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

356 Porsche-related discussions and questions.
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Edwin Ek
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#451 Post by Edwin Ek »

Brad Ripley wrote: Mon Aug 19, 2019 4:03 pm 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
Brad, you should stock the 185-70 size also.
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Sebastian Gaeta
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#452 Post by Sebastian Gaeta »

Bruce Smith wrote: Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:03 am
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.
I honestly don't know which one I'd get next when it's time to replace either one they are that close in performance and price and they both have the right vintage look. I cringe when I see a completely stock car that is otherwise beautiful but with super aggressive modern tires. The sidewall and treads look very out of place.
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Registry #8339

'65 C coupe
'64 C cab

-------
2014 Boxster 981
2005 997 C2 Cab
1967 Karmann Ghia Convertible
1966 VW Single Cab
1966 Ducati Cafe Racer
1964 Karmann Ghia Coupe
1963 Beetle

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Dave Wildrick
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#453 Post by Dave Wildrick »

Jerrold Powell wrote: Sat Aug 17, 2019 2:25 pm Dave--Are these the tires you currently have?
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.js ... =865HR5DTH

Am considering, H rated 185 instead of 195.
Jerrold, It looks like I last ordered these in October 2015 and they were the Michelin® DEFENDER XT 185/65R15 tires.
I searched the internet and it looks like these may not be still available or if they are, might be old stock. I'll bet they may have been superceded by the ones you found.
I was really aiming for the lowest priced Michelins I could find that had good reviews (for example on Tire Rack).
So, I don't believe you would go wrong with these T & H Michelins.
I personally don't care that much about having a tread that looks like an old Michelin.
Having a good quality tire is cheap insurance for cars as valuable as ours currently are, maybe better than saving a few dollars on an unknown quality set of El Cheapos.
Dave Wildrick
Houston, TX
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Brad Ripley
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#454 Post by Brad Ripley »

Stoddard NLA does stock that the 185/70 see: http://www.nlaparts.com/store/pirelli-c ... 21952.html
That one is about 2% less of diameter but about 10% wider and was really on the later 911s with 5 1/2' wheels.

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Al Zim
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#455 Post by Al Zim »

Some tires sold by vendors are copies of well known and respected brands but they are not made by the original manufacturer. Other tires made by Pacific rim manufacturers are not round and usually lack construction details that promote long life without cord or tread situations. For over 55 years I have been more than satisfied with Michelin tires and recommend the Defender 195/65/15. You will never drive your car for any distance faster than the lowest speed rated tire will be able to handle. al zim
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Dick Weiss
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#456 Post by Dick Weiss »

What's the spare wheel wear, Tom?

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Greg Bryan
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Re: 65 356 C tire selection

#457 Post by Greg Bryan »

This thread will be merged into the tire sticky thread
Greg Bryan

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

#458 Post by Dougal Cawley »

Could you guys have a look at this web page i hhave built

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... tml#page=4

If you see any mistakes let me know.

If you have any pictures i could use please send them along.

I have done a fitment guide at the bottom if i have missed any mmodels please let me know.

if you have any interesting tyre fitment articles or period tyre related pictures i would love to see them

Jim Beam
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Tire size question - front to rear

#459 Post by Jim Beam »

1963B T6. For years I have run 185/70-15 Vredestein Sprint tires on 15x5.5 rims. A few years ago (purely out of curiosity) I installed 165HR-15 Vredestein Sprint tires on 15x4.5 rims up front. I have enjoyed running with this setup and experienced no problems. It is time for new tires and I am wondering whether the staggered size - front to rear - may present issues of which I am not aware, i.e. alignment, etc? Car is used strictly for pleasure drives. Comments?
1963B (T6) Coupe
1987 3.2 Carrera
1985 FJ60 Landcruiser
1993 Miata

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Martin Benade
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Re: Tire size question - front to rear

#460 Post by Martin Benade »

I doubt if that is actually a handling improvement, partly due to the mismatched nature of the front and rear suspensions (a fairly poor camber curve in rear, and none at all in front), but I see no harm in doing so. If you like how it drives, do it.
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Dick Weiss
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Re: Tire size question - front to rear

#461 Post by Dick Weiss »

The 356 was never designed for different tire sizes front-to-rear; Besides, which spare would you use
altho the larger wheel wouldn't fit in the compartment--unless you have a mini-spare and a pump.but at least you're wide tires on wide rims and narrow tires on narrow rims is correct including the aspect ratio.
However, do what you want for satisfaction.

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

#462 Post by Dougal Cawley »

Hi

If you are thinking of buying some tyres in the near future can i encourage you to look on here

https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/classi ... e/356.html

There are some CN36 on there with a 2017 date code that are a bargain. i only have a limited quantity so grab them while you can.

these are still the V rated tyres that Posrche themselves tested and homologated with the N4 Porsche homologation.

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

#463 Post by tom collingwood »

what are my tire options for 1955 Pre A speedster with 3.25x16 wheels?

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

#464 Post by Dougal Cawley »

Hi

I think i would go for the Avon Tourist https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/ ... urist.html

we have got involved with trying to fit some of the radial 550HR16 Michelin X and the 165HR16 Avon TurboSteel tyres on these early cars but they didn't fit.

There are more options on here https://www.longstonetyres.co.uk/tyres/500-525-16.html If Dunlop still made a crossply that might have been good but they don't make any historic road tyres any more. and the Avont is period and good.

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

#465 Post by Alan Hall »

I used the 165-16 Avon Turbosteel tires on my '53 and really like them. The rears did have to be installed with the pressure reduced to about 15psi and then re-inflated after installation. And for that reason I am using an old 5.25-16 Dunlop as a spare so it can be installed fully inflated in the event of a flat. There are some bias ply 5.00/5.25-16 tires available which would be good for a mainly show car but the handling with the 165-16 radials is so much better if you want to mostly drive the car, rather than show.

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