Wheels and Tires, Let's get this discussion centralized Options

[Tom_T]

Tom I ended up with the Conti procontacts 195 65 H 15s. What I noticed was, the Vre.'s. were narrower than my original spare, which is also a Conti. I did notice a difference in pick from the 195 60's to the 195 65. Well at the spedo is correct now.
Couple of my buddies with British sports cars have the Vre's. They said they love them. And after seeing them on their cars, that would be my choice over the Contis. Hindsight is always 20-20. I didn't like they way they looked when I seen them in the rack, but being mounted, does them justice. Priceing is so close, can't go wrong if you elect to get them.

Tod - the Vred's tread pattern & width do seem to be patterned after the Coopers & other British "tyres" of the 1960's & `70's, as opposed to the OE Conti's, Michelin's & Dunlop SP57's of the same 165HR15 size back then. So they may have slightly less section width & resultant slightly smaller contact patch than a far more expensive & tubed Mich XAS - but not enough to worry about.

The Vred's tread pattern is very similar to my current c.1983 Kleber 165SR15 which I posted before on this thread - as the 914 holds down the blocks in my garage, so they'd probably handle pretty good too.

However, I wouldn't worry too much about the 20:20 thing on the Conti Procontact 195/65HR15s - particularly with the CW answer that you got & the fact that they will have a significantly larger contact patch than the OE 165s with only a nominal 1.6% speedo/odometer error!

It's only 0.8% error if you were to ever find reasonably priced 185/75HR15 (or VR), but I'm not paying $450+ each for Michelin's XWX VRs!!!! ...but that size was offered 'back in the day' by Porsche as part of the M471 Option package listed here: http://members.rennlist.com/914_collectibles/OpEq.htm

So either way you won't have the over mileage odometer problem you had with your other 914 running 195/60s or whatever they were. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Those Conti's are supposed to be excellent tires & the CWs & Judges apparently won't grade you down for them either! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Plus - I'll bet that those 195/65HR15 Conti Pro's are Pat Garvey's secret tires he's not telling anyone about! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

Tom I ended up with the Conti procontacts 195 65 H 15s. What I noticed was, the Vre.'s. were narrower than my original spare, which is also a Conti. I did notice a difference in pick from the 195 60's to the 195 65. Well at the spedo is correct now.
Couple of my buddies with British sports cars have the Vre's. They said they love them. And after seeing them on their cars, that would be my choice over the Contis. Hindsight is always 20-20. I didn't like they way they looked when I seen them in the rack, but being mounted, does them justice. Priceing is so close, can't go wrong if you elect to get them.

Tod - the Vred's tread pattern & width do seem to be patterned after the Coopers & other British "tyres" of the 1960's & `70's, as opposed to the OE Conti's, Michelin's & Dunlop SP57's of the same 165HR15 size back then. So they may have slightly less section width & resultant slightly smaller contact patch than a far more expensive & tubed Mich XAS - but not enough to worry about.

The Vred's tread pattern is very similar to my current c.1983 Kleber 165SR15 which I posted before on this thread - as the 914 holds down the blocks in my garage, so they'd probably handle pretty good too.

However, I wouldn't worry too much about the 20:20 thing on the Conti Procontact 195/65HR15s - particularly with the CW answer that you got & the fact that they will have a significantly larger contact patch than the OE 165s with only a nominal 1.6% speedo/odometer error!

It's only 0.8% error if you were to ever find reasonably priced 185/75HR15 (or VR), but I'm not paying $450+ each for Michelin's XWX VRs!!!! ...but that size was offered 'back in the day' by Porsche as part of the M471 Option package listed here: http://members.rennlist.com/914_collectibles/OpEq.htm

So either way you won't have the over mileage odometer problem you had with your other 914 running 195/60s or whatever they were. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Those Conti's are supposed to be excellent tires & the CWs & Judges apparently won't grade you down for them either! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Plus - I'll bet that those 195/65HR15 Conti Pro's are Pat Garvey's secret tires he's not telling anyone about! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Umm, no. Too many negative reviews. Decision still up in the air, but have other "fish to fry" right now. You may all be surprised.
Pat

[Tom_T]

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[Pat Garvey]

Plus - I'll bet that those 195/65HR15 Conti Pro's are Pat Garvey's secret tires he's not telling anyone about! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Umm, no. Too many negative reviews. Decision still up in the air, but have other "fish to fry" right now. You may all be surprised.
Pat

Geez Pat - Tod & I keep trying to egg it out of you, but you refuse to spill the beans!
He's just going to keep us all in suspenders! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

So....what kinda fish ya frying? ...fresh Trout? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/chowtime.gif)

Tire fish? When the 914 hits pavement this fall, you'll know.

Other "fish"....a problem with my 95 year old mother, which seems to have settled down for now.

Other "fish 2" - stay tuned. Could get interesting!
Pat

[Tom_T]

FYI - RE: Semperit Tires being delivered on 914s & Porsches, as quoted on the pages noted from the period auto magazine articles contained within:
"PORSCHE 914 - Ultimate Portfolio", compiled by R.M. Clarke, publ. Brooklands Books Ltd., P.O. Box 146, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1LG. UK, ISBN 1-85520-4320
- available thru B&N.com, Borders.com, Amazon.com, etc.

BTW - Great Reference! - this is an excellent compilation of many/most of the 914 related magazine articles from the era 1969-1976, as well as some post-era look-back reviews - all compiled within one softback volume. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It sure beats buying used magazines to get each one! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Quotes from the above as noted:

"This is a 911T in its normal habitat. Porsche uses little known (in the U.S.) but very excellent Semperit radial tires as standard equipment." - emphasis added
- Photo caption on bottom left, at pp. 111, from: "Porsche" article, "Road Test" magazine, Jan. 1971 (starts on pp. 110)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ...and to quell the next anticipated argument against there being any Semperit tires on US sold 914s....

"...The distributor had shown mercy on the test car with a set of wider , 5.5-inch chrome-plated wheels and larger 165 HR 15 Semperit radial tires...." - emphasis added
- Within second paragraph from end of article at pp.73, from: "Porsche 914 Road Test" article, "Road & Track" magazine, July 1970 (starts on pp. 69)

I rest my case - Semperit tires were both used by the factory on all Porsches in the model range during the 1970's, as well as being available here in the USA from the distributors.

Additionally, the changeover to self-centering "hub-centric" front hubs in the 1973 MY initial months, resulted in the BH (Mahle & Pedrini Alloys) & BO (Fuchs 2L Alloys) Factory Recalls, wherein the factory via the distributors supplied the dealers with replacement sets of wheels & tires with the appropriate hub-centric inset machined into the back of the alloy wheels.

Ergo, Semperit tires such as the 165HR15 on my spare in the pic in an earlier post here, was in fact the OE tire for my early 1973 914-2.0 originally sold in CA on 11/9/72 & built in September 1972 - on the new for 73 MY 914 hub-centric "Mag-look" steelie" probably due to dealer theft of the Fuchs spare! And they probably were on some other USA 914s along the way too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)



These were great handling tires which lasted 40,000 under most driving conditions - even a hard driving 914 or 911, as compared to the far more expensive soft-rubber Dunlop SP57s getting chewed up within 20,000 miles under even easy driving! The road tire tests of the day upheld this fact, with Semperits regularly performing as well or better than the pricier & oft touted Michelins, Continentals, Pirellis & Dunlops, etc., as well as against the USA domestic brands!

Too bad Semperit doesn't export great tires to the USA anymore, although they do still sell them in Euro-Land.

Any Euro-Teeners still using Semperits?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
...if so, how are they?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

FYI - RE: Semperit Tires being delivered on 914s & Porsches, as quoted on the pages noted from the period auto magazine articles contained within:
"PORSCHE 914 - Ultimate Portfolio", compiled by R.M. Clarke, publ. Brooklands Books Ltd., P.O. Box 146, Cobham, Surrey, KT11 1LG. UK, ISBN 1-85520-4320
- available thru B&N.com, Borders.com, Amazon.com, etc.

BTW - Great Reference! - this is an excellent compilation of many/most of the 914 related magazine articles from the era 1969-1976, as well as some post-era look-back reviews - all compiled within one softback volume. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It sure beats buying used magazines to get each one! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/dry.gif)

Quotes from the above as noted:

"This is a 911T in its normal habitat. Porsche uses little known (in the U.S.) but very excellent Semperit radial tires as standard equipment." - emphasis added
- Photo caption on bottom left, at pp. 111, from: "Porsche" article, "Road Test" magazine, Jan. 1971 (starts on pp. 110)

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) ...and to quell the next anticipated argument against there being any Semperit tires on US sold 914s....

"...The distributor had shown mercy on the test car with a set of wider , 5.5-inch chrome-plated wheels and larger 165 HR 15 Semperit radial tires...." - emphasis added
- Within second paragraph from end of article at pp.73, from: "Porsche 914 Road Test" article, "Road & Track" magazine, July 1970 (starts on pp. 69)

I rest my case - Semperit tires were both used by the factory on all Porsches in the model range during the 1970's, as well as being available here in the USA from the distributors.

Additionally, the changeover to self-centering "hub-centric" front hubs in the 1973 MY initial months, resulted in the BH (Mahle & Pedrini Alloys) & BO (Fuchs 2L Alloys) Factory Recalls, wherein the factory via the distributors supplied the dealers with replacement sets of wheels & tires with the appropriate hub-centric inset machined into the back of the alloy wheels.

Ergo, Semperit tires such as the 165HR15 on my spare in the pic in an earlier post here, was in fact the OE tire for my early 1973 914-2.0 originally sold in CA on 11/9/72 & built in September 1972 - on the new for 73 MY 914 hub-centric "Mag-look" steelie" probably due to dealer theft of the Fuchs spare! And they probably were on some other USA 914s along the way too! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)



These were great handling tires which lasted 40,000 under most driving conditions - even a hard driving 914 or 911, as compared to the far more expensive soft-rubber Dunlop SP57s getting chewed up within 20,000 miles under even easy driving! The road tire tests of the day upheld this fact, with Semperits regularly performing as well or better than the pricier & oft touted Michelins, Continentals, Pirellis & Dunlops, etc., as well as against the USA domestic brands!

Too bad Semperit doesn't export great tires to the USA anymore, although they do still sell them in Euro-Land.

Any Euro-Teeners still using Semperits?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving-girl.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)
...if so, how are they?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Umm, don't think I'd rely on that spare after these many years. Still have my original Conti spare for my 72, which looks great & hold air under no stress, but I'd never put it on the road.

Sorry, never used Semperits. Went from Conti to Pirelli CN36's, which is another story.
Pat

[Tom_T]

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[jcb29]

I’m in the process of revitalizing my ’75 2.0 that has been sitting in my garage since the ‘80s (no time or money). The PO painted (and I use the term loosely) the stock steel wheels WHITE. Vintage photos indicate those wheels should be GREY.
My question – what is the correct GREY color?

[Porsche Rescue]

Best choice is Wurth metallic silver wheel paint topped with their clear. Expensive, but closest to original finish. Comes in spray cans from various online sources.

[Tom_T]

I’m in the process of revitalizing my ’75 2.0 that has been sitting in my garage since the ‘80s (no time or money). The PO painted (and I use the term loosely) the stock steel wheels WHITE. Vintage photos indicate those wheels should be GREY.
My question – what is the correct GREY color?

You'll need to be more specific about the type of wheels that you're talking about, & maybe post pix of them for folks on here to see what you're dealing with DAPO-wise!

Pedrini & Mahle 4 lug Alloys were painted silver, Fuchs 2 Liter Alloys were polished with satin background anodized & the steelies were either Silver or black or a color depending upon year & model/engine of 914 & optional equipment. The grey you saw in old pix may have just been silver? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

A 75 2.0 could've had any of the above wheels originally (steel "star" mag-style would've been silver), but we don't know which wheels you're talking about yet! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Porsche Rescue]

He wrote "stock steel" Tom. On a '75 they would have been these.

Wurth silver.

[jcb29]

Thanks for the clarification on the wheel color. I did a double take when I saw the picture of the Scarlet Red car pop up. That's probably exactly the way mine would have looked from the factory.

Thanks again.

[Porsche Rescue]

The red car has chrome trim rings added. Not stock, but a look I like on the steel wheels. Your wheels came with black plastic lug bolt head covers, in case they are no longer present.

[Tom_T]

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[jcb29]

Yes, I noticed the chrome trim rings. Mine do not have the rings, however, all the black plastic lug bolt caps are still present and accounted for. Bought some 4 bolt Fuch's to put on anyway.

[Tom_T]

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[Tom_T]

Yes, I noticed the chrome trim rings. Mine do not have the rings, however, all the black plastic lug bolt caps are still present and accounted for. Bought some 4 bolt Fuch's to put on anyway.

If you need those Fuchs 2L's restored, Weideman Wheels in Oroville CA & Al Reed Polishing in Anaheim CA do outstanding work & both come highly recommended here. They can fix any rash, repolish the petals & rims, satin background & re-anodize them back to the OE finish for you. At 10 lbs. each they're not too heavy to ship, but may be cheaper as singles or double from TX.

BTW - the OE silver cad/zinc plated lug bolts for those may still be available from Porsche at about $17 each. Otherwise, repro chrome ones are also available - but check that they're the proper thread lag/space at the top & acorn shape to fir the inset in the wheel - one vendor on TheSamba in San Antonio does what appear to be the proper fitment repros (near you maybe). But the center caps are NLA, so there are some NOS that come up at the usual online places, plus repros at AA or billet aluminum repors from several sources at TheSamba, etc.

Good Luck with those too ~ you'll like the look! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

Not my intention here to do anything but ask a question. I am not too familiar with the "starburst" steelies, so I wonder if the factory used a clearcoat over the silver. Just asking, because I had my 72 steelies redone years ago in Wurth silve & clearcoat & they've held up well. Not original, but I like them, and they don't oxidize. Just curious.
Pat

[Tom_T]

Not my intention here to do anything but ask a question. I am not too familiar with the "starburst" steelies, so I wonder if the factory used a clearcoat over the silver. Just asking, because I had my 72 steelies redone years ago in Wurth silve & clearcoat & they've held up well. Not original, but I like them, and they don't oxidize. Just curious.
Pat

I'm not sure Pat, but I kinda doubt that they used a clear coat on the wheels. Back then all of the non-metallic body colors were color coats only, with only the 3=step metallics having a clear coat. That said, what you & the others have done to clear coat makes sense, since it protects the silver (or other color) paint from the acidic brake dust, road salts, etc.

Does anyone know if the silver painted Mahles & Pedrinis were originally clear-coated back in the day from the factory? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

... another just curious!? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[Porsche Rescue]

My guess is that clear was not used in the day. Not really essential now either, especially if the car is not going to see hard use. I used it on the sets I have done because it was so much work to prep the wheels that I wanted to protect my work.