I have a 1963 series three 250GTE and am looking for new tires. The 250GTE book specifies Pirelli 185hr15 tires for the car. Does anyone know if Ferrari changed the tires late in the 250GTE production? Does anyone have experience with any other tire application? The PO put 205/70-15 Michelin XWXs on the car and I think it makes it ride poorly and want to change them. Thanks, Morris
I have been using Pirelli P4000 and been happy with them; unfortunatly they are sporadically available
Hi Prance, I run 185 VR 15 XVS Michelins.. Very very happy with these tires. (vintage look) I also had XWX's... not good!
When I had my car in the 1970s, I put Pirelli 205/70x 15s on it. No idea if they are still availble, but I liked them very much...
Also look at vintage looking VREDESTEIN line. I recommended them to a friend who has a 330 America and he loves them.
For showing Dunlop "SP", Pirelli Centurato, or Michilen "X" but for actual driving I really like the Pirelli P4000s. A 205/15 on a 5 1/2" wheel is just a little to big and I am sure you got a ton of wheel rub when turning, I have never tried a 195/15 but it might be a good compromise. Zac
I have the 14" Vredestein Sprint Classics on my GT4 and noticed a remarkable improvement (especially on wet roads) over the Pirelli P4000's I had on before.
Maybe I'm comparing apples to oranges, but I have 185-15 Vredesteins Sprint Classics on my TR3 (yes Triumph), and I really like how these tires look and handle. I drive this car hard, and have no complaints. I feel that Vredestein makes a great modern, classic tire.
For me, RAIN----I had a set on my 330 and they were terrible in the rain. Switched to the P4000 and no problems.
That's very interesting. Thank you for replying. I don't want to sound like I baby my 330, but I don't think I've ever driven it in the rain!
Yale, you are so discrete. I also run Vredestein Sprint Classic 205/70 VR 15 96V (speed rated) tires on my 365 GT 2+2 and love them. They are readily available; they are the correct profile; judges are happy with them; and they are half the price of XWXs when you can get XWXs. Tom Kizer
Thanks nice tip. from the internet the price seems to be (for my 275 gts 205/70/vr14) vredestein- 208 coker michelins- 498.00. My michelins look like new but are pretty old and I need to change them out.
OK, thanks so far. Does anyone know if Ferrari changed the tires used on the 250GTE throughout the production run or did they stay with the Pirellis? I've pretty much narrowed it down too the Pirelli cinturato and the Dunlop SP. Thanks, Morris
Hi Morris, Which Dunlop's are those (SP applies to quite a few Dunlops) and where are you getting them from? Thanks, Yale
Check with Mark Dempsey. He had P4000s on his queen and now they are on the shelf in his garage. He now runs Vredestein 205/70 VR 15 tires on his car. I'm not sure why he keeps the P4000s on his spare rims. Tom Kizer
Dunlops SP sport and Pirelli cinturato from Lucas tire in Long Beach. Both are around $350.00. I woudn't consider replacing the 205/70-15 XWXs I currently have. For starters I believe that a car's suspension is designed around a certain tire and the car works better with that tire on it. So, I wouldn't consider replacing what I have with a 70 profile tire. Secondly, I'm one of those people who hates XWXs. Unfortunately I can't run anything else on my GTB or 275GTS or 330GTS till I either ugrade the rims of someone starts makinig a Dunlop SP sport or Pirelli Cinturato in 205-14. Morris
And you won't even try VREDESTEIN SPRINT CLASSIC TIRES on any of those cars in place of the XWX's because of the look? I think XWX's are very cool in every way but driving on them. The Vredestein is not a modern looking tire but it does ride wonderfully better then the XWX's. VREDESTEIN SPRINT CLASSIC: Image Unavailable, Please Login
I posted this line-up in a 308 thread, but I'll show it here too. L-R: Pirelli P4000, XWX, Vredestein Sprint Classic 205/70VR-14 (which looks narrower because it isn't mounted on a rim yet). I found my Pirellis to be okay on dry roads but absolutely terrible on wet roads (I scared myself a couple of times...). The XWX was my spare and was original! Needless to say, I replaced that as well! Image Unavailable, Please Login
I found a good deal on the Vredesteins so I have ordered them. (thanks Scott) Should I just let the tire store recycle my perfect looking, non cracked Michelin 205/70 VR 14 tires. Seems like such a waste but I dont want to drive on them.
Vredestein also makes a 205-14. I have a set of 5 available, never mounted. If you are interested, PM or email me.