelin X on the other car for only $126 each also at Universal Tire. Both have the correct “dog bone” tread pattern and round shoulder so they look just right. They both ride very well too. If your car is stock these are a great way to go to complete the period correctness without compromising handling and ride.
Last edited by Sebastian Gaeta on Sat Aug 17, 2019 2:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
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-------
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George Hussey
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#443 Post by George Hussey »

I would definitely buy michelins at coker, I put 165 15 Vredestein tires on my 65 SC and the sidewall was just to soft, switched to michelins 165x15 from Coker and the difference was dramatic when pushed through the corners
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George Hussey
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#444 Post by George Hussey »

Plus the 165x15 michelins from Coker look just right
George Hussey

Jerry Powell
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#445 Post by Jerry Powell »

Dave--Are these the tires you currently have?
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js ... =865HR5DTH

Am considering, H rated 185 instead of 195.

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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#446 Post by Jerry Powell »

Edwin--I have driven my 65 C with 165 and 195, not 185, although I am considering the 185.

I had no front end steering issues with the weight of the 195.
.

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Bruce Smith
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#447 Post by Bruce Smith »

Sebastian Gaeta wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2019 9:41 am To me a modern tread pattern looks out of place on an old car. I have the Vredestein Sprint Classic on one car, $121 each at Universal Tire and the Michelin X on the other car for only $126 each also at Universal Tire. Both have the correct “dog bone” tread pattern and round shoulder so they look just right. They both ride very well too. If your car is stock these are a great way to go to complete the period correctness without compromising handling and ride.
I've got the same, Vredestein Sprint Classic on one car and Michelin X on the other. They both look good and ride well.
Bruce Smith

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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#448 Post by Mike Grant »

I have 165 Pirelli CN36 tires on my 64 SC. I’m really happy with them. Jerrold, my driving habits are pretty much like yours and I’ve never found any issues with them. They have all the “stick” I’ll ever need, the taller side walls probably soften the ride a little and have low road noise. The CN36 was introduced in 1969, so it’s not exactly period-correct for the 356, but I think they look good on the car.

I got mine from Longstone Tyres in the UK. Ordering and delivery was a very painless process, and noticeably less expensive than buying through a local supplier.

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David Jones
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#449 Post by David Jones »

Just thought I would add a comment on my choice of the 175 width Sumitomo tires I have on my 356C. They are also asymmetric but not unidirectional, meaning that the tread pattern requires they be fitted with one sidewall always on the outside when installed but once mounted to the rim that way can be fitted to any corner of the car.
They have a 4 star rating from tire rack and an AA rating for traction. Tread wear is probably not going to be a factor for most 356 drivers as the tires are likely to need replacing on age for most 356's before showing much in the way of tread wear.
My speedometer actually shows about a 3% high reading with these tires because of the reduced diameter but it lowers the car about an inch so it is an acceptable trade off. Of course that means a 3% reduction in fuel consumption so I will only get 34 mpg instead of 35 mpg on long trips.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
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Brad Ripley
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#450 Post by Brad Ripley »

Further to Mike Grant's comments about Pirelli CN36 Stoddard NLA stocks those tires -- link is http://www.nlaparts.com/store/pirelli-c ... 21951.html

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