What's your vote for the best tires to use on a 912? 

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From: Carl Thaemlitz;  I have no regrets for going to the 50 series 195 tires on my 1967 912. The handling is unbelievable. However, if you plan to drive at high speeds on the freeway and you're worried about high rpms, be aware that compared to  stock tires, you have to multiply your speedometer reading by 1.19 to know  how fast you're going. Still, If you're running around town, the handling can't be beat, nor the price of the tires. I paid less than $300, mounted and balanced, at a Goodyear dealership. And, everyone notices the change in looks of the car.

From: T.P. Stephens;  For street use I like Michelin. I've seen so many that rot out the sidewalls from age long before the tread is gone that the cost per mile is just wonderful, at least on a 2000 lb chassis. Same reason I am glad to pay twice as much for Bilstein shocks that last three times as long as anything else at half the price. Applied science via simple mathematics.

From: Carl Thaemlitz;  I have just installed a set of 15 inch Goodyear 195 GT II 50 series on my 1967 192. They work great with the stock rims and a set of custom chrome universal mag spacers. I have the same clearance between the front shocks and rear swing arms as I did with a set of Pirrelli 70 series 175s. The universal wheel spacers I used were
7/32 inch thick. That meant that I could use my stock lug bolts without any problem. Carl Thaemlitz.

From: Jeanette Ahlgren; Not sure that I care to "share" with the others' the tires that are on Nemo right now as they are tires for angry driving... and they reward you for all your nastiness with removing the paint from your 912's rockers and quarter panels. They ARE sticky, and are good in the rain.... HOWEVER the life expectancy is "VERY SHORT"... Tread rating of 30 as opposed to 200-30....  ....these are RE 71 R's... (non-shaved).They're fun, they don't last, they destroy your paint....(you get sensational times out on the auto X course!) ... what a recommendation! Jeanette Ahlgren

From: Peter Baldauf; My vote may be a little conservative, however, I have had very good luck with these tires. For the street I use a set of Sumitomo HTR 100s on Fuchs 5.5 X 14 at $42 a tire you absolutely cannot beat these things / For the track BFG R1s are my choice. Believe it or not I actually auto-xed these tires, in despiration, and was only 2.5 seconds off the race rubber time.

From: Greg Navarro;  Gratzia....Good question I need tires.....Greg

From: Larry; I have 15 in wheels on my 912 and I have Sumitomo P 195 60 R 15 .....HTR 4..they are a good looking tire , and they are high speed rated.........Larry

From: NANEA2;  tire vote is for bridgestones. currently 165/15 potenza mounted on my 69-912.

From: MPrice; Its wonderful to know that there are other 912 lovers out there. Since I was a teen in the sixties begging my parents to let me have a 912 ( I wound up with an 1970 SS350 Camaro as my true first car in college) and my father thought I was nuts, I never gave up. Admittedly my 912E is the slowest of the 911 bodies, it still doesn't matter since it covers ground so consistantly quick that acceleration becomes secondary to handling. I just put a set of BFG Touring TA VR 55 tires on my car and for the money they can't be beat. These tires stick well, are quiet and have an excellent tread wear life. I'll vouch for them anytime.

From: Driver912; I have 4.5 inch Fuchs on my 66. It came with Michelin XZX's that I need to replace. Having 4.5's limits my choice to 165's. Although some folks have run 185's on 4.5's, the tire store people I talked to do not recommend it. In 165s, I have found Dunlop SP-20s, Firestone F560, Kelly Metrics, Cooper Sportmaster GLT and Hercules Signet. Not much information on any of these tires. One tire store salesperson described all of these including the Michelins as "round, made of rubber and have a hole in the middle". If anyone knows if any of these "skinny tires" is maginally better than the others, I would appreciate any input.

From: Robert Burn; I have used Pirelli P3s for years on my original mag wheels. I must confess that I have not looked for alternatives. If it isn't broken, don't fix it.  Happy Thanksgiving.

From: jack frost; Best 912 tires- Yokohama 205/60 A008R, There are NO good street tires I know of. The old Michelan X would be acceptable but I can't find any.

From: mackros; The best tyres, I think 16" chrome fuch alloy, full polished.

From: TH; I use whatever I can find in my size. It's getting kind of hard to be picky. I'll bee interested to see if others are able to find Pirelli's or Mich's from a regular dealer.
TH (aka lhamilto@hti.net)

From: Giolli, Florio; Tires, I love my Michelin PILOTS. Work great on the track as well as on the street. Florio

From: Alexander Wachter; i, Rick!  Its winter-time in Germany and I was asked from my collegue if I already have winter-tyres at my car... I have, because I have only these tyres came with the car! The format is 165/15 and M&S. M and S stands for "Matsch" and "Schnee".  "Matsch" is Snow close to melting point and "Schnee" is the name for Snow in Germany.  The limitation on these tyres is a maximum speed of 100 MpH no problem for me, because I did not more drive faster than 90 miles with that engine in the past.  End of the story is - I avoid driving my 912 at Winter-Time, because there is some salt which causes terrible rust at my loved car called "Barney". But, I will go out one winter day for a photo shooting with my car - to send for Rick´s faboulus 912 page because I havent seen a 912 at snow conditions at this page.
Alex
P.S. - Any backlight-chassis known for a reasonable pricing?

From: William Dickson; My 912 is completly stock with 165 / 15 tires, michies ZX ok for a long trip, on the freeway . When the ZX's are done and I hope that will be soon, I'm looking at the Bridgestone POTENZA ,THE 205 will fit on to the 6x15 wheel anyone have an experiance with this tire? Or the NITTO NT555 ? VERYSTOCK VERYCHERRY 912!!

From: MEIN12; Happy anniversary. My choice for best tire on my 912 was the Yokohama A008RS.  This was by far the best performing tire, on and off track, that I have ever used. Unfortunately, Yokohams had other plans and discontinued a truly wonderful design. ----- mein12@aol.com

From: DAVID LOVATO;  Hi 912-er's, I'm particularly interested to know not only the make and size of tyres that are recommended for daily driving, but also the make, size and performance of foul-weather tyres for the 912 and 912E. In my case, I'm looking to mount some mud/snow and ice tyres on a set of 5.5 J 15" steel wheels to use as a winter substitute for the 16x6's with Pirelli P-7 205-55-ZR 16's that I normally ride. I'm expecting to hear that 185-60-15 is about as wide/low profile as I can get on the steel wheels.  The original tyres on the 912E with stock steel wheels (not that unusual when the car was new) were er...I'm embarrassed... 165's?!! (Reminds me of my beetle with Michelin X's !!)

Now approaching 82K on '76 912E #9126000496 and planning an early '99 road rage to Arizona (Wa-hoo!). Beckers Rule- and happy birthday on the Registry. A super informative and helpful place- I often browse just for the pleasure of it !!

R/Dave Lovato Memphis, TN

From: Dean S. Klein;  No real preference as I'm still running the Pirelli that came on the 912 when I bought it...they're good in rain and stick well enough...Dean

From: Adam and Jennifer Reed; After many years and trying everything I could get my hands on, I now run 185-65 R15 Toyo Proxes H4s, sold here in Oregon by Les Schwab (big local chain) as a performance tire. I've run 185-70 in the past, but they have become scarce. Wheels are standard steel 5.5 inchers. The 185-65 tires work well if you put a single fender washer under each stud on the fronts.  Rears clear fine, but the fronts tend to rub the shock towers when cornering and make the steering heavy (!!) I have a full early 911S suspension setup (rear sway and larger front sway) and Konis, and have lowered my 66, and these fat tires really make it stick. Not much else is this much fun for so cheap!

From: David Curtis/Carol Springer; Howdy, Congrats on the anniversary!! I really like the Yokohama A-509 tires I have on 6" Fuchs alloys. My '69 Targa had Michelin xzx when I got it. These worked well on the 356's I've owned but the Yokos seem ideal on the 912. Thanks for your registry efforts, D. Curtis

From: Warren J Flearl;  Hello fellow 912ers. I have spent a considerable amount of time researching the proper tires for my 76 912E and can report the following.  My car is equipped with the optional 14" Fuchs alloys. The original tires were 185SR14. The only tires now available in the original size that fit the car without some speedometer accuracy problems is the Michelin RainForce MX4 series in a 185TR14 size. My car came with brand new Aquatread clones size 205- 60/14 and drives like a pig on the steamroller tires.The car should feel light and lively but feels heavy with the wide tires. The closest size that mimics the height of the original tires was a 195-70/14 or a 205-70/14 but stated another way,the original 185SR14 tires were between a 78 to 82 aspect ratio. My car with the steamroller tires also has major speedometer error which is a bad thing in a Porsche.Before you purchase some steamroller tires for yourself be aware that the 912E was sprung more softly than the 911 and even used different brake pad material than the 911 (source R&T Jan 76) so you are defeating the factory intent of the suspension tuning which was more biased towards a smoother ride than a 911. Anyone with further info on this feel free to write and we will discuss. I have the original road test from R&T and often refer to it as reference for technical info. Warren Flearl 76 912E #1905 Enjoy!

From: the Hunters; Congratulations on the 1st anniversay!!!  As for tires, when I purchased my present 912 some 10 years ago, the car was in poor shape, but the owner had just purchased new replicate alloys with new Pirelli P-8 185/65 tires. After the car was restopred I used these. I believe that they were the close to the original tire.  These tires are no longer available After they wore out, I put on Goodyear 195/60. I like these very much. The car is used for driver's education and as a daily driver in nice weather.
Steve Hunter

From: brian reynolds; Dear Rick, 912 registry is still the best web site . great job!!!!!. had a pair of swedish tires when i first bought my car. gilslava or something like that. don"t really know the difference, roads are so bad might be better off with tank tracks. brian

From: Chris Otto; Rick...congrats on year 1! Even tho (sniff/sob/boohoo) I sold my 912; only listed it in one place (912 site), got one call...goodbye,sniff.  Well anyway, best rubber was Yokohoma A008R....talk about "glued to the road"..wow, and instant steering response, but if the streets were wet: nope. Course didn't intentionally drive her in the rain anyhow. Finally ended up with Yoko AVS, very good, but not on a par with the 008Rs...but I was concerned about the forces that were going into the chassis: the AVS generated far more loading than any street tire could back in 1968.  Now have a '89 Toyota MR2, rather, uh..less than beautiful, but entertaining to drive. Put a set of Dunlop D60A2s (all season) on Borbet H alloys-orginally on two of my Civics-through my favorite (rough) nearby double S came out of the last right hander at 7000rpm/ 82mph, which was 1 mph slower than I'd ever done it in the 912...suprised me. However, with those tires that extra 1mph mighta been 1 too far!!!   Just replaced the stock alloys and Michelin "rim protectors" on my "98 Accord V6 coupe: put on TR Typhoon (16x7) with Dunlop SP4000a/s...really has changed the car, for the good. No snow yet, so have to see how good they are, but on a dry street steering response has gone from "I'm thinking about it" to NOW...love it, even tho the "cushy" ride is gone!! best wishes with the 912 site. Dennis F. Otto

From: Tom Sutan; Yokahama AVS Intermediate work best for me.  Tom Sutan 66 912

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