suspension mods, newb asks where to start Options

[bugsy0]

drove my brother's '74 2.0 the other day - his has stiffer springs and Koni shocks w/ Bridgstone 195/?? tires. That car felt so great compared w/ my stock '71 (cheap Cooper 165/?? tires). Of course my tail shifter could use a bushing/ball joint overhaul also.

I'd like to get the car to handle better. Where do I start? Not trying to build a race car...

[Dave_Darling]

A quick look at the Tire Rack website shows five tires in the Ultra High Performance (Summer and All-Season, combined) in each of two sizes that are easily 914-compatible: 195/60-15 and 195/65-15. The Yokohama AVS dB S2 (195/65) is a tire that I would like to try as a street tire sometime; while I have tried the Yoko ES100 and Dunlop SP Sport 01 A tires (both available in 195/60) on other cars than 914s and liked them both.

The 195/65s will be close to the overall diameter of the original tires, which preserves the original gearing and speedo/odometer readings. The 195/60s will have a smaller overall diameter, which will give you slightly lower gearing and slightly more optomistic speedo and odo readings. It will also be a little harsher road-feel, but will likely stick a touch better.

I think those tires fit your criteria reasonably. I really like my Falken Azenis tires (thanks again, Grant!!) for dry-weather grip, but they are not 15K mile tires by any stretch.

"Sticky" or "soft-compound" or "R-compound" tires will not last anywhere near as long as you say you want. The grip is astonishing, but they aren't exactly very streetable. Most are not so great if they encounter water, either. I recommend staying with hard-compound street tires.

--DD