Wheel question

Check the end of this thread....

Sticky #7 - Tires...

Hey Peter - If you find any 10" Campies, I'll have a pair too for #6791.

Hi Peter,
it is possible to get tyres in the right size for the 10 inch Campys, the problem is that in most cases they are for SUVs and you have to compromise on the speed rating. Not such a big problem unless you are regularly in Germany and wanting to push it, or doing track days etc. There are 2-3 tyres in the size of 295/50/15 with a 'H' speed rating which is probably acceptable and 1-2 with a 'S' or 'T' which is probably not really acceptable. The only one that seems to be around that is in a 'V' rating now is the Avon CR6ZZ, these are available from a variety of vendors, such as Longstone tyres in the U.K. But not cheap. I am also unsure of how long they will last, as they seem to be a type of DOT approved Classic racing type tyre. I have a set going onto my Pantera right now, but can't give you any reports on their performance or wear yet. These tyres are also used by the GT40 guys and they seem to like them. But if they don't really prove appropriate for me, I will have to go to a 'H' rated tyre on the back wheels. The other thing is there is no matching tyre in the right size for the front wheels from Avon, so you have to go for another brand, but there is more to choose from in the 225/50/15 size in 'V' and above speed ratings. Not really a problem to have different tyres front to back, it is more from an asthetics point of view, I feel. As far as I can see there is nothing available in 235 or 245 widths and appropriate profiles for a 15 inch wheel on the front, except one or two hard core DOT approved race tyres such as the Toyo R888 (I think it is from memory). There are still plenty of folk using 10 inch Campys and they go for pretty big money when they occasionally do come up for sale. But there are also quite a few using them on some really old tyres, such as Pirelli P7 tyres (e.g. maybe 15-20 years old). I actually saw a Pantera on precisely these tyres on the weekend. Brand 'new', just fitted, but strictly for show, would be my take on them. You could definitely see the crazing in the sidewalls, and old tyres are really not something you want to compromise with.
Good hunting, and please let us all know if you find something.
Cheers, Tim.

The 10" rear Campys were an option available ib Europe from about '74 onward- maybe a little earlier. Hall sold them in the U.S. FWIW, I ran 8" Campys on all 4 corners of our street Pantera for decades before I found a good pair of 10s. 8" will accept up to 275-55s with adequate support for light track and all street conditions. If you push the car hard in corners, you'll find 225s on 8" wheels will understeer noticably, and your ultimate braking is not quite as good as with 245s up front.