A five-lug wheel and tire odyssey: 205/55 to 195/65 to 185/70, Going old-school, in terms of tires and wheel finishes... Options

[horizontally-opposed]

So I've been on a return my car to 1973 kick... and the wheels and tires are the latest step. Next up, NARP reflector removal.

Anyway, I searched and searched and found few threads that offered me a chance to really look at the various choices.

So... here's some pics I took along the way.

First up is the car as it's been since 1992, on 15x6 "Deep Six" Fuchs with polished lips, silver painted centers, and 205/55ZR15 tires (in this case Yoko ES100s, which I hated with a passion).

[Porsche Rescue]

Very interesting. I have been agonizing over tires to install as I take my '69 912 Targa back to chromes/hub caps from the Fuchs now on it. The Fuchs have 185/65's which are too short for me. I have considered 195/65 which is the right height.
I too am a "period correct" freak and have thought about the 165 Michelins from Coker. But they are $137 a copy, plus shipping and mount/balance.
Maybe the Vredestein 185/70 is the answer. I believe the size was optional on early 912/911's. What do you think Pete?

[horizontally-opposed]

Very interesting. I have been agonizing over tires to install as I take my '69 912 Targa back to chromes/hub caps from the Fuchs now on it. The Fuchs have 185/65's which are too short for me. I have considered 195/65 which is the right height.
I too am a "period correct" freak and have thought about the 165 Michelins from Coker. But they are $137 a copy, plus shipping and mount/balance.
Maybe the Vredestein 185/70 is the answer. I believe the size was optional on early 912/911's. What do you think Pete?

Hey Jim!

I too looked at the Michelins, but I think the 165s are just too skinny. And the 185/70R15 Michelin XWXs (the new black among early 911 nuts) are $300 a pop. Sorry, but that's more than I was paying for N-spec 265/35ZR18s for the back of our Boxster.

Then I found the Vreds. It came down to those, Pirelli P6000s (available in great sizes, 195/65 and 205/60) or BFG Radial T/A (talk about old school) in 205/60 sizing. In the end, I went with the Vreds, which look very similar to the Coker/Michelin XWXs, but are a thoroughly modern tire and a very popular choice in Europe among classic car people. I bought them from Rich at Fairmount Tire in LA for a little under $100 a tire, then added a 165SR15 Vred for a "space-saver" spare. Their number: (323) 750-8676

That looks like a really nice 912, and I dig that you are going back to steel wheels on it. However, have you seen a 911 or 912 in your color with plain silver steel wheels? It looks so, so good with that beige. And even better lowered a bit without hubcaps...though I fully recognize that might not be the look you're after! If a slightly aggressive stance is something that interests you, a set of the 195/65 P6000s on plain steel wheels without caps would look phenomenal (in my book)!

Anyway, anyway you go, that sure looks like a nice car!

pete