Looking for tires to fit 8.5"x13 BBS wheels

[JJordan]

Dear forum members...I'm restoring my one owner 1970 2002 and am looking for tires to replace my Pirelli CN36 235/60 VR 13 tires.  When the car went into hibernation in the late 90's I had just mounted the current tires so they have virtually no miles but aren't safe to drive.  They look great and fit the box flares on the car and would very much like to discover that there is still a supplier out there somewhere.  Barring that, does anyone know of a suitable substitute for road use?  Thank you for your assistance.  Jeff

[jrkoupe]

great great wheel tire combo......

 

 

I ran dunlop vintage race tires on an 8 x 13 set up. You can do that or $$$$ Michelin TB tires.....or u can call Coker Tire.....see if they have a new cn 36 that works.....they cover that market well....old but new hi po tires.

 

pm me if u need.......oh, I have 1 or 2 used but good dunlops for ya......they are good up to 8 inches or so.......but they are cheeeap....

 

 

.I have sources for used same type stuff.....i never bought new.

Edited November 27, 2016 by jrkoupe

[markmac]

Unfortunately Pirelli isn't making the CN 36 in that size anymore/again (and anyone that might happen to have a set "laying around" given the age would be garbage and unsafe).  Happily they (Pirelli) are re-popping CN-36's in 185/70 VR 13 again, I believe you have to get them from Longstone Tyres in the UK (they aren't inexpensive though (duh), but still the best looking 13" tire out there.  Its pretty cool, Pirelli is also re-popping P7's again in 205/225 50 VR 15 sizes.  To get something near that spec you are probably going to have to go with a Dunlop Racing (which isn't DOT approved for street use), or possibly an Avon (which may or may not be).  Longstone also carries the Michelin TB5 and TB15 both of which I think have sizes for your rims, there aren't any inexpensive options unfortunately.  You should be able to get the Michelins from Coker and you can check out Roger Kraus racing for the Dunlops and Avon's (and he may carry the Michelins).  Good luck.

[TobyB]

What about Toyo  888's?

 

They will fit.  Street legal.  Sticky.  Not particularly awesome in the wet, and when it gets cold, they're terrifying...

 

t

 

https://www.toyotires.com/tire/pattern/proxes-r888-dot-competition-tires

[JJordan]

The Toyos do indeed look very interesting.  Do you think there would be much a difference visually between the Toyo 205's and the CN36's 235?  And thank you for taking the time to respond.  I was just telling my wife that the 2002 tribe is uniquely supportive of one another.  Pleased to be getting introduced to many fine folks. I suspect I might be considered one of the "seniors" on this forum, having my "Alphonse" for pushing 47 years but I'm a total novice compared to most of you when it comes to really "knowing" my car.  Doing my best to do some catching up.  My passion has been pretty much all about bicycles too this point but I'm on a mission to get this little red rocket ready to hand off to my daughter at the appropriate time. Jeff

[JJordan]

MarkMac, thank you for that informative response.  I'll be looking into the offerings from Avon and Dunlop as suggested.  Oh wouldn't it be fab if Pirelli graced us with the CN36's in a little larger size in the 13" family.  The hunt is on.  Best wishes, Jeff

[LLCoolJQ]

Hi Jeff,

Don't forget to upload a sound clip of the exhaust. Those 13s are eye candy.

 

[JJordan]

Thanks for the reminder.  I'll probably need another before I get to the point where I'm actually making noise.  I've got a header arriving in a few days and will be sourcing a resonator soon as well I hope.  Oh my, the list goes on.  I'm really looking forward to hearing how good I'm sure the muffler you supplied me with is going to sound.  Best, Jeff

[Conserv]

On 11/27/2016 at 2:43 PM, markmac said:

...Happily they (Pirelli) are re-popping CN-36's in 185/70 VR 13 again, I believe you have to get them from Longstone Tyres in the UK (they aren't inexpensive though (duh), but still the best looking 13" tire out there...

 

Good to know, Mark!

 

And much less expensive than the Michelin XDX (185/70), XAS (165/80), and Avon CR6ZZ (185/70)!

 

Best regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited November 28, 2016 by Conserv

[Harv]

I think I'd be tempted to get another set of wheels and tires and keep those for show. 

 

Oh oh well just a thought. 

 

I'm running the Toyo R888 225/45/13 on 8 inch wide Superlights. I think I'd kill for a set of 235/60/13 tires (tyres for Less). The last tires available in that size were Yokohama Y352 and BF Goodrich Radial TA's. My friend Jeff bought the last set of Y352's from Tire Rack back in 93. They went on the white and green car which is now MIA. 

 

John

[whs.de]

Hi,

 

you can try Avon ZZR 215/55-13. The "look" of them is a bit closer to the 235/60.

 

W.

[JJordan]

Thank you WHS, this sounds like a very interesting option. Do you know of a good supplier? Best, Jeff 

[markmac]

The odds of PIrelli making that tire (CN36) in that size (235/60) are just about zero.  Not enough demand.  Honestly I think its something of a miracle they are making any 13" tires - probably owe the worldwide Porsche community for that since so many of the early 911's ran on 185/70 15 tires.  Pirelli starting making these again a few years ago, then stopped for a while (not sure why) and now have resumed again with the 15" classic tires including a 215/60 15 used both on some SC's as well as Carrera Rs's (rear).  Its really cool they are making the 13's I think, but then there is a much wider demand for those as many classic used that dimension tire.  The fact that they are making classic Cinturato P7's again is encouraging as well.  The other day I noticed Koni has started a "classic" division as well, probably not new news (just new to me).

 

https://www.koni.com/Cars/Products/Performance/Classic/

[Mike Self]

17 hours ago, JJordan said:

I suspect I might be considered one of the "seniors" on this forum, having my "Alphonse" for pushing 47 years

 Uh, don't be so sure.  I bought Wolfgang new on 5 May 1969 and still have him--and I'm not the only (or oldest!) original owner by any means.  So welcome to the (as Joe Chamberlain of the BMW CCA would say) Beezers group.  For you young whippersnappers, Beezers are vintage BMW owners who are vintage themselves.  Like me.

 

cheers

mike

[JJordan]

Thanks Mike, I was pretty sure I might graze a toe or two with my presumptuousness but its delightful to know that I have such good companions about.  Alphonse and I paired up in Wiesbaden, West Germany while on active duty in the USAF flying covert recon missions over East Germany through the Berlin Corridors between '70-'74.  I had arrived just two months after the Deutsche Mark had devalued against the dollar from 4.0 to 3.67 to the dollar and prices went up and up.  I think my little red friend ended up costing me about $2362-ish including 5-speed and LS diff.  Little did I realize how fortunate I was at any price.  Cheers, Jeff