reconmended tires for pre 67 vw

185/65 15" in all corners, on 5.5-6" wide wheels. Just perfect for all around driving. Massive improvement in stability and handling, you wouldn't believe. 165's belong in the recycling bin.

Jan

Like I said.. you don't realize the potential and the difference until you try.

Always match teh tire size with proper wheel size though. 185's on stock

4.5" wheels are illegal in many places.. not safe, and definitely not "good" to drive. LooX Way pHaT Though!

:P

jan

Ben Boyle wrote:

corners. Just Cooper tires and they work ok by me.

So where do you get these Cooper tires? or are there other brands that are just as good?

-tom

I dare you to try 185/65 on 5.5's.

:D

Jan

Ben Boyle wrote:

Just Cooper tires and they work ok by me.

Just Cooper tires and they work ok by me.

Get a set of aftermarket wheels and save the stock steelies, that way you are open for more options... that is if you have less than a 5.5" wide rim.

I got 195/65/15's on my 1969 beetle with 5.5" wide 8spoke EMPI's

and I have 165/15's on my 1966 beetle on 5.5" wide 5 spoke EMPI's

Try Coker Tire - several brands available.

a normal fashion. Would someone who drove

have disc brakes and that was a very

In my bone stock 67 the difference in stability at normal highway speeds and when cornering was dramatic. Didn't need to slow down in a turn to below other traffic's speed to be able to make the turn safely :) This in normal speeds and with stock 1300 engine. (those were the days)

The differences of course are even greater if you drive aggressively. The 165's just won't allow it.

Jan

drive in a normal fashion. Would someone who drove

difference? I have disc brakes and that was a very

My '66 is also original and my question regarding tires and tire pressure is; the manual that came with the car calls for 5.60 x 15 tubeless tires, and tire pressure specs of;

1 to 2 occupants 16 psi front, 24 psi rear. 3 to 5 occupants 17 psi front, 26 psi rear. Someone mentioned that the tires are better today and that's why the suggestion for the higher psi rating. Are there any manufactures that still make and size tires of 5.60 x 15? And would it be safe to run these tires at 16 psi front and 24 psi rear? I would rather stay with the manufactures specification recommendations.

-tom

Cooper is stopping making them...I just got the last set in San Diego a week ago. Awesome tires, we ougtta bitch at em.

drive in a normal fashion. Would someone who drove

difference? I have disc brakes and that was a very

Wheres the fun in that. I love the look on other drivers faces when i have to to a u turn round a local mini roundabout and the back end sort of beats the front end ?

James

Tom, The higher pressure used in modern tires is higher because almost all new tires are radials, not bias-plies like the manual calls for. Coker tire sells the 5.6 x 15 with black walls, a small (around 1") whitewall, and a larger one too. The Firestone reproductions they sell look sweet and the square "metric" shoulder of the tire really fits the look of the car. Right now my '66 has 165's that the P.O. put on them, but ideally (VW says) you should never put radials without tubes on a car with stocks wheels earlier than around '69 because those rims do not have a safety hump to prevent the tire from popping in during hard cornering. I recently put bias-ply whitewalls on my ghia and the ride (and look) is great (and better than the worn out re-capped radials that were there before). If you're not going stock, Jan's tire size suggestion is good. If you are looking to stay bone stock, buy some bias-plies from coker. If you run modern radials your tire pressures will need to be a few psi higher than what the manual recommends (for radials). HTH,

-Chip

Tom Nakashima wrote:

aggressively.

recommendations.

Thanks Chip for your comments. I'm see that you've been through the mill and have shared your thoughts well. I like the idea of the bias-ply tires. I will look into the Coker's on line.

-tom

I've been running 165x15 on my '66 since 1998 and they seem fine.

155x15 are the correct replacement, but you get an extra bit of width with the 165's and are much easier to find. I could not find a 155 tyre anywhere.

You can still get 5.60x15 crossply tyres from a suitable classic tyre specialist. However, they are not as good as a modern tyre. Lots of people critisise them for not handling as well, but it's really not going to be a problem on a stock '66. As soon as I can afford to, I am replacing my 165x15s with a set of 5.60x15. They just look "right" on a stocker!