944 Tyres Wider On Front...

[min1300]

Hope you don't mind, but i've double-posted on Porsche-1.net and here - it's been a while and i didn't realise TIPEC had its own forum now!!!

My 1986 944 Lux is currently running on 215/60/15 rear and 205/60/15 front - as bought.

It's just failed the MOT on rear tyres and I've ordered new 195/65/15's as these are original spec for the 15" teledials - what's good enough for Porsche is good enough for me and all that...

Now, the fronts aren't far off needing replacement either so would it be ok to run wider on the front for a few weeks (i.e. 195/65/15 rear, 205/60/15 front)?


Secondly, has anyone had experience of Goodyear Hydragrips??


cheers

Dom

[tr7v8]

I thought original fit for the 15" wheels is 215/60 x 15, these are a fairly unusual tyre size (my respected tyre dealers words were "I'm damned if I can think of anything that fits that size") however I'm sure you'll be OK on mixed sizes for a few weeks.
As for the Hydragrips don't sound very sporting to me but their is a limited range of decent rubber in 15" sizes these days.
Worth a look on the tyre websites as some of them have tyre tests.

[min1300]

Thanks for the reply.

According to Peter Morgan's 'Original Porsche', the 15" teledials were introduced as standard with 195/65/15s in the 1985.5 upgrade.

Went for the Hydragrips because the car's an everyday 50 mile round trip all-weather commuter! Seems to be pretty good from reviews - we'll see...

The car now sits on 195s all round with Goodyear NCT5 on the front (long story). The handling is quite different though. It may be just while the new rubber beds in, but where it used to go round the corners very reliably (though a bit like treacle) it now feels lighter and more wallowy??

The old tyres were NCT5s and I didn't think the slight reduction in width (with a lower profile by my calculation to boot) would make all that much difference to be honest. I'll see how they/I settle down.

Oh, it's always had that dreaded wheel wobble at 60-75 too. I thought the re-balancing would sort that, but fat chance.

[J.J.]

The balance thing at that speed is not the wheels! Cured it on mine with a bit more fuel. The stock map is lean at that speed. Causing it to feel out of balance. Car now runs super smooth at 70. Only place were the map is right now but thats another story. Injection is a bit primative on the 2.5!

[tr7v8]

Thanks for the reply.

Oh, it's always had that dreaded wheel wobble at 60-75 too. I thought the re-balancing would sort that, but fat chance.

Wheel wobble as distinct from a gentle shimmy sounds more like a knackered bush and/or geometry issue to be honest. It needs a check over especially on the castor bushing at the rear of the wishbones.

[min1300]

Christ - i sound like a right novice!! Pants. More stuff to have looked at then. Still, not going bad for 202k miles though!!!!