Tyre size recommendations for 8 and 9 x 15" wheels

stwannabe · Post by **stwannabe** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 9:14 pm

I am looking for some tyre size recommendations for 15" wheels. I've purchased 4 wheels for my ST backdate and managed to source some original 15x8 Fuchs for the front but with genuine 9" wheels out of my reach I have purchased some Braid replicas for the rear.

Use will be primarily road, and it would be nice to fit a set of tyres that look period correct, although not critical. Would love to hear from anyone who can offer any advice sizing and brands. I have looked at the Longstone site and Michelin TB's appear a popular choice albeit I would need to approach the dragons for investment! Wondering if I should have opted for 16" rims??

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Tue Nov 04, 2014 10:31 pm

Michelin TB15s are probably the most 'correct' choice for road use, but as you say are plenty dorrah and they wear out quickly.

Otherwise it's hard to find anything wider than a 225 in a 15, unless you go for off-roader tyres.

Toyo T1Rs in 205 front and 225 rear give a good handling balance and work well on a 3.0 or 3.2 for grip / traction, but I think they only come in 50 profile, so won't look period correct.

stuarts · Post by **stuarts** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:07 am

I have Toyo T1s in a 55 profile, they're great.
It's the 888s I think that only come in 50 profile.

stwannabe · Post by **stwannabe** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:27 pm

Thanks for the information, can you recommend a supplier for the Toyos, I've done a quick Google and there are very few suppliers listing the 15" tyres.

dragonfly · Post by **dragonfly** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:36 pm

When I got a set of T1-Rs a few years ago, Camskill were the cheapest

Sam · Post by **Sam** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:33 pm

E-tyres do them too.

rvzz · Post by **rvzz** » Wed Nov 05, 2014 8:42 pm

DemonTweeks are cheap for Toyos

stwannabe · Post by **stwannabe** » Thu Nov 06, 2014 6:06 pm

Just for clarification, I should be looking at 205s for the 15x8s and 225s for the 15x9s in either a 50 or 55 profile? Having checked the various websites, I can't find anything wider than a 225 (excluding the Michelins) for 15 inch wheels.

amallagh · Post by **amallagh** » Mon Nov 10, 2014 12:20 am

Just my humble opinion but I think -
8s need 215 - 245 width (ideal 225) - as you've said there is a bit of choice choice in 215 or 225/50 size
9s need 235 - 265 width (ideal 245/255)
This applies to the lower profiles like 40-50.
If you go taller profile like 60+ then you can extend the tyre width window on the upper end for a particular tyre size.
If you use too narrow a tyre for the wheel then the tyre wall won't be as effective as part of the suspension.
Here are some lower profile sporty options for the 9s
Toyo R888 235/50R15 on an 8 or a 9 (bit small on a 9)
Avon CR500 245/40R15 on an 9
Avon ZZS 245/40R15 on a 9
Michelin TB15 270/45R15 on 9
For an ultimate period look think about Avon CR6ZZ 245/60R15 on 8s and 275/55r15 on 9s.
or if arch is tight then 225/60R15 on 8s and 245/60R15 on 9s

Couple of other good 225/60 profile tyres for 8s if you like a more period looking 60 profile
A032 - quite pricey but less than CR6ZZs or TBs and high performance
Falken ZE912 - decent every day sport road tyre that won't let you down and unbelievably cheap !

stwannabe · Post by **stwannabe** » Tue Nov 11, 2014 6:50 pm

Cheers Andrew, that's exactly was I was looking for. I can commence my web search for tyres now. A couple of the tyre sources mentioned above have drawn a blank on anything wider than 225, is there a company you can recommend for tyres? Longstone don't list any alternatives to the Michelin TBs which aren't the most economically priced tyres for the fiscally challenged. Thanks again

billy964 · Post by **billy964** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 7:50 am

had the same problem myself and in the end settled on avon rubber 215/60/15 245/60/15

rears should have been 235 to be correct on the 9's but this is as close as i could get in a matching set

ignore the rally look! engine and box are in now

factory widebody 2.7 carrera ('75)

speedmat · Post by **speedmat** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:30 pm

245/60/15 Avon cr6zz look too tall for rear tyres on a 911 - however Avon now makes 225/60-15 which look just perfect on 9inch wide wheels (keeping the 215/60-15 on 8" fuchs in the front).
Mathieu

speedmat · Post by **speedmat** » Thu Jan 01, 2015 9:35 pm

So the Avon cr6ZZ combo 215/60-15 front and 225/60-15 rear would make a great period correct style choice.
For a sportier appearance, Toyo 888 in 215/50-15 front and 235/50-15 rear are very good pick too. That is what I have on my 930 at the moment with 8&9/15 fuchs wheel.

Uk911 · Post by **Uk911** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 4:53 pm

Stwannabe, have a look on camskill web site both track day and car tyres sections in 15inch, huge range Even unto 345/35 x 15, please post a pic of your set up once your sorted, I'm trying to choose my wheel sizes and can't decide on 7 or 8 frt and 8 or 9 rears.......Mark..

Uk911 · Post by **Uk911** » Fri Jan 02, 2015 5:50 pm

Just a quick look on longstone tyres shows Michelin tbs as 18/60x15 (215/55x15) with overall dia as 612mm for a 6-7.5 rim
And 23/62x15 (270/45) dia 625mm for a 8-10 rim
Just love tyres mix of imp and metric but it adds to the fun so 15 inch rim is 367mm therefore
Frts 612-367=245 for both top/btm side wall so sidewalk is 122.5mm frt
And rear 625-367=258 for both so 129mm.

So now you can choose a tyre like 205/60x15 which means that the sidewalk is 60% of width so 205 x 0.6 = 123mm pretty dam close to sidewall height of tb
Hope this helps a bit.....Mark

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