308 gt4 tires

I have a "driver" 308 gt4 that is finally running pretty well after a 6 year ordeal of having the engine rebuilt and problems with the transmission rectified- the latter was due to a bad set of transfer gears sold by a well know used Ferrari parts retailer in the Southwest United States.


When finally driving it home from the shop I noticed a severe vibration from the front end : the tires are pretty much shot. The tires on the car are Yokohama A 008 225 60 HR 14's which where an excellent tire back in the day - the "day" for these tires being 1996 (!) based on the date of manufacture on the sidewall.

I am going to replace the tires and I know this has been addressed numerous times before. I am not going to pay outrageous prices for XWX tires, nor am I going to buy 16 inch rims at this time, so that leaves only the Goodrich Radial T/A in 225 60 S 14- with only an S speed rating.

Alternately Nankang Cx668 makes a 205 70 H 14-the original equipment size for the car- which I am favoring at the moment. I know this tire has been mentioned in previous threads but has anyone actually ever bought a set?

I'm going to use the car as a couple times a week daily driver......I seldom go much over 100 mph in any car, and probably won't in this one either.

For what it's worth, I called Goodrich and they basically told me over the phone to go with the Nankang over the Radial T/A, as they didn't recommend going more than one speed range below what the car was originally equipped with and they don't manufacture an H rated tire that would fit that rim (nor is one sold by anyone else in the USA). I am aware that the speed rating speaks not only the highest sustained speed the tire should be used at, but also the sidewall stiffness and type/number plies in the construction of the tire.

I'm getting the Nankang tires mounted tomorrow....so if you have an opinion speak now or forever hold your peace! Actually at less than $60 dollars a tire they're practically disposable....so if they truly are awful I can try to find another solution. I do have some gaudy Gotti 16 inch wheels someplace I could resurrect if I have to.

 

Fulda no longer makes tires for 14 inch rims. It's not even an option on their web page.

 

Correction: They don't make a 205 or 225 with any aspect ratio in a 14 inch size.

 

I hate to be the bearer of bad news: Sumitomo no longer makes any H rated tires that would fit our rims. In fact, I can't find any 225 60 14 or 205 70 14 Sumitomos with any speed rating currently sold in the US.

 

1 (one) Michelin XWX - 205VR14: $450

1 (one) Vredestein Sprint Classics 205/70/VR14 tires: $275

4 (four) Nankang Cx668 205/70/HR14: $218!

 

The other thing: to my eye the XWX looks too tall and balloon like: in this size its diameter is 26.8 inches

versus 25.3 for the 205/70 14 tire, and 24.63 for the 225/60 14

 

Frustration. I had the Nankang tires installed on my rims - I brought the shop the wheels only- and the adhesive weights I requested interfere with the wishbones in the rear and the brake rotor shield in the front. There isn't any clearance for adhesive weights in these cars -I guess that's why the inside surfaces of the rims are always buggered up from clip on weights. There's also a galvanic corrosion thing that seems to happen between the clip on weight and the alloy of the rim itself. The shop is now closed I have to take all the wheels off again and bring them back after the weekend.
As to the Nankang 205/70 14's I'll keep you posted. I can tell you already I don't like the look of the car with the stock tire size- the tires look too skinny and tall. The car had an aggressive stance with the 225/60 14's and was almost 3/4 inch lower overall. Now it has a spindly butt up in the air look to it. Not attractive in a car.