Tyres for a 911 3.2?

Anan1

Not sure whether to post this here or in classics, but sure here goes! I need to get a set of tyres for a 1986 911 3.2 cabrio, 205/55 16" at the front and 225/50 16" at the back. The car doesn't get driven that far, so a soft compound would be fine. As you might guess, wet-weather grip is a priority! Any ideas?

ronanc15

Are you looking for a source for where to buy the tyres, or suggestions on what to buy?

Or both?

Ferris

Goodyear F1's can be had cheaply, are pretty sticky and are great in the wet (which I guess is the most important factor for a 911:o).

Vredestein's seem to be quite popular with the m3 boys tho.

ronanc15

225 50 16s in vredestein about 100 a pop, they'd be very good tyres, as would the goodyears in the same price range or toyo t1rs for about 80 a pop

Anan1

I was looking more for advice as to what tyre. After a bit of homework, I settled on a set of Pirelli P Zero Direzionale, apparently tyres for a Porsche have to have a specific 'N' rating on them. Sorry for being so impatient, i'll let you all know if I catapult backwards through a hedge.;)

B00MSTICK

I second the F1's

Mr.David

Have you checked the P-zero's wet weather performance? From what I know they are great in the dry but not so great in the wet (they were on a certain car I was involved with which had to be issued with a disclaimer about wet weather traction!)

Anan1

Mr.David wrote: »

Have you checked the P-zero's wet weather performance? From what I know they are great in the dry but not so great in the wet (they were on a certain car I was involved with which had to be issued with a disclaimer about wet weather traction!)

From what i've read, the P Zero asymmetric sacrifices wet-weather performance in favour of high-speed/track use, whereas the directional is good in the wet?

Mr.David

It was indeed the assymetric in question - sorry about that!

Anan1

That's the thing about making snap decisions - it leaves me vulnerable to the idea that i've missed something important!

maidhc

Northway Porsche in Reading only fit P-zeros. That might help ease your mind!

unkel

Pirelli recommend the P Zero Nero (and not the P Zero System you are referring to) for both your car and my 928 as the choice for ultra high performance. These are asymmetric.

Pirelli wrote:

Drivers' needs and expectations are becoming more sophisticated, especially at the top end of the car market. Increasingly, fast trackers, the primary target for Pirelli, require ultra-low profile tyres with larger diameter wheels as well as higher tyre load capacity.
PZero Nero's maxim is "works harder, plays harder", derived from the tyre's major characteristics:
Driving Force
The Extra Load capacity assists in maintaining the performance of both sports saloons with full equipment options and increasingly heavy and powerful tuned cars. New technology ensures a higher load carrying capacity without compromising driving comfort
Driving Enjoyment
The comprehensive specification extends the limits of driving pleasure. No compromise in dry and wet handling and, in conjunction with powerful ABS braking, significantly reduced stopping distances. These features not only make the PZero Nero the ideal choice for tyre/wheel conversions but add a new dimension to the car that reflects the drivers individuality.
Tread pattern
Asymmetric Ultra High Performance tread design with optimised pitch and variable angle grooves for acoustic comfort and to minimise aquaplaning
Self supporting Run Flat version available soon.

Anan1

I rang my tyre fitter back, and he said the car needed P Zero directional/asymmetric, with the 'N' stamp. I then rang Pirelli in the UK, and they told me that my car should have P Zero directional at the front and asymmetric at the rear. Hopefully they both mean the same thing, sure I suppose i'll find out when the tyres arrive. Thanks to all for the advice so far.

Anan1

Quick update - went down today to get the tyres fitted, sure enough they're directional at the front and asymmetric at the rear. Got a call 15 minutes later to tell me that one of the nuts had sheared off - apparently Porsche in their wisdom decided to make the nuts out of magnesium. €100 for a new set of aluminium ones from the UK (which are apparently much stronger) plus whatever I get charged by my mechanic for drilling the collar of the sheared one off. You wouldn't believe how light the originals were, though!

unkel

I remember some interesting experiments we did with magnesium in chemistry classes in high school

Anan1

unkel wrote: »

I remember some interesting experiments we did with magnesium in chemistry classes in high school

Was thinking the same thing myself - didn't Mercedes once build a racing car out of magnesium that, when crashed, went off pretty much like a flash bulb?