205/55 R 16 91Y PIRELLI CINTURATO P7

PIRELLI CINTURATO™ P7: Redefining Performance for the Modern Supercar

As Supercars gained popularity in the 1970s, tire manufacturers needed to create a new kind of tire to keep up with the demands of these powerful vehicles. Pirelli was one of the pioneers in this field, and they introduced the P7 tire in 1974. The P7 had a revolutionary internal design that allowed for a much lower profile while still maintaining a wider footprint.

The tire size 205/55 YR 16 indicates:

• The tire width is 205mm at its widest point (not just the tread width).
• The height of the tire sidewall is 55% of 205mm.
• The tire is rated Y, which means it has been successfully driven for 1 hour at a speed of 186mph or 300km/h in test conditions.
• The R indicates that the tire has a radial design.
• 16 means this tire can only be fitted onto a 16” wheel.

205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 Tires for Porsche

Porsche first offered 16-inch wheels as an option for their 911 in 1985, with a tire setup of 205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 on the front and 225/50 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 on the rear for models such as the 930 Turbo, 911 Carrera Coupe, and 911 Targa. In 1986, the 911 Turbo and Turbo Sport switched to a larger rear tire size of 245/45 R 16 96Y PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7, a configuration that would later be adopted by other models such as the 911 Carrera Super Sport and 911 Cabriolet.

The 16" P7 setup became increasingly popular on most Porsche 911 models towards the end of the 1980s and early 1990s, including the 964, 968, and 993 models. The 205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 was also an option for the mid-'80s Porsche 924 S, and was used as the front tire for Porsche's 944 Lux, S, Turbo, S2, and Cabriolet models from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s. The P7's reputation for reliability and performance made it a favourite among enthusiasts during this era.

205/55 YR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 Porsche Homologation

Classic car enthusiasts looking for high-quality 205/55 YR 16 tires should consider the 205/55 YR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7. This tire is an excellent choice for iconic models like the Porsche 911 and Ferrari 308. It has even received N homologation from Porsche, making it their recommended tire for a wide range of classic GT and sports cars.

If you're specifically searching for Porsche tires, Pirelli also offers options that match the carcass construction and tread pattern of the P7 for the rear wheels. The 225/50 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 and 245/45 YR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 models are the tires you need.

The original Porsche 944 was fitted with 185/70 VR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO™ CN36 front tires, and 215/60 VR 15 PIRELLI CINTURATO CN36 rear tires. As the model evolved, Porsche switched to larger 16-inch wheels and wider tires, with 205/55 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO P7 front tires and 225/50 YR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 rear tires becoming standard.

In 1990, some Porsche 944 models - such as the series 2 and the Turbo - were equipped with the even wider 245/45 YR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 rear tire, while the front tires remained unchanged with 205/55 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO P7. These tire updates improved the car's performance and handling.

205/55 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 Speed Rating

The Y speed rating had not yet been created in the 1970s. Back then, the 205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 tire was known as the 205/55 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO P7; V stood for greater than 149 mph. Contemporary tire marking would have the tire written up as 205/55 VR 16 (Y means the tire has been tested for an hour continuously at a speed of 186 mph or 300 km/h), however to have these tires appear as historical as possible, it is still made up as 205/55 VR 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO P7.

205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 Ferrari Tires

The 205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 tire is an excellent choice for classic Ferrari models, particularly the Ferrari 308. If you own a 308 GT 4 2+2, 308 GTB, 308 GTS, 308 GTBi, 308 GTSi, or another 308 variation, this tire could be ideal fit. The 205/55 R 16 PIRELLI CINTURATO ™ P7 also applies to the Ferrari Mondial T, Mondial 3.2, and some 246 GT Dino cars on 16" wheels, as well as other Ferraris of the same era. To see a complete list of relevant cars that can benefit from this tire, see the list below.