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Posted by: tomh Dec 4 2016, 07:34 PM

This topic I'm sure has been covered many times however, I need to plow this ground again because I don't have a clue. What size tire came on the original 2.0 factory Fuchs.
Thanks

Posted by: ConeDodger Dec 4 2016, 08:23 PM

195X65-15 but I don't think you can actually get that size. Harvey Wiedman has collected a few never used spares for the concours weenies but no one should drive on them.

Try 205X50-15?

Posted by: jsaum Dec 4 2016, 08:32 PM

I put a set of Falken 195 65 15s on Fuchs this summer they're available. I got them at Pep boys for under $400.00 and am really pleased with them.

Posted by: tomh Dec 4 2016, 09:05 PM

I have the 205 50s on now and think there to big for my type of driving.
The 195 65s sound like a good alternative.
Great info.

Posted by: Tom_T Dec 4 2016, 09:29 PM

Rob, that wasn't the original OE tire size, but the later factory recco'd tire size to replace the originals once they were NLA in the 90's.

The originals were 165HR15 - which were 165/80HR15 - & those are again available in a range of modestly priced tires, up to repro's of the Michelins & Pirrellis at $200+ each.

tomh - go to the Originality & History Forum's nailed topic on Wheels & Tires for more info on them.

You can look on the Lucas Tires website in Long Beach CA for a good selection in that size, as well as on their UK partner Longstone Tyres website for others available, which Lucas can also get for you.

http://www.lucasclassictires.com/165R15_c70.htm

http://www.lucasclassictires.com/165R15_c70.htm

You can also google for 165R15 & 165/80R15 for other sellers, & Coker, Universal, etc. will be in there too.

Good Luck!
Tom
///////

Posted by: Montreal914 Dec 4 2016, 09:32 PM

My friend restoring a 68 911 got some new Vredestein 165 - 15

Looks like your can get Michelin replicas 165-15 on Summit

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/cok-57982/overview/

Posted by: SKL1 Dec 4 2016, 10:26 PM

The original Fuchs were 14". The steelies were 15" and had 165-15 as noted above.
My OEM '71 6 with the 14" Fuchs had 185-14's which is I think a size not even available anymore. That is what it had on it when I got it in the mid 80's...

Posted by: tomh Dec 4 2016, 11:04 PM

Something told me their was going to be a little contoversy over this. My main reason for bringing this up is my last 914 had reverias and was always hard to fit fatter tires due to the wrong offset on the wheels. My car now has 2.0 fuchs with 205s and they rub a little. I want as close to original size as i can for the best fit. I'm not hung up on how wide a tire i can fit.
I will research the suggested sites.
Thanks

Posted by: maf914 Dec 5 2016, 06:44 AM

Here is a thread which discussed original equipment tire sizes; 165x 15.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=229048&hl=firestone

Posted by: The Cabinetmaker Dec 5 2016, 07:09 AM

Those Fuchs were the 5 bolt wheels. The original 4 bolt variety (known as 2L Fuchs, which is what the op asked about) were 15" which came on 4 cylinder models.

Posted by: Kansas 914 Dec 5 2016, 11:47 AM

My vintage Porsche friends use Vredestein.

https://www.universaltire.com/165hr15-vredestein-sprint-classic-blackwall.html

Posted by: flat4guy Dec 5 2016, 11:58 AM

I just got some 195-65-15 Goodyears at Sam's club, $300 out the door.

Posted by: 914Sixer Dec 5 2016, 12:16 PM

Don't forget 185/70/15 were also used as a factory tire too.

Posted by: rhodyguy Dec 5 2016, 12:40 PM

The 70s can get a little spendy. In 185/65 there are lots of offerings. From relatively inexpensive in a non-directional all season to pretty pricy.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Dec 5 2016, 02:33 PM

As noted, there were at least two different types of Fuchs wheels fitted to regular narrow-body 914s from the factory.

The 914-6 was available with the 5.5x14" five-lug wheels.
(It may have also had the 5.5x15" Fuchs available; it is not clear if those were fitted by the factory or by dealers or the importer or what.) The 14s apparently came with 185R15 tires originally.

The 914-4 had the 5.5x15 four-lug Fuchs wheels fitted in the 73+ model year.

There were 155R15 tires fitted to some early four-cylinder cars with 4.5" wide wheels. I suspect very few of those remained on the car by the time they were sold to customers; wheels and tires were easy profit for the dealers at the time. (And the 4.5" wheels were a cost-cutting measure so they base list price could be a bit lower.)

The 5.5" wheels were generally fitted with 165R15 tires. That size is available currently; there are some off-brand manufacturers that make them cheap for old non-sporty cars. And there are specialty manufacturers that are making them for "vintage" sporty cars. Check for Vredestien, check Coker Tire, and so on.

There were 185/70-15s as options on some wheels. I am not clear which they were actually available for.

There is a bit of controversy about exactly what the "aspect ratio" for the tires without one listed was. The most commonly-accepted figure is 80, so the equivalent modern size for e.g. 165R15 would be 165/80R15. Other figures have been discussed, but the closest modern size is pretty definitely the 80 aspect ratio.

Most narrow-body 914s can fit 195s on stock wheels under stock fenders. In some cases, the lip of one rear fender or the other needs to be folded flat or cut out. Many 914s can fit 205s with the same caveats, but there are those that fit 195s and have problems with 205s.

--DD

Posted by: simonjb Dec 5 2016, 03:02 PM

Here are the Pirelli P6000 185 70r15 I got for the Fuchs and the 165HR15 I got for the spare

Posted by: gcrotvik Dec 5 2016, 05:41 PM

I spent a lot of time researching this topic. I ultimately went with the 165HR 15 Vredstein. Good looking and good fit for the stock 2.0 Fuchs. Additionally, they are designed to today's tire specs so they should handle pretty well for such a narrow tire.

Got mine at Summit Racing for $119 each, free shipping (at the time).

Posted by: tomh Dec 5 2016, 07:24 PM

A lot of info here on this, it sounds like 165's-185's are in the range of correctly fitting with out giving up too much performance as far as rubber on the ground. I believe I had 185's in my riverias and was pretty happy with the look and feel.

Posted by: jsaum Dec 5 2016, 10:15 PM

Here's pictures of the 195-65-15s. I auto crossed with them at WCR and didn't have any rubbing issues.


Attached thumbnail(s)

Posted by: jsaum Dec 5 2016, 10:16 PM

Stupid I pad, I can never get the pictures to load correctly!