Firestone wide oval tires

[Jim Ratto]

this car gets it 

[Lee.C]

Thats why I have the Bluestreaks for the back 

But you are right..... I might try a pair of 5.5's on the front with some 165's

But take a second look at Mike Josph's Red 65...... That has some pretty skinny rubber 

[RIP356]

Sod this!
The wide ovals look too good not to use, I think I will run some.
I am in Australia, its not as if I have to worry too much about driving in the rain..lol
Now what size would be best on some 356 rims?

[peejke]

I would go for the vredestein sprint classic 185 r15 91h anytime.
They look and handle  great,  and are made to fit Ferrari,... def. period correct.

[Rocket-Racing]

I would go for the vredestein sprint classic 185 r15 91h anytime.
They look and handle  great,  and are made to fit Ferrari,... def. period correct.

That all depends on what look you are after.. They are absolutely period correct looking, although in a very different way. So much so that considering either Vredesteins 185's or wide bias ply musclecar tires is a strange thing to do as it will dramatically change the look of a car.
That being said I love Vredestein Sprint Classics and seldom use anything else when radials are called for. In the 155 or 165 width they are also very nice on a stock bug, good quality, look and handling at a decent price.
Which reminds me that I have a set off 205/70 and 155R Vredesteins in the garage. Hmm.. Maybe I need another car? 

[RIP356]

Will the Wide Ovals fit on a pair of 5.5 rims as I intend to use my 356 rims.
Still cant make my mind up between the Wide Ovals or some BF Goodrich T/A's

Dave

[Rocket-Racing]

Will the Wide Ovals fit on a pair of 5.5 rims as I intend to use my 356 rims.
Still cant make my mind up between the Wide Ovals or some BF Goodrich T/A's

Dave

The F70-15's will fit on 5.5" rims without problems.

[H67bug]

Sorry to bring this post back from the dead!!
I am looking at the wide ovals for my 356 rims, after reading this I might have to reconsider!
Are there any period looking tyres that are actually good,i.e are useable in the wet or above 60mph
Thanks

For handling and looks, try the new remade Michelin range. Old design, new build quality. Try Michelin xwx. Not cheap but they handle.

[RIP356]

I still like "the look" of the Wide Ovals but having just priced them here in Australia at over $300 each I might have to rethink?

[dielinde]

Will the Wide Ovals fit on a pair of 5.5 rims as I intend to use my 356 rims.
Still cant make my mind up between the Wide Ovals or some BF Goodrich T/A's

Dave

Hi

i´ve th Bf Goddrich in 205 / 60 R 15 in the rear... they are good to drive but for the look are tires with 70 diameter better

[hotrodsurplus]

Also note that running radials on the front with rags in the back is asking for trouble. Technically you're not supposed to mix tire construction but even according to Michelin's old tech manuals you can so long as the radial is in the rear. For street tires at least a rag tire is not as capable of achieving as much traction as a radial tire. You always want the tire that can achieve the greater traction in the rear to prevent dangerous oversteer (and swing-axle rear-engine cars are well nigh capable of oversteering).

As someone noted earlier in this thread the rag tires also tend to self steer on inconsistencies in the roadway (squirm). If both axles self steer then the handling and ride is predictable. Rags in the front and radials in the rear will cause the front to self steer and the car to feel spooky but it's manageable (I have a car set up like this right now). Radials in the front and rags in the rear will cause the rear to self steer which can make a car flat-out terrifying to drive in some situations (I know this from experience on several cars).

If you simply must run rags on the rear then do yourself a favor and get rags for the front too. It also looks a ton better with a 5.60-15, 5.90-15, or 5.00-15 to match those square-shoulder tires in the rear. They're not as good as a radial tire but there's really nothing wrong with a rag tire if inflated to the proper pressure (the pressure car manufacturerspecifies--the sidewall pressure is simply the maximum pressure the tire requires to bear its maximum weight) on a properly aligned car. We have four cars on rag tires and we've put at least 10,000 miles a year on one of them for the past decade.

As for the heavy vibration when cold, that should be just tramping. It's most common with tires that have some polyester or nylon cords inside. The materials take a set as they cool which makes the tires 'square' until they warm up. After they warm up they should smooth right out. The old-style tires like full numerics (5.60- 6.40, 6.70, 7.00, etc) usually have cotton cords and in those cases won't tramp when cold. 

[Mertman]

Here's all you need to know about wide ovals. I had a set of 14" versions on my first beetle back in 2002/3. It was a stock 1300 twinport and I was able to oversteer around most corners until one day I got caught out racing my mates mini down a country lane:








This is my first post by the way! Hi!! 

[RIP356]

Bringing this back again
I have just managed to get a pair of wide ovals
What are people using on the front?
Thanks

[RIP356]

Nearly a year later and I have had them fitted.