hello,
Running some standard modern Toyo tires on my Vintage Spyder, and looking to get a set of a more vintage tire with taller sidewall. Something like the original Dunlop or Avon race tires, with a cleaner sidewall without heavy script. Be great to have a more modern radial type, anyone running something good?
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What size tires are on the car now? How wide are the rims and what specific size are you looking for?
Coker Tire specializes in old style tires, maybe.
Most of the actual 550’s run a 5.50 x16 for the vintage tires. At least when I go to vintage historic races. I’m looking for a 5.50x15.
i know I can buy from Coker but those tires are not correct for these cars. Looking for anyone that has used Dunlop, Goodyear, Avon ect that we’re the period correct tires of the day.
Check out the new Pirelli Centurions, a remake of the old Porsche tires from the 60s... same style with modern compounds.
I'm sure Carey's tire is more what you are looking for (something that looks period-correct), but I'm in love with the Vredestein Spotrac 5 (not Ventrac, Sportrac)-- summer compound, good tread-wear rating for the stickiness, all around great tire.
chines1 posted:Check out the new Pirelli Centurions, a remake of the old Porsche tires from the 60s... same style with modern compounds.
Carey. I could not find these anywhere. Did you mean Cinturato? They had that in the 1960s, and have updated them.
Vred Sprint Classic is going on my build. 165/80s on all corners.
These are well regarded in the classic Porsche world and get mixed reviews from the MG crowd, I am told.
Tread pattern is pretty vintage looking:
vs
And
@Bob: IM S6 Yes Cinturato, specifically the CN36 and not the CA67s.
Thanks for that update Carey. I loved those on my original 59 coupe they were pretty awesome.
looks like the old Michelin X, thats the only tire from way back when
I see a lot more spare tires these days around the midriff then before. 
How random can I get... I know. ..
While not a Spyder, my next tire will be Vredestein Sprint Classic 165 HR 15 like the attached photos.
The 550 at Concours on the Avenue was running Dunlop Racing 5-50-16.
the “original“ 550 at the track was running Dunlop Racing 5-50-L-15
Thanks everyone for the info!
@chines1 have you had any issues with the tires rubbing with the tire height? I'm running 5.5 rear and 4 or 4.5 front steel wheels in 15 size.
@Kevin-bay area Those are the look im going for, love the side wall.
@edsnova are those tires a radial or are they a bias ply? Have you had the car up to speed yet (80plus or hard corner carving) any info you have on how they handle compared to the modern tires? Understand they will not be as good as modern but wondering how far off they would be.
RCosta posted:
Like these tires, with the clean black wall. Have you used these on your car? Cant find if they are radial or biasply? Assuming Bias.
Anyone looking for new tires- Vredestein makes the Sportrac 5 (summer performance) in a host of 14" sizes from 175's to 195's (anyone running 14" Fuchs?), 15" from 175's (50, 60 & 65), 185's (50, 60, 65) 195's (45, 50, 55,60, 65) 205's (50, 55, 60, 65), 215/65, even a 225/60-15 and some good Speedster/Spyder friendly 16" sizes as well. AfaIk this is the only company still making summer performance tires in a variety of sizes we can use. As Stan said above, he loves them. I believe someone else here has them on their car but I can't remember who at the moment.
You'll have to ask around and not accept "oh, they're not made any more but these all season's (made for Smart Cars and Fiats) are just as good (which they're not). I know they don't have the 'period look' but they're a modern tire with a decent summer compound, I believe they don't cost an arm, a leg and the left nut and today that's a rarity. If we make a stir about them and mention them on other forums like the Samba, Cal Look Lounge and any other places some of you frequent (so guys all over are asking about them) maybe one of the bigger chains will bring them in so they're available.
I'm sure the Vredestein Sportac 5 tires do well like you say, but the sidewall is just so terrible I can't consider those they are worse then the Toyo's on the car. It's a balance of functional and period correct, so I'm looking for something more simple in the sidewall. If all out performance was the point, I would just stick with the low profile Toyo RRR on the car.
No need to explain yourself, Eric; you're looking for 'period correct', while that's not really up there on my list of priorities. My point is that if you're not looking for period correct- these are interesting options. As Uncle Stan says, "it's a big tent with room for all of us". Al
