Best Tires for Stock Car, Fair Weather Driving Options

[Nogoodwithusernames]

Hey guys, I know there's lot's of tire posts on here already and I've not really read through them much.
If there is already a thread covering this please drop a link and it would be appreciated!

Anyways it's new tire time for the 914 but I'm not sure what size or brand of tires would be the best bang for the buck while still giving good grip and decent life.
Car is a stock d-jet 2.0L 1974 with rivieras. Only street driving, no auto-x or drag racing etc etc.

Cheers and happy New Years all! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif) (safe driving habits to drive and then drink (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) )

[Nogoodwithusernames]

I haven't found anything confirming this in my searching yet, but intuitively I would think the lug bolts for the Riviera alloys would be long enough to use with the Pedrini's I should be getting. Does anyone know for sure if that is the case?

[Tom_T]

I haven't found anything confirming this in my searching yet, but intuitively I would think the lug bolts for the Riviera alloys would be long enough to use with the Pedrini's I should be getting. Does anyone know for sure if that is the case?

It depends upon whether the PO used the longer alloy wheel bolts. If not, then Bruce Stone/bdstone &/or other members have sets of the alloy spec bolts.

You should also pull off one or all 4 of the Rivs to see if they are the 914 spec ET40 offset, or one of the VW spec offsets.

If not the 914 ET40, then you will have fitment problems (rubbing inner &/or outer fenders F &/or R) with anything but the OE spec 165HR15 (/80 profile), because the VW offsets push the tires/wheels in or out off the spec ET40.

For typical street pleasure & DD driving - especially in CA - the Vredstein Sprint Classic 165/80HR15 & the pricier period Michelin & Pirelli tires are fine.
IIRC Americas Tire & some other national/regional & local tire shops can order the Vreds for you.

For a bit more grip similar to the OEM "dog bone tread" Dunlop SP57 165HR15 (& period Semperit M401, M501), you might try out the Blockley tires from Lucas tires in Long Beach CA linked below.

http://www.lucasclassictires.com/165VR15-B...al-NOS-504p.htm
(I'm not seeing them new recent mfgr there now though, so call to ask)

For other 165/80HR15 (& VR) tires & the closest 185/70VR15 size:
http://www.lucasclassictires.com/165R15_c70.htm

As noted by others above, many 914s can't handle the 195/65HR15 size due to either rear fender rubbing, &/or rubbing on the front inner wheel wells on near-lock-to-lock turns (more so on 205s). Mine was one of those when I tried them back in the early 1980s, so I stuck with 165s.

The 185/70VR15 (or HR) are the closest tire up-size for minimal speedo/odometer error, & IIRC the 195/65R15 has an 8-10+% error. So if you use those or other different diameter tires, then you will end up with "ghost mileage" on your 914, which can negatively affect its value as higher mileage than actual.

You can use a tire size calculator to see the differences from the original 165/80R15 profile tires (the calculator in the 914 info section on here no longer works AFAIK).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/tirecalc

Bottom line, pick what you like & fits your intended use, needs & budget.

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