TheSamba.com :: View topic - Best tire sizes to achieve a specific rake/stance?

Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:02 pm

Starting a new topic, my old one got lost in my ramblings:

Long story short I am looking to accomplish the rake and stance similar to this pic here:

http://images.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/336187.jpg

I have 15 x 5.5 Baby Gas Burners all around on my ghia (1967).

http://i.imgur.com/Re8sk.jpg

Any advice on tires sizes?

Thanks, as always!

Fri Feb 12, 2010 2:25 pm

I'm running 175X65's & 195X70's for a 1.5" rake.

Fri Feb 12, 2010 3:01 pm

Based on the Fuch's sticky post in this forum category and the pic I posted (he is running 135s, can see them in another pic) I am gonna stick with the 185/55/15. Seems these tires have the same side appearance as the 135, minus the thinner tread.

Thanks again.

Fri Feb 12, 2010 5:03 pm

crapweasel wrote: Based on the Fuch's sticky post in this forum category and the pic I posted (he is running 135s, can see them in another pic) I am gonna stick with the 185/55/15. Seems these tires have the same side appearance as the 135, minus the thinner tread.
Not quite. 185/55R15 has a diameter of 23.0 inches, whereas 135R15 has a diameter of 23.7 inches.

You will run into tire clearance issues w/ a 185/55R15 in back if you still have the stock long-axles that came on 67s and 68s. Also, if you're running drop spindles w/ a stock width front beam, 185/55R15 will rub in front.

Fri Feb 12, 2010 10:22 pm

500-15 front and 560-15 rear. :shock:

Mon Feb 15, 2010 5:34 pm

Quote: You will run into tire clearance issues w/ a 185/55R15 in back if you still have the stock long-axles that came on 67s and 68s. Also, if you're running drop spindles w/ a stock width front beam, 185/55R15 will rub in front.

Considering a different size for the rear, haven't picked one yet, advice appreciated. Wider the better, as long as they'll (supposedly) fit. As far as the drop spindles I only have the adjustable front end on this car for now, and it's pretty much at stock height at the moment. I may move it down a hair or two, but not pushing her too low, the nose being that close to the ground has a high pucker factor. Gonna go for a light rake stance, not too aggressive for the time being.

I actually prefer the notion the 185 has just a little less height to it, so seems good to me. :)

Mon Feb 15, 2010 8:07 pm

145/65/15s on the front
185/65/15s on the rear
stock (or 1 down) in the rear
probably 3 or 4 in the front

Tue Feb 16, 2010 12:51 pm

Stock height rear with 205/60s. Spindles and 175/55s on the front.

Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:57 pm

crapweasel wrote: Quote: You will run into tire clearance issues w/ a 185/55R15 in back if you still have the stock long-axles that came on 67s and 68s. Also, if you're running drop spindles w/ a stock width front beam, 185/55R15 will rub in front.

Considering a different size for the rear, haven't picked one yet, advice appreciated. Wider the better, as long as they'll (supposedly) fit. As far as the drop spindles I only have the adjustable front end on this car for now, and it's pretty much at stock height at the moment. I may move it down a hair or two, but not pushing her too low, the nose being that close to the ground has a high pucker factor. Gonna go for a light rake stance, not too aggressive for the time being.

I actually prefer the notion the 185 has just a little less height to it, so seems good to me. :)
Do you know if your 67 ghia has been swapped to short axles? If not, you'll likely be limited to no wider than 175/65R15 or so in the rear, even with the more favorable offset of the Gas Burners. You can probably fit 195s or even 205s in back w/ the larger than stock offset of Gas Burners IF you have the 66 and earlier short axles installed.

Stock width adjustable beam and stock spindles is the way to go for cramming wider tires up front. You don't have to worry about the increased track width from drop spindles nor the need to clearance the lower ball joint so it doesn't rub on higher offset rims. The 185/55R15s you're considering should fit fine.

I have 185/65R15s all the way around in my 66 ghia. I have the stock 66 short axles in back and a stock width adjustable beam in front.

Wed Feb 17, 2010 4:52 pm

Gonna measure them tomorrow, honestly I don't know. The rear has 165/15 metrics on it right now, and when the vehicle is at it's current ride height the fattest part has about 1 inch between it and the top of the rear wheel well.

Thu Feb 18, 2010 11:03 am

crapweasel wrote: Gonna measure them tomorrow, honestly I don't know. The rear has 165/15 metrics on it right now, and when the vehicle is at it's current ride height the fattest part has about 1 inch between it and the top of the rear wheel well.
This thread shows the visual difference between a short axle tube and long axle tube.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=326502&highlight=short+axle

As you can see, the difference is outboard of the shock mount.