CN36 opinions ? I'm super disappointed...

[LongRanger]

. . . Were 185/7015 Pirelli cinturato CN36 ever fitted by the factory to 911TES on 6 inch rims all round during the long hood era? . . . Not aware of them being used by factory on TES before end of 73 . . .

I believe so

CN36 is said to 've 1st come out circa 1969 . . .

'. . . Towards the end of 1968 the new tyre technology was low profile tyres. Pirelli were hot on the tail with their new CN36 which came out in 1969. The CN36 had a striking tread pattern and was a favourite for the likes of the Porsche 911, Ford Escort & Ford Cortina . . .'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirelli_Cinturato


Also, 'Pirelli' shows-up on my Kardex --- car was built in Dec '69


Not sure what all the various types of Pirellis were available, back then, but I would guess that the latest/greatest/etc would find their way onto a 'Faktory-use' car . . .

. . . like the CN36?



.

[Cliff]

Just installed new set of Michelins XZX-165`s on my 912..steel 5.5`s......real nice ride and handling and steering ease! Got these 5, from Summit Auto Parts, Carson City ,NV, next day delivery.... Had a Set of Cn36,165`s on 5.5 alloys, they were just old & also, a set of Vredsteins 165`s on 4.5 alloys, some improvement, but they were old tires too...For my purposes, new tires were the difference!

[911MRP]

I believe so

CN36 is said to 've 1st come out circa 1969 . . .

'. . . Towards the end of 1968 the new tyre technology was low profile tyres. Pirelli were hot on the tail with their new CN36 which came out in 1969. The CN36 had a striking tread pattern and was a favourite for the likes of the Porsche 911, Ford Escort & Ford Cortina . . .'

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pirelli_Cinturato


Also, 'Pirelli' shows-up on my Kardex --- car was built in Dec '69


Not sure what all the various types of Pirellis were available, back then, but I would guess that the latest/greatest/etc would find their way onto a 'Faktory-use' car . . .

. . . like the CN36?



.

Be interesting to see if the cn36 guess is confirmed ... ESR has reach to find actual written reference from Porsche to that being the type of Pirelli the factory fitted. Knowing original spec is important. Particularly if people are basing current ( expensive) decisions on the nearest assumed modern equivalent available tyre to a presumed factory original.

It is for certain cn36 referenced specifically on RS specification and was only tyre for model until Dunlop eventually brought one to market. Not sure I’ve ever seen cn36 specifically on TES spec etc ( rather than pirelli referenced generaliy) but Very interested to see what emerges.

Steve

[LongRanger]

From looking at their web-site, Pirelli seem to've had two high-performance tire options available in 1969 . . .

. . . CN72 . . .

'. . . biggest tyre that was capable of maintaining the high speeds that the supercars of the day were capable of reaching . . . . speed code HR (up to 210 Kmh) and then VR (up to 240 Kmh). The new versions of the CINTURATO H and HS (High Speed) were characterized by the new tread pattern CN72 which allowed for a silent and comfortable ride . . .'

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/collection


. . . and CN36 . . .

'. . . At the end of the 60’s, after many years of study and experimentation, a new technological era started: the use of the steel belt on high performance tyres of HR and VR series (for speeds up to 210 km/h and more). In 1968 the CINTURATO CN36 was born, specifically created for the Fiat Dino sized 185 HR 14. Designed to match the performance of High Performance and “Gran Turismo” cars, it was the first Pirelli steel radial tyre of standard production. It also marked the Pirelli re-entry into competitions (Rallies) and registered countless victories . . .'

https://www.pirelli.com/tyres/en-ww/car/collection



CN72 seems to've been focused on '. . . silent and comfortable ride . . .'

While CN36 emphasizes '. . . the performance of High Performance and “Gran Turismo” cars . . .' and mentions '. . . competitions (Rallies) and registered countless victories . . .' CN36 is also Pirelli's 1st production steel-belted radial --- at that time, a feature specifically marketed for safety + durability




So. Given those two choices, which tire would you choose for your Porsche?


Which one would a Faktory Racer 've chosen for his?




...

[raspritz]

I have them on my ‘69. No complaints. They are black rubber, they roll, and they get me from point A to point B. Near as I can tell, they are tires, pretty much as billed.

[Darren65]

I think the CN36 is truly awesome, below is a post I wrote on DDK when I first tried them back in June 2018 and my opinion hasn't changed in the two years since.....

I am in shock!

When MOTing my 2.4E the tester said my front tyres are borderline advisory so with the trip to CLM coming up I decided to invest in a set of CN36's.....fitted these yesterday and decided to take the car out for a 'quick' spin.....

.....suffice to say I cannot believe the difference a tyre could make to the handling of my car, truly staggering!!!

To be fair to the comparison my old XWX's were well worn at the front on the outer edges and had done nearly 18,000 miles, they were also dated 2011 and fitted a couple of years before the car went on the road.

Heading out on some dual carriageway to get the tyres warm my initial impression was the steering felt a fair bit lighter and noticably so around a few roundabouts as I headed for a stretch of road leading from Latton to Kempsford, a twisty B-road with some great bends but with a terrible bouncy surface in places. Previously I felt I was fighting the car in tight turns with the old XWX's but now it's far smoother. Taking it steady to start the car felt great on the road, so good in fact I turned around and drove the road again pushing a bit harder. By the third run I was really pushing and was amazed at how much of a difference the tyres could make soaking up the poor surface and revelling at being pushed hard into the turns as I took the long way around the bends to accentuate the curves. My fourth run up the road was bonkers, the steering wheel felt like silk in my hands and I was laughing as I drove, the tyres taking way more than I thought I could throw at them giving a satisfying squeal as I went from bend to bend.

Only a planned night out dragged me home, my wife thinking I'm nuts waxing lyrical about a set of tyres!........it was more than tyres to me, it felt like having a new toy!

The XWX is a great tyre but from my initial impression I think the CN36 is a whole different level if you enjoy driving enthusiastically.......highly recommended!



Cheers,

[skl]

Will be watching this thread as well as I'll need new tires when I get my wheels back from Harvey. My '72 still has the original CN36 spare so I'm tempted to get them to match. A friend here has the new CN36's on his real '73 RS and '70 T hot rod coupe and likes them. And obviously they look great.

[Darren65]

Just to add I also tried the CN36's on my narrow orange car which runs 6 & 7R's with 185/70 and 215/60 tires.....

....this time my initial impression wasn't as positive. I've gone through 3 sets of Avon CR6ZZ on this car but I was so impressed with the Pirelli's I thought I'd give them a try on an extra set of wheels I have. First time out was on a track day at Oulton Park when the heavens opened and the well worn slick looking Avon's I was using were quickly changed to the brand new Pirelli's....yuk, they felt terrible and had no grip on the flooded track and were quickly replaced by a set of newer Avons after a couple of laps.

I couldn't quite believe the different initial impressions I'd had of the same tire so thought I'd give them a second chance on a trip to Wales in the orange, 400 miles of twisty B-roads.......warm with a few miles on them and again they were fantastic, beautifully grippy with a softer sidewall than the Avons giving more of a period feel and allowing you to lean on them a little more.....they really are fantastic imo.

Only downside for the orange car is that although the same sizes they're a little chunkier than the Avons which meant they slightly rub on the inside of the narrow arches. I could start messing with spacer sizes but the CR6ZZ is so good I'll stick with these on the orange but will always now use the CN36 on my 2.4E.

Cheers

[911MRP]

Will be watching this thread as well as I'll need new tires when I get my wheels back from Harvey. My '72 still has the original CN36 spare so I'm tempted to get them to match. A friend here has the new CN36's on his real '73 RS and '70 T hot rod coupe and likes them. And obviously they look great.

Interesting! I take it your cn36 original spare is a a Pirelli German made tube type with the appropriate 1972 DoT date code and has the earlier precursor to the steel ( Nylon or other man made belt?) construction material as used before the change to tubeless steel belted.

A reference book with access to factory records that the Pirelli Tube tyres were replaced with steel belted tubeless radial version one size 185/7 VR 15 on December 12th 1974. So presumably your original from 1972 would be the earlier man made belt material tube type?

For research purposes quite easy to tell if it is factory original from before end of calendar 1974 given those significant change to a number of notable features on a documented date.

If so be interesting to compare it to picture I’ve posted elsewhere on forum of one of my old German made nylon belted tube type from RS. I’m not totally sure the one I pictured elsewhere is original factory fitted to car whe new However it says not steel and is tube type so before steel belt presumably it dates from before the December 74 date when known to have happened in mid 70s during the early part of impact bumper cars (so after longhood era). Hence my interest in specifics of an original factory spare example dating from 1972. Haven’t see an example earlier than my old one so be interesting to se the tyre wall details And dot number for such an early example.

According to Pirelli Germany (Veith Pirelli) the CN36 185/70 15 Vr was only “in preparation“ as at July 1971 so any car that still has its factory fitted Germany original with fit code Tube type of confined might be the earliest use of CN36 on 911.

I’m no tyre expert and don’t have axe to grind one way or another because it is certain my model and actual chassis got Cn36 regardless of whether they were used prior or not.

I’d be interested in seeing other factual evidence from when Cn36 were first fitted by factory on 911. I suspect they were often fitted as replacements maybe more so following the RS well publicised use is cn36 in its launch specs and roadtests etc. These were quite explicit on the cn36 type probably die first use of different then new 215/60 15 profile and the historical different size front rear on road car.

As someone who has had set of old tube type German cn36 in storage for very long time I don't recall ever seeing explicit document saying cn36 on TES before that — not saying didn’t happen or that Pirelli’s weren’t used — but keen to see something confiming cn36 from period especially with these tyres being an current option in rereleased tweaked form the “ original fit” is being mentioned by some owners as factor in today’s decision to use them.

In short: question when did the cn36 tyre type first get fitted to 911 by factory?Ideally answers supported by factory evidence or contemporary datapoint that mentions CN36 explicitly?

Steve

By the way on price list dated 22 July 1971 Pirelli price list in Germany lists both cn72 and the cinturato cn36 in VR speed rating which I assume some Porsche 911 would need



Both in 185/8915 size both at dm194.81 but the original booklet I have on my shelf doesn’t give marque or model fittment So it doesn’t provide the detail to be sure which version was in use by Porsche however the tread patterns are very distinctively different so pictures of cars from new would easily distinguish on photos from that era.

[LongRanger]

Not sure what 'types' were being fitted, but Pirellis were being specified on 911s at least as early as '67

And not exactly a common choice, either --- from looking at the Kardex threade, anyway . . .

'67
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...l=1#post757310

'68
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...l=1#post827063
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...l=1#post833408
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...l=1#post894232
https://www.early911sregistry.org/fo...l=1#post920423


Dunlop, Michelin, even Phoenix --- all get mentioned



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