Need tire suggestions

[covelo]

I found this beautiful Squareback for $400 and have been driving it for a week, but I am worried about the tires. Today one of them went flat and the spare is no good either. The car had been sitting for five years, so I guess I need new ones.

The car is stock so I think I need 165-80-15 tires. (Am I correct that that is the equivalent of 165-R-15, which it says on the tires? I really have no idea what the numbers mean and all the posts I find that reference tires talk about EMPI 8-spoke wheels, which I am sure I do not have). I am unable to find that size tire available at any of the large web-based places like Big-O and MallWart. A local place in my neighborhood quoted me $60 per tire, which seems steep for five tires.

Does anyone have any suggestions of places to try? Has anyone managed to buy stock tires at Big O or Costco or some place like that? Somehow most cars I have bought have had good tires on them so I am not used to having to replace a whole set at a time.

Thanks for the advice!
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'80 Vanagon Westfalia

'72 Bay Window Westfalia (with 2L AVP engine and dual solex carbs) -- sold in 2009

[Bobnotch]

I don't know if you'll find a 165-80-15 tire listed by anybody, but it's the equivilent to a 165-15. If you don't mind stepping outside the box, you could go with a 185-65-15, as this will fit the stock rim, be the same size in diameter, and put a slightly wider contact patch with the road (improves braking). These might be easier to find and a little cheaper than 60 per tire. I hope this helps.
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Bob 65 Notch S with Sunroof
71 Notch ...aka Krunchy; build pics here;
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=249390 -been busy working
64 T-34 Ghia...aka Wolfie, under construction... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=412120

[tristessa]

You're probably best off if you forget trying to find tires through the online channels .. most of the backend programming in those sites gets confused if you don't enter a numeric aspect ratio (ie 185/65R15) and the stock tire is simply a 165R15. You'd probably be best off just calling on the phone.

That said, I "faked" things and found a listing for Nankang Metric at Big O's website: http://www.bigotires.com/index.asp?PG=2&Sub=12a&Tire=165R15, and Arizonan Premium Metric at Discount Tire/America's Tire Company through their website: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresBySize...&rd=15. Also, Kumho has a 165R15
(though listed as 165/80R15) in their Power Star 758 line .. Kumho's are usually available through Sears Auto Centers, as well as America's Tire Company and PepBoys.

Hope this helps.

[Kevin S.]

Or you could swing by your local Les Schwab Tire and those guys could hook you up with a good set. A 165-15 Jupiter is a pretty inexpensive tire too. If you have a Les Schwab in your area. Far better warantee that America's tire, Sears or Pep Boys
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Do you feel lucky????

[tristessa]

.. I specifically didn't mention Schwab because the locator on the website doesn't show any in San Francisco. Nearest ones it finds are in Livermore and Napa (40-ish miles). I *know* there's a couple of Big-O's in SF, I *think* there's a Sears auto center .. I think there's a Pep Boys by now but I could be wrong.

Having grown up in the Bay Area (north Bay) and knowing what the freeways and bridges are like .. correction: knowing what the *IDIOTS* that're *DRIVING* on the freeways and bridges are like .. I wouldn't want to push my luck driving on tires of unknown condition very far.

[Kevin S.]

I agree with that. Tires are very important.
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Do you feel lucky????