Sizing & Ride Question: 205/70VR/14 Michelin XWX

[ksbeta]

240z with stock suspension and brakes:

About a week ago I replaced the wheels/tires on my 240z, having found an opportunity on Craigslist I couldn't pass up. I was running 205/60R/15 Bridgestone.. somethings... on the 280zx Honeycome wheels, and they would rub just the slightest bit at full lock. It was never really an issue.

The opportunity I couldn't pass up has me back in 14" wheels, running 205/60/14's. The very next day after I had those tires mounted and put the wheels on my car, I ran into a local Ferrari guy who gave me the 205/70VR/14 Michelin XWX tires that came on a '79 308GTS he bought, but decided he wanted more aggressive looking tires on a Cromodoro style wheel. The tires aren't new, but they're new enough that there's still rubber from the mold on them, the tread is great, and there's no sign of dry-rotting.

Question 1: Will this 205/70/14 tire rub any more than the 205/60/15 did?

Question 2: I've only seen one other car wearing this size before; Will the ride quality with these things be discernably different with the larger sidewall?

Question 3: Is the Michelin XWX simply overkill for an otherwise stock 240z? The only big change I plan is swapping the SU's for some 44mm Mikuni's in the Spring.

My car can't go 180+mph, and since I JUST put the other tires on, I'd feel like a fool going back to the tire-shop a week later to do the switch, so I'll sit on these for awhile until I figure something out. But I wanted your 2-cents. Thanks everyone,

Bill

[5thhorsemann]

I think the 70/14 is slightly taller than a 60/15, the 60/14 should be roughly an inch shorter than the 60/15 which should do away with your slight rub. You dont need a v rated tire, but they (XWX) are a much more agressive compound than whats on it now which will give added grip, but the 70/14 has more sidewall to "give" in turns. I think it's a wash when it's all said and done. See if you can find a set of wheels and mount them as a swap set in stead of changing your new tires out, you can always resell the swap set with the free tires and get your money back. There's my 2 cents.

[Willoughby Z]

This is handy for the question:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/tirecalc.php

[xs10shl]

Just from personal experience in the European car world, XWX tires give just about the worst ride of any tire you can put on your car. I find them to be way too hard, and offer minimal grip. But sometimes they are the only size option, and for concours events, they look great.

Also check the manufacture data code, they may already be 10-15 years old or more, even if they look fine.

[5thhorsemann]

I thought the V rated WXW's were a really soft compound, for traction.

[beermanpete]

We have used all your sizes on our 73 without any rubbing. It really depends on the offset fo your wheels. Zero offeset seems to be commonly used and centers the wheel and tire between the spring perch and fender/wheel arch. We have used 225/50R25 without rubbing.

[Arne]

Also depends on whether the car has an air dam, or stock front valance. There is more clearance with an air dam.

XWX's were the top handling tire when they were new, but probably not all that great by today's standards. I'll second the warning about the ride - they have one of the stiffest tall sidewalls you'll ever come across.