Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> Tire Recommendations - '74 914 2.0L
sarivers2001
post Aug 17 2023, 12:40 PM
Post #1


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 56
Joined: 16-August 23
From: California
Member No.: 27,527
Region Association: Northern California
Hi everybody. New to 914 World community.

I just bought a 1974 914 2.0L and the tires are 8 years old. Gotta replace them. Currently has BF Goodrich g-Force Super Sport 195/55 R15's on Fuchs rims.

Two issues I am having: (1) speedometer is clearly overstating the speed by 5-7 MPH, and (2) the ride is quite stiff.

I have read on various posts that the proper tire size is critical to proper speedometer / odometer performance. Moreover, others have commented that a narrower and higher profile tire can provide a somewhat smoother ride.

Was hoping to get some opinions from this group on (a) preferred tire brand / model / size, (b) similar experiences re: speedometer issues vis-a-vis tire model / size, and © similar experiences re: ride vis-a-vis tire model / size.

Any and all other thoughts / recommendations are welcome!!

Many thanks in advance.
Steven
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
scallyk9
post Aug 17 2023, 01:38 PM
Post #2


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 341
Joined: 16-October 16
From: Port Orchard, WA, USA
Member No.: 20,499
Region Association: Pacific Northwest
Welcome to 914world!

You are correct as to the overall diameter of your wheel/tire combination causing both issues. Those 195/55 R15 tires are about an inch or more less overall diameter than the 25" to 25.4" stock OD and the correspondingly shorter sidewalls are contributing to a harsher ride.

Tire Rack and other tire vendors have tire size calculators for comparing various sizes so you can easily compare dimensions to find modern tire sizes that will be closer to stock and a search here can find lots of great information as to brands preferred by members.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
flipb
post Aug 17 2023, 01:49 PM
Post #3


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,771
Joined: 2-September 09
From: Fairfax, VA
Member No.: 10,752
Region Association: MidAtlantic Region
I like the stock look, so I've got a set of Vredesteins in 165/80R15. As far as I can tell, the speedometer is pretty accurate with these.

IMO, stock look works if it's stock ride height (not many are!) and for street use. And they're surprisingly grippy for such a small contact patch.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
930cabman
post Aug 17 2023, 01:50 PM
Post #4


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,779
Joined: 12-November 20
From: Buffalo
Member No.: 24,877
Region Association: North East States
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.png)

My recommendation is generally stock, 155 or 165/15 but what is your goal? Most guys do not like the skinny tires, I have 175/15 Nexem on one of mine and 185/15 Michelin on another one. Ride is good on both, but the speedo is not calibrated correctly. It doesn't bother me

Once again Welcome aboard and post pics if you can
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Geezer914
post Aug 17 2023, 01:53 PM
Post #5


Geezer914
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,796
Joined: 18-March 09
From: Salem, NJ
Member No.: 10,179
Region Association: North East States
Running Firestone Firehawk AS tires 195/60x15. Speedometer is little off, but the handling is great.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sarivers2001
post Aug 17 2023, 02:16 PM
Post #6


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 56
Joined: 16-August 23
From: California
Member No.: 27,527
Region Association: Northern California
To the extent I make modifications, I'm inclined to move the car back closer to stock and toward a somewhat more comfortable ride where possible. Not planning on tracking the car at all, but will probably do rally drives at the like.

I appreciate the feedback and recommendations!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
johnhora
post Aug 17 2023, 02:46 PM
Post #7


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 874
Joined: 7-January 03
From: Derby City KY
Member No.: 107
Region Association: None
When someone ask about tires and handling of the 914...I always like to direct them to this old video on the 914....it talks about the 914 model...but best of all it shows a stock 914 with stock tires and suspension driving...in stock form they are amazing cars...

Check out video timing minute markers at:
12:26 Skid pad
14:01 cornering

Then see some GTs on the Nürburgring at minute 24:17

Then if you have some time just watch the whole video...

Just think you can buy the stock size 165/80R15 Vredesteins and have new radial tires that are better that the original radial tires of 1970s that the stock 914s are running in the video


Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJakSL9J_vw...Rz&index=15
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Porschef
post Aug 17 2023, 03:20 PM
Post #8


How you doin'
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,180
Joined: 7-September 10
From: LawnGuyland
Member No.: 12,152
Region Association: North East States
That turn at 7:00 (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Geezer914
post Aug 17 2023, 03:48 PM
Post #9


Geezer914
***

Group: Members
Posts: 1,796
Joined: 18-March 09
From: Salem, NJ
Member No.: 10,179
Region Association: North East States
Nice video. I added 19mm torsion bars up front with a 3/4 sway bar and 140 lb springs in the rear to cut down the body roll. The ride is firm, not harsh.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sarivers2001
post Aug 17 2023, 04:47 PM
Post #10


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 56
Joined: 16-August 23
From: California
Member No.: 27,527
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(johnhora @ Aug 17 2023, 01:46 PM) *

When someone ask about tires and handling of the 914...I always like to direct them to this old video on the 914....it talks about the 914 model...but best of all it shows a stock 914 with stock tires and suspension driving...in stock form they are amazing cars...

Check out video timing minute markers at:
12:26 Skid pad
14:01 cornering

Then see some GTs on the Nürburgring at minute 24:17

Then if you have some time just watch the whole video...

Just think you can buy the stock size 165/80R15 Vredesteins and have new radial tires that are better that the original radial tires of 1970s that the stock 914s are running in the video


Video here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJakSL9J_vw...Rz&index=15



awesome video, thanks!
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
2 User(s) are reading this topic (2 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 26th December 2024 - 07:15 AM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2024  IPS, Inc.
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...