356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

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David Twiss
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356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#1 Post by David Twiss »

Esteemed Registry Members

I am nearing the pointy end of an extensive restoration of my matching numbers Aussie deliver 1959 T2 356 A. Going for a mild period Carrera style configuration

1883cc twin plug motor (original matching numbers motor will be benched)
Uprated original transaxle
60mm Carrera replica front drums
5.5 inch Techno Magnesio wheels.
Koni Classic adjustable shocks
Skirmants Style Camber Compensator
Louvered rear decklid
I have a couple of questions
1. What tires do you guys recommend with these wheels for a T2 A? It won’t be a track rat but I enjoy spirited road driving and may do the odd track outing.
2. So 165, 175 or 185 or what ever?
3. What Aspect 65 or 70 ?
4. Any recommended Brand?
5. I would like to run spacers on the rear like the Carreras is that possible I have a set and I think they are half an inch.
6. Sway bar - Standard or updated?
7. What setting for Classic Koni shocks ?
8. Anything else to consider?

Cheers
David
1959 T2 356 A Coupe
1962 Devin D Porsche
1997 993 C2S manual
1999 996.1 GT3
David Twiss
1959 T2 356A Coupe
1997 993 C2S
1999 996.1 GT3
2016 981 Spyder

RSTOAD
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#2 Post by RSTOAD »

Why bench the 1883? 16515 on the 5,5...they fill the wheel well as was intended, 185 70 on a six inch rim my choice. If you want sticky Michelin XWX I know outdated and very expensive, but I have not had a car on the street for years but remedy on the way. I do not see good choices but all seasons. Put the spacers on and see how they fit. Rear only needs clearance of two business card at the fenderwell to prevent ay rubbing. Front well, just do not turn in so hard if it rubs, the degree of rub is the determining factor.. I have always run, the believed to be, a factory 19 MM bar, harder to find these days. With the 1883 why not add a very needed LTD skip, any number to choose from and I use the mid setting on Koni. Add a little camber, 1 degree perhaps. Not many will track their cars today, I can hardly wait and yes it will be primarily a street car. Bill Edwards

Mark Schumacher
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#3 Post by Mark Schumacher »

David
I am going to re-tire my 356A Outlaw and going through the same considerations. Engine is currently 1720 but moving to a 1883 twin plug this winter. Skirmants camber compensator and 17mm Wilhoit front sway bar, C disc brakes. Very similar to your set-up. Handling is very close to my way over-engineered '68 912 track car.
Currently running 185/65 tires on 15x5.5" Porsche Turbo spare wheels. This car is recently retired from the track but not spirited driving. 80% certain I will go with 175/70 Vredestein Sprint Classics. Narrower width will provide lighter steering, and its a bit taller for better gearing; but not by much.
My 185/65 tires show a "2 business card" gap between tire and fender. I really doubt you could run that tire size on your wheels with your spacers. If you want the spacers, I suspect you will need to run a 165 tire.
Hope this helps
Mark

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Bill Sargent
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#4 Post by Bill Sargent »

Carrera rear wheel spacers are 50 mm diameter and 20 mm thick. If you run a 185 tire on the year you will not be able to use 20 mm spacers - the tires will rub the fenders. You will have to cut the spacers down to 15 mm, maybe 10 mm is the sheet metal is not the same on both sides. 165 tires should fit Ok with the 20 mm spacers.
Regards,

Bill Sargent
#151489 59A Cab - Faux Cam
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904 clone in the works

Greg Erickson
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#5 Post by Greg Erickson »

David,
I would suggest Yokohama 195/55 S drive tires,... I am running them on my 1960 B outlaw ...
They look,work great, and will lower your car with their smaller dia. About a half inch.

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Steve Proctor
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#6 Post by Steve Proctor »

For the record, Technomagnesio wheels are 5.0" wide, not 5.5" wide. That narrows the field of acceptable tires a bit. Too wide a tire on a narrow rim, especially with a short sidewall looks silly as you get a trapesoidal shape with narrow rim and wide tread. Not only that, but the bead to wheel interface is compromised, the contact patch is not optimal and handling suffers, even to the point of being unsafe, according to a website I saw recently. My local Costco, for instance will not install non-standard size tires for liability reasons.

Tire size drawing.JPG
Tire size drawing.JPG (30.11 KiB) Viewed 4234 times

Here is a chart of recommended tire sizes for various wheel widths.

Tire - Rim Chart.JPG
Tire - Rim Chart.JPG (115.85 KiB) Viewed 4234 times

Here is a chart of commonly available tire sizes per Tire Rack.

Tire Rack.JPG
Tire Rack.JPG (84.86 KiB) Viewed 4234 times
STP
Steve Proctor
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David Jones
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#7 Post by David Jones »

I am running 175 tires on my 64C and they handle very well and also grip very well. I do lose about 5mph because of the slightly lower gearing at an indicated 65 mph, so my gas mileage is also a little compromised but considering the low milage the car gets driven that is of little consequence. The car also sits a little lower so that has to help with road holding. The 175 also fits easily in the trunk. There are also a lot of tires to choose from in that size and wide variation in price. I went with these, Sumitomo Tire HTR A/S P02 All- Season Radial Tire-175/65R15 84H from Amazon.
If I had known I would live this long I would have pushed the envelope a little harder.
Cymru am byth
David Jones #9715

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GregVandenbussche
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Re: 356 A Outllaw Tire Recommendations and Suspension Tuning

#8 Post by GregVandenbussche »

Bt5 Twin plug 10.3:1 compression 1883 here, five speed gear box ,Skirmants camber compensator, large sway bar, Koni shocks at 50%, Rebel racing teflon torsion bar mounts, tires are Yokohama 196/60 R16 on RS spares: sticky but quite a lot of sidewall flex. about 1/4" space in the fender well, 20mm spacer in the front or it touch the inner panel. Ideally you want to put your car on scales, with your weight (and potential co-pilot weight) on the seats. I set it to 50% balanced and it handle amazingly.
Bt5 Super - used to be fjord green, was painted brass, then brown... sadness

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