'63 bug - stock tire question

I have 165x15 radials on my '66 and I hate them. They look way to fat, I just love the original narrow look of the original crossplies. I keep promising that I will switch back to crossplies as soon as I wear out these radials, but they are too damn hard wearing!! he he

Can't remember if they had tubes in them, but I don't think they did.

If you want radial tyres, then try and get 155x15 instead. If you don't drive like a maniac, then you can't beat crossplies on a stock car - they're not as nasty and dangerous as people make them out to be.

I have radials without tubes on my '61 and they work just fine.

OEM bias size was 5.60 x 15, although 6.00 x 15 is common replacement.

For radials, 155R15 was the equivalent size and recommended replacement, although 165R15 is used predominantly today.

I'm leaning towards getting the bias tires for my car ('63), but something tells me that may not be totally pleased with them. There's a reason that most every new car for the past 30 years has had radial tires...

Oh well, we shall see.

Dane Tyler '69 Bug '63 sunroof Bug

John Cricht> I think I used to know what the tire size that originally shipped on a

radials,

OEM bias size was 5.60 x 15, although 6.00 x 15 is common replacement.

For radials, 155R15 was the equivalent size and recommended replacement, although 165R15 is used predominantly today.

I'm leaning towards getting the bias tires for my car ('63), but something tells me that may not be totally pleased with them. There's a reason that most every new car for the past 30 years has had radial tires...

Oh well, we shall see.

Dane Tyler '69 Bug '63 sunroof Bug

John Cricht> I think I used to know what the tire size that originally shipped on a

radials,

That size sounds familiar! I have an old Firestone bias ply 5.60 x 15 as the spare as anything bigger wouldn't fit in the OEM location.

5.60x15 crossply. Euro-spec cars had Michelin from 1965, but I believe US-spec cars had different ones?

Unfortunately Michelin no longer make a 5.60x15 crossply tyre, but Camacs look almost identical.

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)

Modern cars are also more reliable, comfortable, faster, better MPG, have working heaters... but I don't want one ;-)

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)

pretty sure, but not sure when/how, that Continental tire was the chosen tire supplier for US spec vw's....

------------------- Chris Perdue "I'm ever so thankful for the Internet; it has allowed me to keep a finger in the pie and to make some small contribution to those younger who will carry the air-cooled legend forward" Jim Mais Feb. 2004

That's the one! Just forgot the name. Thanks~

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)

I always used bias tubeless tires on my VW's (had 5 of 'em), and I read somewhere along the way that the newer steel belted tires are a bit too hard on the suspension system, as the bias tires absorb more road shock than radials. I dunno if this is true or not, but it sounds reasonable to me. When I get my next VW, I'll look for bias ply tires first, but if I can't find any, well, I'll be ready to spring for extra suspension parts too . . . -Tock

is a tire company that makes stuff for antique and classic cars. Click in the year and VW and you'll get your answer . . . they look nice (big 3" sidewalls) but they're pricy. But ya, they can tell ya what size you need. =Tock

Your original wheels lack the safety hump in the rim which will keep radial tires from pulling sideways and deflating suddenly under hard cornering. A tube would at least slow down the deflation, even though it might well pop if you did this.

To use radial tires, it is recommended that you either have the safety hump or use an inner tube. For some reason, bias ply tires don't have this limitation. I don't know why.

Tubeless bias ply tires on these rims would be fine, but radials will handle better, probably last longer, and get better gas mileage.

The correct size for your '63 is either 5.60-15 or 155R15.

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----------------------------------------------- Jim Adney snipped-for-privacy@vwtype3.org Madison, WI 53711 USA

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So would say a brand new '65 Bug on the dealer's lot have whitewall or blackwall tires?

I've seen old pictures of both...I think they were an option.

Another question would be, when were the fat whitewalls replaced with the thinner white walls? I would guess '66 or so...

Dane

John Cricht>

.................I'd say that they were starting to disappear about 5 or more years earlier than '66.

In the UK, I don't think whitewalls were even an option!

-- Howard Rose

1966 VW Beetle 1300 Deluxe 1962 Austin Mini Deluxe 1964 Austin Mini Super Deluxe (cars on website)