Tires for a 250GTE | FerrariChat

Tires for a 250GTE

Discussion in 'Vintage (thru 365 GTC4)' started by prance, Mar 9, 2010.

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

  1. prance

    prance Formula Junior

    May 4, 2005
    513
    Agoura Hills
    Full Name:
    morris
    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
     
  2. BIGHORN

    BIGHORN In Memoriam

    Sep 18, 2006
    733
    FLORIDA/NEW MEXICO
    Full Name:
    JOHN F KELLY
    I have been using Pirelli P4000 and been happy with them; unfortunatly they are sporadically available
     
  3. w.Hudkins

    w.Hudkins Karting

    May 16, 2006
    183
    Indiana
    Full Name:
    William Todd Hudkins
    Hi Prance,

    I run 185 VR 15 XVS Michelins.. Very very happy with these tires. (vintage look)

    I also had XWX's... not good!
     
  4. dretceterini

    dretceterini F1 Veteran

    Apr 28, 2004
    7,289
    Etceterini Land
    Full Name:
    Dr.Stuart Schaller
    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...
     
  5. yale

    yale Formula Junior

    May 2, 2004
    744
    New York City
    Also look at vintage looking VREDESTEIN line. I recommended them to a friend who has a 330 America and he loves them.
     
  6. dgrperformance

    dgrperformance Formula Junior

    Feb 28, 2005
    311
    Oceanside, CA
    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
     
  7. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    What do you guys not like about the XWX's? I've really liked mine.
     
  8. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,430
    B.C., Canada
    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.
     
  9. martx-5

    martx-5 Rookie

    Dec 15, 2006
    43
    Kings Park, NY
    Full Name:
    Art Liefke
    #9 martx-5, Mar 10, 2010
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2010
    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.
     
  10. sam231

    sam231 Formula Junior
    Owner Silver Subscribed

    Aug 5, 2004
    564
    RI
    For me, RAIN----I had a set on my 330 and they were terrible in the rain. Switched to the P4000 and no problems.
     
  11. Smiles

    Smiles F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa Owner

    Nov 20, 2003
    16,601
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Matt F
    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!
     
  12. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 5, 2002
    23,988
    Portland, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Don
    I'm quite happy with the XWXs on my Boxer. On the 365, the P4000s are fine.
     
  13. TLKIZER660

    TLKIZER660 Formula Junior

    Jul 30, 2004
    315
    Québec
    #13 TLKIZER660, Mar 11, 2010
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2010
    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
     
  14. RED GTS

    RED GTS Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2004
    578
    Full Name:
    Gungnir
    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.
     
  15. prance

    prance Formula Junior

    May 4, 2005
    513
    Agoura Hills
    Full Name:
    morris
    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
     
  16. donv

    donv Two Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Jan 5, 2002
    23,988
    Portland, Oregon
    Full Name:
    Don
    Would you get the Vredesteins over the P4000s?

     
  17. yale

    yale Formula Junior

    May 2, 2004
    744
    New York City
    Hi Morris,

    Which Dunlop's are those (SP applies to quite a few Dunlops) and where are you getting them from?

    Thanks, Yale
     
  18. TLKIZER660

    TLKIZER660 Formula Junior

    Jul 30, 2004
    315
    Québec
    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
     
  19. velocetwo

    velocetwo F1 World Champ

    Dec 11, 2006
    12,536
    Left Coast
    Hard as rocks, P4000 much better.
     
  20. prance

    prance Formula Junior

    May 4, 2005
    513
    Agoura Hills
    Full Name:
    morris
    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
     
  21. yale

    yale Formula Junior

    May 2, 2004
    744
    New York City
    #21 yale, Mar 13, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    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
     
  22. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 21, 2000
    6,430
    B.C., Canada
    #22 Peter, Mar 13, 2010
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    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
     
  23. RED GTS

    RED GTS Formula Junior

    Jun 14, 2004
    578
    Full Name:
    Gungnir
    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.
     
  24. WorkerB

    WorkerB Rookie

    Oct 2, 2007
    10
    Oakland, CA
    Vredestein also makes a 205-14. I have a set of 5 available, never mounted. If you are interested, PM or email me.
     
  25. Tinbender

    Tinbender Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2004
    324
    Raleigh,Lake Lure,NC
    Full Name:
    Terry W. Phillips
    Who is selling the Vredestein 205-14 tires?
    Thanks,
    Terry W. Phillips
     

Share This Page