Modern tires for Empi knockoffs?

[animes2k]

Hi all! First post here, first VW, only a day old!

I've got what I assume are Empi knockoffs on my brand new (to me) Mexican Beetle. The front is on lowered spindles and the front tires are lacking useful tread.

The rears are new, but pretty horrid.

So, the setup currently is:
- 5.5" Empi-style wheels
- 145R15 front (~6" wide, 23" diameter) - Nankang
- 165R15 rear (~6.5" wide, 24.5" diameter) - Metric Radial

I want modern tires and the conveniences and safety that these afford.
It appears as if I can easily find rears to match these dimensions - 185/65/15 in this top-rated tire (Goodyear Assurance ComforTred) - but not matching fronts.

What I have found is this tire (Conti Eco Contact) in a 145/65/15, which almost meets the dimension requirements (it suggests a narrower rim).

As it is I have a (very little) little rubbing on speed bumps and tight turns.

Am I out of luck looking for modern-compound tires in the front? Should I go back to stock height?

Thanks, all! Awesome forum!

[BDubVdub]

A common tire size nowadays for the front is a 155/60/15. They're used on Smart Cars. I have a set on the Continental 155/60's on our 61 and they're tremendous tires. Kumho now makes the same size tire but it's cheaper.

[ovalshark]

145/65/15 tire on your size rim is ultra common anymore. They fit fine and drive great. Surf around the forum and there is a lot of pics and talk about these tires. Good luck!!

[luckystiff]

conti also makes a 165/60/15 which will fit your car well. out back depending on if it's lowered and how much a 195/65/15 is actually closer to the stock 165r15 in overall diameter than the 185/65/15. i've actually do 205/65/15 on the rear of 2 spline lowered swing axle cars with no issues...ken....
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ITMC
Secret Service

[animes2k]

Thanks for the warm welcome and all of the suggestions.

I'll look into the Smart-sized tires for the front. The awesome independent tire shop I've been talking to was willing to try some options to make sure I get something that fits and works well.

The 185/65/15 rears that I found measure as an exact replacement for what's there now so now to see if they make a 155 that will work. I'm already running a few more rpm on the front than intended, as the speedometer is reading about 5% high at 100km/h, so I'll want to avoid a smaller OD.

Thanks again. I'll dig around the forum a bit more for pics.

[flemcadiddlehopper]

I have the same wheels too, and I have been looking for low pro tire to fit my Bus.
There are 145s available but not many companies stock them, therefor I didn't want to buy a tire, or build a Bus to run a certain size tire, that can't be easily replaced.
So I have decided to go with Yokohama S-drives 185/55r15 up front and 205/50r15 in the rear. Both tires have a diameter 23" but will still have a staggered look due to the width difference. I also like that they have a better load carrying capacity than the little smart car tires.

Gordo.

[animes2k]

Well, I went ahead and had the new tires put on today. Looking pretty good! Now, I just need to replace the wheel stud on the passenger rear that they were only able to replace with a shorter stud (old one was mangled).

185/65/15 Continental ProContact EcoPlus in the rear:



145/65/15 Continental ContiEcoContact EP up front:


Feels much better, but I'm pretty sure I need an alignment.
And those wheels need to be cleaned up!

A couple more gratuitous photos:





Thanks again, all!

[BDubVdub]

Looks good. Where'd you purchase the tires?

[animes2k]

[BDubVdub]

[animes2k]

[flemcadiddlehopper]

nice to see people still support the independent garages, after all where are you going to go when you have a problem with your tires you bought online?
I just ordered my tires through a family owned tire shop in our town, could have saved lots of $$ on tirerack but I like to keep as much money supporting community businesses.

Gordo.

[ovalshark]

Looks good!

[animes2k]

Thanks, all. Since the casting coating wore off, these things are SOO much better. I really have to try to lock them up now. They stop the car very well.

[hollowseve103103]

I have same wheels on my 71 super 165/60/15 on front and 215/70/15 on back with 2 inch wider fenders[/img]