C3: Pirelli's - 215's or 225's?

[Dan Pepper]

I'd like to update from the 25 y/o Goodyear Eagles on my C3 350/350 coupe to Pirelli P4000's just like on my C2 BB coupe. What size is best: 215/70/15 or 225/70/15's? Would like to stay close to stock looking stance/size. Using stock ralley wheels.

Reviewed Duke's archived/restorer advice on tires and both sizes are mentioned. Which is best for my application?

[Duke W.]

Re: C3: Pirelli's - 215's or 225's?

For C3s, including '68 models with 7" wheels I recommend size 225/70R-15 - one of the three available V-rated police pursuit tires. My pick is the Firestone Firehawk PV 41 based on both appearance and its slight advantage in the dry performance tests conducted the NLECTC. The GY Eagle RSA and General XP4000V4 are the other two choices.

Pirelli does not offer the P4000 Super Touring in a 225/70R-15. Size 215/70R-15 is the biggest you can install on a C2 without t******* the fender lip, and the P4000 Super Touring is the pick of the litter in this size since the three police pursuit tires are not available in size 215/70R-15.

The 215/70R-15 has the same revs per mile as the OE F70-15 used from '68 to '72, but then the first radials in '73 were 225/70s, which have about two percent fewer revs per mile. Speedo gearing was not changed, but remained the same as back in the 6.70-15 days, and this size is the same revs per mile as 225/70R-15, so all they did was eliminate the two percent error that all the speedos had in the days of 7.75-15 and F70-15.

I don't think I'm telling you anything new here - made the same basic argument in the articles.

Duke