What is the current tire closest to the original equipment tires for this car. I do not want a lower aspect ratio unless absolutely necessary. I'd like a tire with at least a 130 mph rating. Thank you in advance.
Hi Erik, My owner's and parts manuals (67 330GT 2+2 No. 9129) both say "205 X 15", but this was before aspect ratios and speed ratings were routinely listed in tire sizes, including actually ON the tire. The tires that came on 9129 are BF Goodrich Comp T/A 225/60 ZR 15s on Borrani RW3812s. They have a wide side wall (high aspect ratio: 60), looking normal for that era of Ferrari. I don't know how well they handle or how they affect the speedometer as I have yet to drive the car. Tom
Hi, Tom. I'd say that the most popular tire for 330's is the Michelin XWX. They're available at www.coker.com. I use them on my 2+2 and love them. --Matt
Erik: The spare tire for my 67 330 2+2 is a Michelin XWX 215/70VR15. It looks old and cracked enough to have been one of the original tires on the car. This tire and size is also used on a Borrani RW4075 (from a 365 2+2) advertised for sale on eBay. (As previously noted the current road tires on my car are BFG 225/60ZR15s.) Tom
I'm running Sumitomos on my Dino. That 70 series tire is hard to find unless you want to spend $300 each for XWX's. Sumitomo doesn not make the 215/70-15, unfortunately. However, you can get Pirelli p4000 Super Tourings which are w rated or Michelin MXV4 which are v rated in your size at Tire Rack. If non original is ok, then either of those would fit your car, have the high profile sidewall, and a high enough speed and load rating to handle your car. The BF Goodrich Radial TA has a tread pattern closer to the XWX, but a lower speed rating, s, than maybe you want.
Thanks, that's very helpful. I wish I could find some 78 series tires, I believe that they are the closest equivalent to the original Cinturatos. Anyone have any experience with the Avons that Roger Kraus racing sells? I have them on my E-type and they are a very original looking tire with decent performance.
Hi Guys, Here is what Kerry did for his 330: http://www.parrotbyte.com/kbc/ferrari/tires.htm And Tom Yang: http://www.tomyang.net/cars/ferrari224.htm http://www.tomyang.net/cars/ferrari251.htm Fwiw, they both ended up getting P215/75R15 Michelin Symmetrys. Cheers, Jon
Thanks all, I just ordered a set of the Michelin Harmony tires in 205/75/15 for the 330 GT to get me through the summer. 205 is the correct size tire, 80 would be the correct aspect ratio, but it's not available anywhere. The Symmetry was not available in 205 width and was not rated as well as the Harmony (by the minivan owners who buy them ). http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=Harmony&partnum=075SR5HARMONY
Funny that in 40 yrs, a sportscar tire becomes a minivan tire. Lets us know how they work-I'd certainly like an extra inch of ground clearance to keep my expensive exhaust off the speed bumps.(I've got 215/60/15s on mine now)
Hello all, These are what I used on my 365 2+2, they are currently available but not easy to find. I contacted Cooper tire (who bought Avon) in Findlay, Ohio. They had quite a few in their Albany, Ga. warehouse. Then had a local Cooper tire distributor order them. I like them so far. Some of these specs are metric as you will see, do the math (8->}. BTW they cost me $136.00 @. Regards, Bill http://www.avontyres.com/us/en/ProductDetails.asp?ProdType=InternationalPassenger&id=140#sizesAndSpecs Avon CR39 * V and W rated * Jointless cap plies for performance * Wide cirumferential grooves * Specially formulated tread compounds * Large road contact patch for maximum grip * Fitted as original equipment on Aston Martin Virage and Volante * Positive steering response * Precise handling * High speed stability * Excellent ride comfort and low noise level * Good aquaplaning resistance sizes and specifications Tyre Size/Service Desc/UTQG/Approved Rim Width/Meas. Rim Width/Section Width/Overall Dia./Tread Depth/Max. Load/Max. Speed/Max. Pres. 225/65 ZR15/99 W/160 A A/6.00-8.00/6.50/228.00/673.00/8.00/659/270/3.00
Here is an actual photo of my own 330 GT taken in 1965 with the original 205/15 Pirelli tires. For what it's worth, I don't receive joy from an old sports car set up to make it handle like a modern Honda S2000, Others may, of course, differ. Look at the high sidewalls shown in the picture compared to the 70 and 65 series tires. This is all personal preference, but I think the car looks better with the higher sidewalls even if it's a minivan tire. After all, most Honda minivans will leave a 330 GT in the dust. I am trying these tires for the summer since the original equipment Pirellis (and a couple of German Dunlop SPs) are still on the car from the '60s. I'm afraid to drive the car over 50 with the crummy tires; I will investigate better skins as time goes on, but durnit, I want to drive the car now that it's fettled. Tony, I will keep you posted. I should have the car back from NJB in Columbus, OH next week.
I run Yokohama AVS Intermediates on my Daytona. Good, modern, sticky tire... great performance and they look correct on the car. The thought of running an XWX or some other ancient tech tire would scare me to death. Heaven help if you have to panic stop to avoid an accident and you end up hitting something because your '60s tech tires dont offer the grip you could have from modern rubber! Terry
Terry Remember that photo in Road&Track showing a guy smoking a cigarette looking down into the woods where he had gone off in his 365BB? "Good tires Bob thought, not great tires..."
Jim, One of my favorite quote/picture combinations. Do you run modern tires or period correct ones on your racers? If you think answering this will stir up the hornets nest again, please don't answer. Regards, Art S.
"Good tires," Bob mused, casually lighting a cigarette, "but certainly not great tires." Image Unavailable, Please Login
XWX tires are not "ancient tech". Although an old design, they were the cutting edge radials of the period that helped displace bias-ply tires. They would not seriously compromise braking. I agree completely with Erik: vintage Ferraris look better with higher sidewalls. (I also really liked the "Bakelite" Pirelli Cinturatos comment!) And, yes, that old R&T picture and caption is a classic! --Matt
Matt.... I have driven on XWX tires. My 308GTB had them. They may have been cutting edge when new.... but compared to a modern sport compound tire they really are pretty pathetic. I do agree that really low profile modern tires just look stupid on older cars. Many of the best tires made today are only available in these low profile specs which is a shame. However, there are some very good sticky modern tires out there in the higher sidewall profiles. My Daytona runs 235/60 series tires and they look just right on the car..... nice wide and well rounded sidewall coupled with an aggressive tread pattern and extremely sticky compound. I really love the Yoko AVS intermediates...... When this set is going however I will be shopping again since my understanding is they no longer produce this exact tire. Terry
Terry, I agree with your appraisal of the XWX's performance attributes. I also agree that if you were to buy a tire of the same width in a lower profile, it will look pretty silly. If you do as Terry did, go to a wider tire in a lower profile you can retain (fairly closely) the ride height of the tire/car and find an acceptable modern tire, although the proper substitution sizes are getting harder to find also. I suppose Mini-van tires are OK, if you don't ever plan on driving with elan, but they surely won't do anything to enhance the enjoyment of your car's qualities (they still may be better than the XWX's). Roughly stated, the quick and dirty formula, as told to me a long time ago.... +20mm width -10 aspect ratio.... +10mm width -5 aspect ratio 205/80 = 225/70 = 235/65 = 245/60 ... this is just an approximation, partly because every tire manufacturer has a little different actual measurements per stated size. Regards, Bill
FYI, the current XWXs made by Coker use modern rubber compounds, not the original Michelin composition, or so I am told.
Thanks for the post, Erik. That clears things up for me. The XWXs on my car are indeed new. I certainly wouldn't call them "pathetic". --Matt
Well, the minivan tires are installed. Really pretty decent looking, at least they do look period. Ride is nice, they seem to have very stiff sidewalls which surprised me. Turn in is very sharp (or as quick as my worn front end allows; note to self: schedule front end rebuild for winter). In all, not bad for $82 each. I suspect that once the car is redone I will opt for a set of 215 XWXs. They look good in the picture of Matt's car on the Superamerica thread. Matt, check your PM.
