I have decided to get these empi Fuchs replica wheels for my 71 Irish green 914.

http://www.autoatlanta.com/Porsche-Empi-Fu...EPI9681KIT.html

tire rack is telling me that my only two options for tires on these wheels is 165 80 15

pirelli cintuarto or vredestein sprint classics.

Currently the car has p185 65r15 86t m+s uniroyal tiger paw's on the stock steel wheels.

Does the "80" mean that the profile will be much thicker than the "65" of the current tire?

Are these good tires? are there other options? are there other vendors other than tire rack?

I will be using same wheels I got from a friend (member here) and planning to use 195x60. I will share a picture of my friend’s car with the wheels and 195x60 tires on it.

Click to view attachment

They look sooooo good.

I'm currently having some rubbing on the drivers side with the current 185 65's.

Click to view attachment

If I go to a 60, the rubbing problem should be resolved because the tire will be narrower, correct?

205 55 15 equals........

195 65 Works well on my car

Just put N spec Pirelli CN36's, sized 185/70/15 on my 5 lug Fuchs on my '72 911 and love them. Same tires would fit a 914 fine and are period correct.
I have 205/50/16 tires on 16" Fuchs on both 914's with no clearance issues.

Maybe you need alignment. 185x65 should work well too.
Sir Greg (Coondog) recommend 205x55 which I would want also except for this wheels (5.5”) I think will have so much rounded on the side wall. But yes 205 would be nice.

Tirerack will only tell you an OEM size - hence the 165 suggestions. Most folks want more rubber on the road and more options are available now than in the early 1970s.

Lots of tires fit on a 914 depending on:

1) ride height
2) alignment
3) rear spring rate
4) if fender lips are rolled
5) The chosen RIM. Factory dimensions/offset are best.

Assuming #5, you should be able to fit anywhere from a 155 to a 205 width tire.

Tire nomenclenture:

sample: 185/70-15

185 = width of tire in mm
70 = aspect ratio, or sidewall height expressed as a percentage of the tires width. In our sample, 70% of 185 = 129.5mm of sidewall height
15 = is the rim diameter.

You can find tire calculators online and then you could compare the stock size to any number of possible alternatives and it would show the impact (ie, speedometer error, overall size difference etc)
But yes, a 165/80 is a much "taller" tire than say a 205/50.

https://tiresize.com/calculator/


Over the years I've run various sizes.. 165/80-15, 185/70-15, 195/60-15, 195/50-15 and 205-50-15 all on the stock 5.5x15 porsche rims. Your desired appearance, performance and availability will all impact your choices. imho, over the years my favorite was 195/60-15 "sticky" tires from the 1990s. Because I run more towards performance vs stock appearance, i would be inclined to run a 205/50-15. But the simple fun of sliding the car on 165/80's has a certain appeal as these cars have moved well past being "fast" or even sporty and are appreciated for simply still being around after 50 years.

195/65-15 and 205/60-15 are both about stock wheel height, I had no issues or rub with the 195 and 4-bolt fuchs, I have no issues or rub with the 205/60 and 5-bolt fuchs or 205/55 on cookies. My teen is a narrow body.




I didn't like the looks of the 205/55-15 because the smaller tire doesn't fill up the wheel well as nice as a 205/60.
BUT I've been running the 205/55-15 Yokohama's (on cookies) and the performance is way better than the old 205/60 tires I have on my Fuchs. I would still like a 205/60 if they had a sport/summer tire but I can live with the 205/55's.
You can get 205/55-15 in a sport/summer tire because it's the biggest size made for Miata's.

the pirellis are great or the coker tire michelins. WE do not like the vredesteins, do not handle very well and do not achieve that original factory look with the tread pattern

'Do not mount on 5.5 inch wheels' may be embossed on the sidewall of the tires in the wider size. WAY wide, 205, tires tend to bulge on 5.5s. I found them unsettling on my OEM Fuch wheels in corners. My next set will be 185/60. Fancy brand names come with fancy prices.