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Posted by: grantsfo Jul 22 2003, 11:47 PM

I'm shopping for tires now. I have found a few interesting tires in 195/55/15, but was wondering about 205/50/15. I know clearence for 205/50's depend on tire and car, but regardless of clearence what would work better on a stock powered 1.8 with koni's, sway bar slightly lowered etc. I know that fatter tires dont always equate to better performance. Should I consider 195/50/15's to minimize rotational weight on my stock powered car?

Looking for dry weather tire I can use on street and for AX.

Posted by: SirAndy Jul 22 2003, 11:49 PM

go with the 205/50 if they fit ...
you'll be having a lot more fun with them

Andy

Posted by: Scott Carlberg Jul 23 2003, 01:55 AM

my vote also. 205/50-15

Posted by: Anton Jul 23 2003, 06:00 AM

WRONG SIZE!

Tyre outside diameter should be the same as the original 165HR15. This implies using (for instance) 195/65 HR 15. With your current options tyre size is too small; your speedometer will be off and give you a higher speed than actual.

Even the above mentioned format can get you into trouble, as in my case. On maximal steering wheel excursion the right front tyre touches the inside fender. Installing special shims in the steering gear (limiting steering wheel excursions), solves the contact problem, but it's an extensive job...

Besides, with a standard 1.8 you don't need all this rubber. Looks nice but is totally not functional.

My advice: stick to original size or only marginally wider tyres.

Anybody care to comment on this???

Posted by: vsg914 Jul 23 2003, 06:44 AM

Original tires suck! Anyone who's ever driven in a rain storm knows that. My 73 1.7 came with Pedrinis.
I rann the factory tires for 15 years because the tire guys said nothing else would fit. I finally shucked thier advice and installed 205/60's They were great, but the left front did hit the inner fender well on full radius turn. Ok, just don't turn all the way to the right. My son in laws 73 has Riveira rims, and we had to "roll" the lip on the rears with 205/60's I just put a set of Kumho ecxta 205/50's on my 75 with pictured aftermarket rims(western, I think). they are perfect and super sticky. Ok, I won't get 60,000 miles from them, but at 71.00 each, who cares?


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Posted by: tod914 Jul 23 2003, 07:19 AM

I put the 195 60 15 on mine - spedo is off by maybe 8 mph at 60. Yoko AVS ES 100s. Happy with the tire so far. I would not do 195 50 15. The ride would be way too harsch.

Posted by: seanery Jul 23 2003, 08:24 AM

I think 195's are the way to go.

I've run 165 sr 15
205/55/15
195/60/15

I think the 195 is the best compromise for a street tire.

Posted by: Anton Jul 23 2003, 12:50 PM

About tyre brand:

A 914 has exemplary steering behaviour and IMPO deserves very good tyres, no cheap shit. They should posess a profile that responds well to steering (is sensitive), has course stability (particularly at high speeds!!!), is silent (why not?), comfortable (quality rubber compound) and has good mileage.

I drive (to my satisfaction) Pirelli P6000 195/65HR15. Even better would be an asymmetrical profile such as P7000. Or go for any other major brand, e.g., Michelin, Continental, Goodyear. And listen to guys with 911s.

How much profile is left predominantly determines rain behaviour. Furthermore, wider tyres slip more easily than original tyres due to less pressure/square inch; facilitates aqua planing. So, why original tyres would suck in a rain storm I cannot understand. This is quite opposite to my own experience (I live in Holland; lots of rain).

Posted by: ninefourteener Jul 23 2003, 01:17 PM

I run a set of 205/60's on all 4 corners with 4-lug fuchs. My suspension is all brand new, and 100% stock, and there is no rubbing anywhere, even at full turns.

Don't remember the brand tire, but they work extremely well in the rain or sun. I'll get that to you later this afternoon if you're interested.

Posted by: redshift Jul 23 2003, 01:24 PM

Let's play ball!

205/65


You guys need to lower your cars, btw.


M

Posted by: grantsfo Jul 23 2003, 01:47 PM

I have driven a several 914's through the years. With everything from 165/15's to 175/70/15's to 185/70/15's and now 185/60/15's. I think my car can handle a bit more tire. Tire harshness isnt a problem for me. Is anyone else running 205/50 on 4 bolt Fuchs?

I drive a 2002 Toyota Echo commuter with Koni Sports set on firm with sport springs and run 205/40/16's. So bring on the harsh - I just want quick turn in and great grip - I will put up with less than optimal ride on those grocery runs.

I just want my 914 to handle as well as my daily commuter:

Posted by: Scott Carlberg Jul 23 2003, 02:02 PM

I am, just bought the Yoko ES 100s two months ago.
I like them so far, other issues with the car need to be sorted/fixed first tho.

Previous tires were Bridgestone re 750, or 950, I always forget which.
They were 205/55-15.

Not a lot of difference between the two sizes. Along with the Bilsteins that I
have, my car does ride a bit rough, but I don't mind.
My buddies '96 VW GTI rides rougher (& makes more noise) than my '73.

Posted by: Bleyseng Jul 23 2003, 02:07 PM

I have run the 195x60's and the 205x50's on my 914. The 50 series tires rock! Less sidewalk flex makes for great street driving. Who cares if the speedo is close as I don't drive like a Grandma, I watch the tach.
Geoff

Posted by: grantsfo Jul 23 2003, 02:29 PM

Tire rack has KUHMO ECSTA MX in 205/50/15 for $79 a tire. Looks like a good value. Should I consider anything else? I'm running real cheap $46 Sumitomo's now. Only issue I have had was with Sumitomo was with tread melting on the track! Sumitomo also have a soft sidewall - so car feels a little mushy in the turns.

Posted by: Ferg Jul 23 2003, 02:41 PM

I've pretty much decided to go with the falken azenis in 205/50 for my next tire, just from what i have heard they are great dry tire and the fact that my car never gets driven in rain. However I have a silly question. Right now I have 205/60's BFG TA's all around and they just fit. My logic tells me going to a shorter tire (50 series) will free up room not the other way around. . I know all tires are diffrent but in general if 60's fit so should 50's right

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jul 23 2003, 02:43 PM

DUDE VSG, I have those same Rims!

Posted by: vsg914 Jul 23 2003, 03:09 PM

Ferg, right you are!

tat2dphreak, I think they are westen wheels. Does anyone know for sure?

Grant, My kuhmo's came from the tire rack. They had the best rating of all the 205's in 50 or 60 series. I went to my first AX two months ago and got waxed by a 356. a nice 356, but still, a 356. The improvement with Kumho's was tremendous. The next AX it was my turn!!!!! Speedo being off doesn't bother me, and if 79.00 makes me cheap, so be it!
Why should I spend $165+ for tires that will be thrown away four years from now with half the tread left and hard as rock? Do we really need Z rated tires on a 110mph 914?

Posted by: redshift Jul 23 2003, 03:24 PM

Yeah VSG, those are Westerns, my favorite.

With you guys lowering profiles, you are changing the gearing, like you say 110, and my stock height takes me to a click under 140, so, you are gaining acceleration, and giving up top speed, and that is fine for the 914.

When you cruise 70, what's your tach say?


M

Posted by: vsg914 Jul 23 2003, 03:50 PM

70mph-4th gear-4000rpm
5th gear-3200rpm

I know that's about 10 miles off. My odo says 100 mi when it's only been 90. Does that mean my car will go 130? LOL

I drove a 914 for years that had no speedo, so I drive by the tach anyway.

The westerns were on the car when i got it. I think they add a bit of elegance. Only thing I don't like about them is the lack of choice in the centercap department. The offset is perfect for my size tire(that's t"i"re)

Posted by: Anton Jul 23 2003, 03:53 PM

Remarkable. I use the standard 5.5 J x 15 steel rims with an off-set of 40mm (ET40 = "einpress tiefe") and the right tyre touches the inside fender on full turn.

Do Fuchs rims have a different width (I thought they were 5.5 J as well) or off-set?

Heard good things about Kuhmo's, haven't driven them yet. I regularly do 110 MPH (for short distances) on the high way, so that's another reason why I am so anxious about tyre quality.

Posted by: makinson1 Aug 28 2003, 08:54 AM

Anybody have experience with the Goodyear F1 tires? They have a very high rating at tirerack.com

Posted by: Scott Carlberg Aug 28 2003, 12:06 PM

"your speedometer will be off"

yeah, so? close to 1/2 of the speedo's here prolly don't work anyway, and the other
1/2 are off because of the different size tires. (correct spelling btw) lol


"Besides, with a standard 1.8 you don't need all this rubber. Looks nice but is totally
not functional."

Anton, maybe your 1.8 isn't running very well, eh?
1.8's last time I checked, were more than capable of going faster than, say 55?
When you get into some twisty's, your main concern is Not the amount of HP
you have behind you... but rather how well your car handles, which includes the
quality of your Rubber Patches (tires) Why not have the biggest (re: best) possible
patch underneath you.
Many of us are running 205's in the 50 or 60 series, without problems.
It IS a good thing to have more tire underneath you, it really is.

Posted by: -P- Aug 28 2003, 12:21 PM

Man, I can barely fit my pinky between the fender well and tire in the rear. I think the offset on these Riverias is all wrong. MUST GET 5 LUG Fuchs. My next big purchase will be rims and tires.

Posted by: Dave_Darling Aug 28 2003, 01:01 PM

I disagree. Having the stock gearing and speedometer/odometer readings is a nice thing, but is not necessary. In fact, it can be a nice thing to have shorter gearing. Particularly for autocrossing--you pull harder coming out of the corners, and top speed is not that important.

Also, shorter sidewalls give you more feedback about what the wheels are doing. This not only means a harsher ride, but it also means that you can actually react to what the car is doing before it's already done.

I used to run 195/60-15 tires for steet and autoX. When I switched to 195/50-15 tires, all of a sudden it was easy to "catch" and correct an spin that was just starting. I could tell what was happening as it started, not after the back end had already started to go around.


When I looked into it, it seemed as if the tradeoffs between the 205/50-15 and 195/50-15 came out about even when autoXing. You get a little more grip with the 205s, but not much. 205s are ballooned out a fair bit when put on 5.5" wide rims (all stock 914-4 alloys are 5.5x15) so you don't get as much extra rubber on the road as you would expect when you go from 195 to 205 width. And you get shorter sidewalls and shorter gearing with the 195s, plus a little less unsprung rotating mass. Apparently the trade-offs there come out to just about even on the autoX course. I personally think the 195/50s are a little better on most courses I've run.

--DD

Posted by: Racer Aug 28 2003, 04:47 PM

Ask enough people and you'll get too many answers to be helpful!

I, like others, have run the gammut of tires. My personal faves were 195/60-15's. Plenty of grip and good ride characteristics. Nowadays I'd suggest a 205/50-15. Better handling, but as mentioned, the speedo is a little less accurate, but more brands/compounds seem to be available in this size. When I ran 195/50-15s the acceleration was soooo much better, but cruising at 60 equated to about 4,000 rpm and the car likely topped out at 90mph.