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nickfancher1
Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2014
Posts: 282
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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 Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 11:55 am Post subject: What tire pressure to run? |
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On my 70' I have 4 - 185/65-15 size tires on it. What tire pressures should I run? I'm asking since these are a little bit wider tires and want to know what would be ideal.
Thanks
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1970 Beetle |
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Cusser
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006
Posts: 31362
Location: Hot Arizona
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gargamel
Samba Member
Joined: December 20, 2011
Posts: 693
Location: Orange Grove, Texas
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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| nicfancher1 - I got the same tire size on my '70, right now. I'm using 18 in front and 28 in the rear. |
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HRVW
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2011
Posts: 2531
Location: Rosarito, Mexico
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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 Am thinking it was considered to be 18 up front and 24 in the rear....then again that was with the old style biased tires of yesteryear.
Now days we have the Tubeless and different sizes available for the VW.
Personally I would consider the terrene being driven considering dirt roads, gravel, hwy or long FWY commutes...can/will make a difference.
Heat can build up on the side walls if the tire is TOO wide towards the threads and constant flexing will eventually do it's number.
Old belief was never to have a tire protrude more then 1/2 inch past the rim. |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 3:19 pm Post subject: |
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Tires really have not changed much since this thing was new. I know since I was there.
16-19 up front and 24-27 in the rear. |
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mikeonthebike
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 952
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 4:45 pm Post subject: |
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I have 185/65 R14 on the front and 195/60 R15 on the back and I run like Cusser...18-20 front...28-30 back.
72 super. |
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Hnoroian
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2013
Posts: 535
Location: Bakersfield
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:09 pm Post subject: |
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I have 185/65/15 on all 4 corners, I agree with the others, but in the city 16f/24r, highway 18f/26r
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nickfancher1
Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2014
Posts: 282
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Oct 30, 2014 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Cusser wrote: |
| Nick - I have 185/70-R14 on my 1971 (14-inch mag wheels) and I run 18-20 in the front and 28-30 in the rear. |
Thanks, sounds good to me. 20 front and 30 rear is what I'll probably run, I typically like tires on cars a little overinflated, then if I forget to check them for a couple months I'm still doing pretty good.
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68IHscout
Samba Member
Joined: March 10, 2010
Posts: 3122
Location: santa ana ca
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| nickfancher1 wrote: |
| Cusser wrote: |
| Nick - I have 185/70-R14 on my 1971 (14-inch mag wheels) and I run 18-20 in the front and 28-30 in the rear. |
Thanks, sounds good to me. 20 front and 30 rear is what I'll probably run, I typically like tires on cars a little overinflated, then if I forget to check them for a couple months I'm still doing pretty good. |
Thats what i run on mine ,20 front 30 rear |
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mountainkowboy
Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2008
Posts: 951
Location: Socal
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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Same tires on the Vert...........20F-30R
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Glenn 
Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001
Posts: 76904
Location: Sneaking up behind you
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| Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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18 front / 26 rear
I've run that on 195/60-15 all around and 195/55 (front) 205/60-15 (rear).
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AZbug1979
Samba Member
Joined: February 10, 2013
Posts: 151
Location: AZ
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| So running 30psi all around is bad? |
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Joel
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Joined: September 04, 2006
Posts: 11099
Location: NSW Australia
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| Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2014 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Unless you like shattering your teeth and having no steering when braking yes 30psi in the front is bad.
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mikeonthebike
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012
Posts: 952
Location: Sacramento, CA
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2015 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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| The tire shop overinflated my front tires to 35 psi. one time even after they were instructed to put 19 in the front. Taking a curve in the road my front end started hopping my car to the other lane. |
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trktrd
Samba Member
Joined: December 24, 2014
Posts: 22
Location: Arkansas
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 9:49 am Post subject: |
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| The PO of my car had all tires at 32. Never gave it a second thought til I saw the factory sticker on the inside of the glove box door with correct tire pressure listing. Glad I picked up on that before driving it. |
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SBD
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012
Posts: 3269
Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:02 am Post subject: |
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My wife had a Squareback and was working at a full-service gas station at the time. She had them do some work on her car while she was working and they parked it in the lot behind the station when they were done with it. She got in the car to drive home and before she got out of the lot she stopped and accused the guys in the shop (jokingly) of trying to kill her.  They had put 30 psi in all 4 tires. She could tell the difference at parking lot speeds. As I recall we ran about 17-18 psi in front on that car, whatever VW called for. I think we had 165sr15 tires on it. I might be a bit fuzzy on the details, that was over 20 year ago. 
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| I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
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Brian
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Joined: May 28, 2012
Posts: 8340
Location: Oceanside
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:29 am Post subject: |
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Every tire for every car I have ever gotten, tire shops have inflated them to 35 psi.
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SBD
Samba Member
Joined: October 24, 2012
Posts: 3269
Location: SOUTH DAKOTA
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| Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2015 10:58 am Post subject: |
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Last time I bought tires I was given a printout showing what pressure each tire had been inflated to (and it was the pressure specified by the vehicle manufacturer). Checked them myself in the parking lot outside the store and none of the tires had the pressure in it that the printout said it had.
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"Just $99 down and $64 a month for 36 months buys you a brand new Volkswagen Beetle!"
| mark tucker wrote: |
| I wouldent waste $ or thyme on building a small motor. build it big so it dosent have to work hard.remember it's only as fast as your foot alows it to be unless you build a small turd then it just stinks as it squishes up through your toes when you step on it. |
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kamesama980
Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2014
Posts: 323
Location: Columbus, IN
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| Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:05 am Post subject: |
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165/80R15 all-seasons. no-name brand.
When I first got the bug, I put them up way too high, without getting much into it I've had good results in the past in other vehicles. The bug actually likes lower pressure, especially up front. With higher pressure it absolutely rides like sh*t (this coming from someone who likes the firm ride of a truck or sports car) and contrary to logic and experience in other vehicles, 35+psi up front actually makes the steering heavier. Lots heavier.
18f/25r for daily driving
+5psi for auto-x helps sharpen up the steering a bit and keep from rolling the sidewalls.
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"You don't get to blame me for how I fix what you break"
1970 VW Beetle
1994 Pontiac Firebird
2001 BMW R1200C
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airschooled
Air-Schooled
Joined: April 04, 2012
Posts: 12721
Location: on a bike ride somewhere
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| Posted: Sat Feb 21, 2015 9:47 am Post subject: |
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| Brian wrote: |
| Every tire for every car I have ever gotten, tire shops have inflated them to 35 psi. |
A tire shop in AZ asked me what the inflation pressures were for my the bug I was driving through. I told them 20-30 since I was doing all freeway. They didn't believe me so I told them to look at the sticker. The dude came out with this excuse that "we legally can't inflate anything under 30" or was it 35? I don't remember. I told him to just do it and I'll air down in the parking lot since I was in a hurry. He nodded, I pulled out, and found them at 20-30 with 30-30 written on the sheet. 
So there may be some kind of regulation in effect depending on where you live.
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