How Much Would You Pay for Dunlop SP57 Repops?, Possible source to reproduce 165HR15 Options

[Tom_T]

As the title says - folks can poll on what maximum price they'd be willing to pay for a newly minted Dunlop SP57 165HR15 tire - as originally supplied on our 914s, in order to see if we can interest Dunlop to reproduce them in limited quantities. Out of the USA folks can use the Google currency converter to get dollars on the poll to their price in local currency.

PS - the last option in the number of tires that someone added for me is really "5 or more" - i.e.: you'll want a set of 4 + spare, or more than one set.

I know - less is better, but how much are they worth to you? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I've been corresponding with a supplier of Dunlop vintage racing tires about the possibility of Dunlop also reproducing the OEM Dunlop SP57 tubeless tires in 165HR15 size & speed rating (165/80HR15), as were originally equipped on many of our 914 2.0s & 914-6s with 15" wheels, and as options on 1.7 & 1.8 models - as shown in the pix below. They were also supplied on 911s, 912Es & many other sports cars & coupes of that period (Opel GTs & Mantas, BMW 2002s & 2.8/3.0s, etc.).

They were well known as very "sticky" & great handling street & street-class AX/track tires back in the day. They would have the same cachet today - ostensibly with modern rubber compounds, as well as being new versions of exactly correct fitment tires for the CWs, and for those who prefer this 165HR15 size for correct fit, accurate speedo & odometer readings, better fuel mileage, etc.

At this point in time, there are only imperfect options for our 914s spec'd for 165HR15 tires, including:

1. A few 165/80R15 tires out there in SR & TR speed ratings made by Bridgestone and a couple of mass market suppliers in the $75-100+ range (see speed ratings info below),

2. Vredestein offers their Sport+ 165HR15 for $107 in an average passenger tire looking tread,

3. Michelin offers the XAS 165HR15 tube-type for nearly $290 (with tubes) which won't perform properly when mounted on our OEM 15x4.5 & 15x5.5 "J" tubeless type rims (tire movement causes tubes to catch/pinch & pop),

4. or their period up-size optional XWX 185/70VR15 tubeless tires for $407 each (has about a 0.8% odometer error over 165s),

5. and Pirelli is also rumored to be repopping their CN67 or CN72 Cinturato's in 165HR15 - but they too will be tube-type.

6. There are also Michelin, Pirelli, Vredestein & other tires in the 155 & 165SR15 sizes & speed rating, but these were spec'd for the 1.7L 914s and many 912s & some 356s.

The latter tire was spec'd for the 912's 1.6L & 914 1.7s & 1.8s, because the SR was only a 112 mph speed rating. Whereas, the 914-6s, 914-2.0s, 911s & 912Es with the 2.0 generally had higher top speeds to warrant spec'ing the 130 mph HR tires (TR at 118 mph was not around back then, and VR was 149 mph & was spec'd for higher performance 914GT's, 911 E's & S's, etc., and used for better grip in AX & track use for 914 6's & 2.0's as an optional upgrade - e.g.: with the M471 option IIRC).

As with the prospective Dunlop SP57 repops - the Michelins & Pirelli's above were always higher priced tires than the other more run-of-the-mill brands back in the day, and they are limited run reproduction vintage tires today - so a bit more pricey than the mass market tires generally made in China today in the SR & TR sizes below $120 today - Vredesteins fall somewhere in between (not sure where they're made), but their tread doesn't look much like a sport tire, as much as a passenger touring type often used on the Brit sedans of the day.

That's the current range of original fitment tires, and you can read up more on these less than perfect options at this thread: http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?act...=44&t=74857

So, the question comes up as to what the 914 & Porschephile public worldwide out there would be willing to pay for such repops?
... and whether it's worth Dunlop's while to do so?
... they think we'd need interest in at least 200+ tires for a short run, at a marketable price.
Ergo - the reason for the poll.

So please weigh in on this poll as to what you'd be willing to pay for reproductions of the original tires which came on your 914, which I will share with the Dunlop supplier & he with their limited run factory in the UK.


> FYI - these last two pix above are from the Jan. 73 MT & Feb. 73 R&T Test articles on the then new 914-2.0/"914S".

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What say you!!?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/shades.gif)