Al Reed restoration -- what size shoes to wear?, New Tires are mounted Options

[Jett]

With the help of this form and others, we have been slowly restoring our Delphi Green 73 914 2.0/4 Appearence package and are finally approaching the completion. In preparation of the build completion we asked Al Reed to restore our wheels and they arrived this morning. We think the wheels are amazing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

That said, I was going to install a set of P7s 165 70 15.

Thoughts and advice would be appreciated.

Please note that we will share the entire build once complete, thanks again for all the help!

[Jett]

Thanks Everyone for the insight.

To retain originality and reduce the speedometer error, we decided to go with the stock "upgrade" Michelin XWX 185/70VR15 from Coker (free shipping).

Cheers

PS Thanks Tom for the data. IIRC the original unused Michelin spare was an odd size... 165/78/15? I'll have to find the old thing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Tom_T]

Thanks Everyone for the insight.

To retain originality and reduce the speedometer error, we decided to go with the stock "upgrade" Michelin XWX 185/70VR15 from Coker (free shipping).

Cheers

PS Thanks Tom for the data. IIRC the original unused Michelin spare was an odd size... 165/78/15? I'll have to find the old thing (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

No Jett, it would've been all 5 - including the spare - of the same original 165HR15 (165/80HR15 or 165/80R15 H in today's coding) - & what came from the factory would've only had 165HR15 on the sidewall for your 2L (or all 5 185 XWXs if that option box ticked off).

If your current spare is a /78, then it was a replacement tire since new, cuz they didn't list the section profile size number then, but it was "assumed" to be 80-82%, & some followed on with /78 IIRC I think Michi came out with those in the early 80's, but were not an HR IIRC, cuz the 165HR15s all went away then, & my last road set were Kleber 165SR15 which still were around in 1980).

Look up tire size info. at the Tire Rack info section to see what they all were & how the /80 "estimate" came about, as well as current speed, load, wear, etc. ratings - which the new repros also need to have now too AFAIK.

PS - FYI - Coker is not making their own XWX repop, but buying them from the same Michelin Classic plant making them & the XZX & XAS for the other sellers. I don't know if they're claiming that, but I think the truth is that they may have requested Michi to keep making them in return for a certain order number .... then they can try to say "we did it" - but in fact there are many classic tire outlets in the USA & Europe/UK & worldwide who are buying the production runs.

So you can either add a 5th 185 XWX to your order (call them 1st thing Monday) since all 5 including spare would've matched, since you're essentially trying to recreate the factory XWX option.

Or you could just pick one of the other 165/80R15 in S or H speed rating as a spare - as if the OO had upgraded to the 185 XWX option on 4 wheels from a car originally equipped with the 165s (back then you could do an in-dealership option or upgrade/change, similar to today, & was perhaps more common then - such as all those M471 914-6GT kits sold byy Porche+Audi dealers back then).

Either way, it's probably best to add it to your Coker order for free shipping on all 5 tires as a group, even if a mixed-set (4+1).

IIRC the PCA Parade is up your way next year! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/first.gif)

Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)
Tom
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