C2 Performance Tires

[George J.]

All,
Just had a set of Vredestein Sprint Classics installed on my '65. 215/70/15 on 6" American Racing (type) wheels. Initial impression is very favorable. These replaced a set of 15 yr. old Pirelli P4000s of the same size, that served me very well, but are no longer available. I purchased them from Tire Rack a few months ago for about $260/each. A good savings from the normal asking price of about $400/each.
They definitely look much more period correct than the Pirellis.

George

[Michael J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Can you post some pictures of those tires, I have never heard of them. What is the speed rating on them?

[George J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Can you post some pictures of those tires, I have never heard of them. What is the speed rating on them?

Michael,
I will try and take some. This is the link to Tire Rack, where there are pictures.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?zip-code=48066&width=215/&ratio=70&diameter=15&rearWidth=255/&rearRatio=40&rearDiameter=17

[Mark E.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Michael,
I will try and take some. This is the link to Tire Rack, where there are pictures.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireS...earDiameter=17

All the tires on this list are S or T speed rated. Four years ago, I mounted a set of Goodyear Integritys this same size on my '70, which are also listed in your link. On sale at NTB for $300 a set including mount, balance, tax. Good value for driver tires.

They provide a smooth, quiet ride in the dry. Couldn't say about corning or wet performance.

[Michael J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Thanks! Those look really nice, and I am struck by the similarity of the tread pattern to my vintage 1964 Firestone Sports Car 200 racing tires:

[Michael J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Here's the ones you have, W speed rated BTW.

[Patrick H.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Here:

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Vredestein&tireModel=Sprint+Classic&partnum=17WR5SC&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Good find! The low wear rating of 220 means it should have very good grip This is a much better choice than the "van tires" that most guys run. Your photo of the tread pattern looks different than The Tire Rack photo, but sometimes tread pattern varies with size. They remind me of the old Dunlop R6 racing tire from the sixties.

I plan on buying a set of 205/60R15 91H Vredestein Sportrac 5 for my '88 Mercedes 190E 2.6. They are a summer high perf. tire with a wear rating of 300. All I could find in traditional brands was "all-season" with wear ratings over 500. ( Grip is generally inversely proportional to wear rating.) Since my mileage accumulation on all my cars is low, I don't need a 50K mile tire. I want maximum grip!

Vredestein is out of The Netherlands, and I recall they have marketed their tires in the USA sporatically over the years. In fact, I think the first replacements I installed on my erstwhile '72 Vega GT were Vredesteins.

I think they left the USA for some time, but I'm glad they're back.

Duke

[George J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Duke,
I think the picture was from someone else's post. This isn't the greatest photo, but they do look great.

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Yeah, that photo I referred to was Michael Johnson's vintage Firestone 200 racing tires. That's why they looked like the Dunlop R6.

The tread width on these Vredesteins looks narrow for a 215/70. Can you measure or compare to the P6000s.

Duke

[Tim T.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Duke,

Tire Rack shows the 215/70 Vredesteins having a section width of 8.7" and tread width of 5.9" mounted on 6.5" rims.

SascoSports shows the 215/70 Avon CR6ZZ having a section width of 8.9" and a tread width of 7.6" mounted also on 6.5" rims.

Tim

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Something else to consider is that section width increases/decreases about 40 percent of the change in wheel width relative to the specified measuring wheel width.

I somewhat question the tread width spec for the 215/70 CR6ZZ. The 205/70 is within about 0.1" of the 215/70 OD and the tread width spec is nearly one inch narrower. Based on those specs I question whether a 215/70 on an OE 6" wheel will fit within the fender lips. What's needed is a real measurement, but the closest dealer to me, Roger Kraus Racing, is 350 miles north in the Bay Area.

Duke

[Tim T.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Duke,
I have the CR6ZZ 205/15 on my 63 and just put CR6ZZ 215/15 on my 67. Not ready to photo and show yet. But I can verify that the difference Sasco shows in tread width 6.6" vs. 7.6" is correct. Seemed to have a lot of room on the 63, but the 215/70 are tight on my 67, but still need to get the correct rear spring on and thus correct height on the rear of the 67 to evaluate further. I know I will be shaving the width (or thickness) of the inner lip of the fenders on the 67 to 3/8" for a little extra space (a real driver). 6" rims with correct back space on both.
The 215/70 puts a lot of tread with sticky compound on the road for a stock C2.
Tim

[Duke W.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Thanks for verifying the dimensions. Please post photo comparisons when you get a chance.

Duke

[George J.]

Re: C2 Performance Tires

Duke,
I'll try and get a tread width in the next day or so. The tread width looks a little less than for the P4000s. I ran those for 16 years with no clearance problems. Maybe a slight rub in the front at full lock, on the inside wheel well. Nothing to worry about, though. They were also 215/70/15 on the same 6" wheels. My car does ride high in the back.