quote:
Originally posted by George P:
... They also have to accept using different make and model tyres for the front and rear.
The 295/50R15 size tyre is 26.6 inches in diameter, 0.40" larger than the 285/50R15 size tyre. This creates two problems which people "live with". (1) The difference in diameter between that tyre and the 225/50R15 front tyre is 2.7", this upsets the intended level ride height of the chassis, giving the chassis a pronounced "nose-down" stance. (2)The 295/50R15 tyres "fill" the rear wheel arches more than the 225/50R15 front tyres fill the front wheel arches. This creates an aesthetic imbalance in the appearance of the car.
quote:
Originally posted by David_Nunn:
... in the late 1980’s, Garry Hall paid to have Campagnolo (by then Technomagnesio) restore the tooling for the 15” x 10” wheels that are used on the rear of a regular body Pantera. As part of the deal, Garry imported a container load of these wheels. I believe he sold all of them and I think it’s safe to say, the majority wound up with 285/50-15 P7’s mounted on them. Pirelli certainly knows how many they sold during the decade they were available. Gauging potential demand should be fairly easy and I’m sure it’s far more than 200 tires!
quote:
Originally posted by George P:
The majority of GTS and Group 3 Panteras were originally equipped with Goodyear Arrivas, only the small number manufactured after 1978 were originally equipped with 225/50 and 285/50 P7s. However, be assured that P7s eventually found their way onto all the earlier models as well. On top of that, as both David and I have tried to explain in our own ways, the factory's entire stock of spare 15 x 10 wheels, plus a cargo container load of additional wheels, have been installed on some of the 6,600 Pushbutton, Pre-L, and L model Panteras. The demand for the 15x10 wheel is so great that TWO aftermarket companies offer them. The aftermarket versions have not sold in large numbers simply because the proper tires have not been available. Suffice it to say that the demand for the 225/50 and 285/50 tyre set exceeds the demand for the 285/40 and 345/35 tyre set. A conservative estimate would be perhaps 600 cars.
-G
George makes a great point, the 295’s are taller than the 285’s and when used in conjunction with a 225 it does not fill the wheel wells equally. It can give the car a slight rake. The 295’s also do not have a great matching front tire forcing owners to run non matching tires or brands.
David made a great point, Pirelli should have records of exactly how many 285’s were sold when they were being produced.
Dougal, I noticed that you posted again about the 79-84 cars that used these tires, however the production number is very misleading. As George, myself, and David tried to explain, there is a much greater number of cars that have or had the 15x10’s mounted.
The 15x10” wheels are currently being offered by Mrfiat.
The 285’s will fit on any narrow body Pantera using any rim that is between 15x8 to 15x10 as stated in Pirelli’s P7 tire brochure.