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I am chasing my tail looking for a summer performance tire for my '71 914-6 in a 205X60X15 size. I see several options in Touring but none for summer performance. I am presently running a Yokohama 195X55x15 and would just like a tad more width and height. The 205 is the widest I can fit in my stock-bodied car. I will not pull the fenders or cut the inner lips for clearance. What have you got?
Thanks for the assistance. Cheers, Michael
Hi Michael - I put these on my 914/6’s 7” Fuchs when I bought it: Dunlop Direzza DZ102 | 205/55R15.
Although I haven’t really driven them hard or very much, I’m happy with them. The race shop involved with the PPI and initial service of my -6 enthusiastically agreed with this choice, and said they’d used them previously.
But my car’s fender lips have been rolled, so I’m unsure how they’d fit stock fenders & deep 6’s.
I also checked the Tire Rack. They only show one “performance” tire in the 205/60-15 size by BFGoodrich. Sadly, choices for 15” performance tires are no longer what they once were …
And FWIW, I’ve had very good luck with Khumo tires in the last few years. Had numerous sets on 4-5 cars. Maybe not the best performance tires, but IMHO offer a great value and really good wear rating <if> you end up considering a more “pedestrian” tire.
Regards,
Hi Bob,
I appreciate the reply. If I replace my 195X55X15 Yokohamas, I really want to go with a 205X60X15 and a tire with a great traction rating as these cars are pretty light. Typically a tire with a really good wear rating is a harder tire compound. To make it more complicated I really do not want a street race tire that is so grippy that it picks up and throws everything it runs over. I know ... not asking for much, am I? Kind of reminds me of Goldie Locks and the 3 bears now that I am reading my reply.
Michael, I’m sorry for your plight.
When I bought the Dunlop Direzza DZ102‘s in 2020, they were available in both 205/55 & 205/60-15 sizes as “Ultra Hi Performance Summer” tires. But as far as I can see now, they’re both discontinued in 15” diameter.
Afraid we’re all gonna face the same situation when buying tires in the future :-(
Thanks Bob. Well owning old cars is never easy. Searching for parts to keep them running, handling and looking right is the challenge. We really need a top executive at Michelin to buy an old Porsche and recognize the need for 15" performance tires. :)
Was going to throw my vote to the Dunlop's as i am running them on my 71, Targa in 215-50 16" great tire, have had them for a couple years. I did read the 15" is now obsolete above. That was my reason a few yrs ago to go to 6x16 Fuch's on a couple early cars (also 66 912 coupe) had them refinished to be close to the stock 15" wheels. Performance 15" tires keep getting fewer all the time and selection in last couple yrs has been poor at best.
Maybe time for another set of wheels for high performance summer tires, and change back & forth with the stock 15's when originality is wanted? I have a set of original 16 x 6's (4) from a couple SC's if interested drop me a note.
Good Luck
The race techs at Roger Krause racing tires in Hayward CA laughed at my 205x55 Direzza's pointing out hard tire rating. This was as they were mounting Avon Cr6zz 185 70 R15.
I liked the Dunlops but they sped up my speedometer by 6MPH and I felt the car die at upper speeds as it struggled to keep up with the faster spinner wheel. You do get more jump off the line though, according to the late Cris Huergas.
I recently installed 4 Pirelli CN36s 185/70 X 15 on deep sixes on our 914-6. They work quit well. At first they seemed soft and a bit odd. But after several hundred miles they've firmed up and work quite well.
HI Guys,
Thanks for the thoughts and info. I really do not want to swap to different sized wheels. The only exception to that would be a set of Gas Burners, which I would love for my car as an alternate wheel. My car appears pretty stock from the outside and I want to keep her that way.
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I have 7 new 205/60/15 Firestone Precision Sports if anyone has interest. I was going to use them with some 78/79 custom 6X15 928 spare 10 hole steel wheels. I put Boxster calipers on my car and the steel wheels don't clear.