14-inch Fuchs Wheels and Tires Combo, Please share your tire size and photos Options

[DennisV]

I would appreciate it if folks who have 14-inch Fuchs wheels could share photos of them on the car along with their tire size.

Our 1970 914-6 has what appear to be authentic Fuchs 5 1/2 J 14. I believe these were an original factory option. Trying to decide on tires. The manual and sticker on the car only indicates "185 HR 14". So no sidewall height is indicated.

I know there are lots of tire threads. I've been poking around the forum and I've seen listed everything from "185/70/14 was the OEM size" to "82 if they were measured like today's tires".

Vredestein Sprint Classic would seem like an easy choice, but they are out of stock everywhere I have looked.

Ultimately I guess I'm going to be stuck with what's available today and making an aesthetic choice. It will be spirited street driving in California, so I don't need to worry about all-weather or track demands. What's on the car now is 195/70R14 90R - Riken Radial 70 Steel Belted. Not a great photo as it's on a lift and the engine is out. I would normally run with a bit higher air pressure. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif)

[DennisV]

Maybe it was obvious to others, but I was fishing for the aspect ratio of the side wall for the original tires. Thanks to the table from @zoomCat and a tire size calculator factoring in the wheel size, I think the closest modern day equivalent is:
185/80R14.
This lands you at: Tire Height: 25.66'' (652 mm)

Anyone got that combo they can share a photo of? It is about 1/2" difference in sidewall height from what we have now.

I wonder how wide you can safely go on those rims. It read somewhere that 165 - 195 works?

How unique is the "J" wheel collar (i.e. tire bead) profile? Does that become a special tire choice?

[Racer]

Maybe it was obvious to others, but I was fishing for the aspect ratio of the side wall for the original tires. Thanks to the table from @zoomCat and a tire size calculator factoring in the wheel size, I think the closest modern day equivalent is:
185/80R14.
This lands you at: Tire Height: 25.66'' (652 mm)

Anyone got that combo they can share a photo of? It is about 1/2" difference in sidewall height from what we have now.

I wonder how wide you can safely go on those rims. It read somewhere that 165 - 195 works?

How unique is the "J" wheel collar (i.e. tire bead) profile? Does that become a special tire choice?

Correct. Back then they didn't put an aspect ratio and as others have mentioned, its close to an 80 series tire.

our 914/6 has been in the family since new, with 5.5x14 Fuchs the whole time (and occasionally 6x15 cookie cutters). In period (1970-1990s) - Michelin XWX tires!

185/14s
185/70 14
195/70 14
205/70-14 - a little balloonish, but they fit in period with some rolled fenderlips

Period 15" wheels (15 inch steel was standard.. 5.5x15 that is, or, 6x15 911 fuchs) have run over the years 165/80-15, 185/70-15 and for autocross, 195/50 and, 195/60)

I've been running the Falken Azenis 615s in 195/60-14 since 2016 on a warm weather use car (often at Autocross) on my 5.5x14s. They wear well, they grip well and are also a quiet tire.

I'd upload pics but, it never works for me. They are a little "short" compared to a 70 series tire, but that's ok with me.

Speedometer? who cares.. its a 50 year old car with 110hp.. its not powerful enough to get caught speeding (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) I can do math quickly.. and figure 7-10% high. I know others out here are caught out by these transgressions (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Nowadays it comes down to what is available... and for 14" wheels, the choices are pretty slim, especially if you want some "performance".