SWB wheel and tire sizes

[setho]

All:

I want to put a new set of wheels and tires on my '66 911.... I've been searching to see what others have been putting on their cars, and I find a lot of conflicting information on maximum wheel widths, offsets, whether you need to roll the wheel wells, etc.

I've seen two pretty good threads on here and Pelican, but they are 5+ years old. Available tires change.......

I think that 15x6's are the largest rims that will fit comfortably, with a 205/55R15 tire....

What are YOU running on your SWB?

Thanks!

Seth

[frankmar]

I started with 205/60/15, whent down to 195/65/15 and then to 165/80/15 is the OEM stock size. Every time I used a skinnier tire the car felt better for my driving. I do not spend a lot of time on the high way with this car. 195 tires gave it a bit more linear stability on the high way.

[Peanut]

I have 195/65/15 on the '68 specific 5.5" rim. I think I read something about '65 (or very early SWB) having especially narrow rear quarters, so guys here can say whether 6" works on your car..

[ETW]

I'm convinced I can fit 15x7s with a little bit of massaging on the fender lips. It may take some extra camber to get them to fit. Probably with 205/50 tires. I've found a bunch of pictures of SWB cars running 15x7 cookie cutters and American Racing Torq Thrusts.

[Harvey Weidman]

Our standard det up is 7Rs with 15mm spacer using 205/60X15. (215/55 may also fit but are hard to come by) They fit with no fender or alignment mods. As Eric said, the max is 225/50 with some clearancing.
The late 7X15 offset Fuchs (also Americans) need much neg camber and fender rolling...and stiff suspension..like a race car. If you are looking for no mods then 205/60s W 7Rs are the best. IMHO
H

[ETW]

What is the offset of the 7R? I think 49mm. So that would bring it out to 15x7 et34 with the spacer. Is there any room to spare on the outside? I was looking at some 15x7 et25. The cookie cutters have even lower offset at et23 and I have seen a few narrow cars with those

[Harvey Weidman]

No room to spare. The standard offset 7s are a very tight fit like I said, you'll have to do some suspension and fender mods.
H

[gsjohnson]

Looking for opinions on whether 205x50x15 Toyo R888 tires will fit on the rear of my 68 SWB with 7 inch wheels and a 34 mm offset?

[Merv]

The PO of my '68 had fitted 16x6 Fuchs. They look good in my opinion and ride nicely and seem to handle well, but ... one of my jobs is to sell these and source some 15" Fuchs.

[Rich Lambert]

I started with 205/60/15, whent down to 195/65/15 and then to 165/80/15 is the OEM stock size. Every time I used a skinnier tire the car felt better for my driving. I do not spend a lot of time on the high way with this car. 195 tires gave it a bit more linear stability on the high way.

This is exactly what I am in the process of doing on my '66. Started with 205's on 15x6 Fuchs, currently at 195's, and next month I'm picking up some Vredestein 165 Sprint Classics and mounting them on 15x4.5 steelies. I've heard good things about the Vredesteins and I think the painted steelies will look awesome.