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Lost in Space Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2012 Posts: 133 Location: Bug Infested Forest, next to the REZ
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 4:19 am Post subject: |
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Well, now starting to debate the pro's vs con's of the Kumho's.
Any report on dry pavement traction ?
I just dont wanna be stuck with slippery compound tires (like the Dunlops) since I cant seem to find any modern tread and compound tires in this size. |
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pb_foots Samba Member
Joined: April 15, 2010 Posts: 1089 Location: Ben Lomond, CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 6:01 am Post subject: |
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I've had the Kumhos for a couple of years and have no complaints. I don't drive in the rain, and have no issues with traction.
The bigger issue IMO is the sidewall flex and that tiny contact patch. You're talking about very high aspect ration tires that are about as wide as a motorcycle tire, I think you are way over analyzing this. The rubber compound is important yes, but a 60 series anything tire is going to offer way better grip than a high end narrow tire.
If you're determined to stay with the stock width, you'll be fine with the Kumhos. If you're really looking for improved handling, look at a different tire size. |
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helowrench Samba Member
Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 567 Location: dallas texas
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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I had the kumhos on my ghia with the last set of rims.
Good tires when fresh, get sketchy once about 6years old. That rubber hardens pretty good.
At that point, they had 60/70k miles on them.
Now they do a great job of holding up a project car. _________________ Current VWs:
70 bug vert for wifey
73Thing bucket o rust
73 914 1.7
12 Passat 2.5 Highway cruiser |
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60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
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Posted: Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:55 am Post subject: |
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Just a warning on the Nankangs, I have 7600 miles on a set on my 60 and 2 have slipped belts, pretty disappointing and the 2 that are still good have only 5/32 tread left so that means very little mileage even if they don't fall apart
On the other hand, on my 70 I have a set of Nexens and at 23K they till have 6-7/32 tread left and wearing evenly across. _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
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sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
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green1303 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 748 Location: Alexandria, VA
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 4:09 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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Here's an update on 165R15 tires. The Korean companies, Kumho and Nexen, have discontinued their 165/80R15 tires, but some shops still have the Nexen tire in stock. The Taiwanese companies, Nankang and Federal, are still making this tire with UTQG ratings of 440AB and 420AA respectively. There are also low-end tires made by Classic and Cordovan (aka ElDorado, Multimile, Sigma, and Vanderbilt) with a UTQG of 280BB. See Consumer Reports for a good discussion of the limitations to the UTQG ratings, particularly when comparing one company's product to another's.
Vredestein (Netherlands) makes a well-respected version of this tire, and Coker has it along with reproductions of three Michelin tires (France) and the Firestone F560 (Ukraine). Those are your main options for classic blackwall tires. See also Universal Vintage Tire.
I can't say much about tread wear, but you can afford to replace the cheaper Taiwanese tires more frequently, and I don't know if the classic reproductions have a long tread life. I may try a set of the Vredesteins. _________________ 1973 green Super Beetle |
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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This is a drag. Pretty soon, we'll have to run chevy rims to get a tire to fit.
You'd think with all the bugs still in the U.S., we'd have more available.
In my case, America's Tire just gave me a new Nanking to replace one of my out-of-round Kumho tires.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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Max Welton Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2003 Posts: 10697 Location: Black Forest, CO
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Tim Donahoe Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2012 Posts: 11740 Location: Redding, CA
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 8:25 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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Still plenty of vintage VW's here in California, Max.
But I have to agree about putting so few miles on them. I only had 5000 miles on mine--in three years.
Tim _________________ Let's do the Time Warp again!
Richard O'Brien |
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air-h2o-air Samba Member
Joined: January 25, 2015 Posts: 579
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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Nankangs on 72 std....2500 miles...so far so good
Classic on a new purchase...74 std, look new, DOT says 3 yrs old...car drives like a dream
neither car have been on anything but dry pavement |
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Frank Bassman Samba Member
Joined: July 01, 2012 Posts: 894 Location: Miami
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Posted: Fri Dec 04, 2015 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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Nexen discontinuing tires? Man I'll have to buy 3 sets and keep them in my stash.
I wish.
I put 60,000 miles on my last set. Not kidding, seriously 60k. I'm amazed till this day.
And I am on my second set so I will be ok for the next 58k I figure.
-Frank |
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WD-40 Samba Member
Joined: May 31, 2006 Posts: 1178 Location: Iowa
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EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69823 Location: Phoenix Metro
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26323 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2016 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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The Nankangs can be had here:
http://www.tires-direct.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=...p=R-163175 _________________ Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
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green1303 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 748 Location: Alexandria, VA
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:55 am Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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A Taiwanese company named Federal also makes this tire, but it isn't widely available.
http://www.tires-easy.com/165-80-15/federal-tires/ss-657/tirecode/126D5AFA
Summit Racing sells the Vredestein Sprint Classic tires for the same price as Coker but with free shipping. I have a set of five on my car. The UTQG is 220AB, reflecting a design that is more grippy on the road but has a lower tread life. It's made in the Netherlands. I won't put high mileage on this car, so I will probably replace the tires due to age before they wear down.
This article is a good read comparing the three options that are not discount tires.
https://classicmotorsports.com/articles/retro-rubber/ _________________ 1973 green Super Beetle |
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Cusser Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 31379 Location: Hot Arizona
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mark tucker Samba Member
Joined: April 08, 2009 Posts: 23937 Location: SHALIMAR ,FLORIDA
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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dont you just love how the usa tire makers make squat for tires, mostly interested in making junk tires for the oe market that last a year. |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26323 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:03 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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I like how only Veentos show up on Discount Tire's site, but on their mail order Discount Tire Direct site, both the Veento and Nankang tires show up:
http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/searchTir...amp;cs=165
I bought my Nankangs from them a couple of years ago when there was a 50 dollar discount going on. _________________ Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
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gt1953 Samba Member
Joined: May 08, 2002 Posts: 13848 Location: White Mountains Arizona
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 3:45 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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I also think that some of the British cars us the same stock size tires as we do. We do have hope and the tires will be around for sure. _________________ Volkswagen: We tune what we drive.
Numbers Matching VW's are getting harder to find. Source out the most Stock vehicle and keep that way. You will be glad you did.
72 type 1
72 Squareback
({59 Euro bug, 62, 63, 67, 68, 69, 73 type ones 68 & 69 type two, 68 Ghia all sold}) |
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glutamodo The Android
Joined: July 13, 2004 Posts: 26323 Location: Douglas, WY
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2016 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: 165-SR 15 tires |
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mark tucker wrote: |
dont you just love how the usa tire makers make squat for tires, mostly interested in making junk tires for the oe market that last a year. |
That reminds me - there was that (smaller) 155/80R15 T/A Radial by BF Goodrich a few years ago, which I think is now out of production. _________________ Andy T.
IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox. |
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green1303 Samba Member
Joined: February 04, 2014 Posts: 748 Location: Alexandria, VA
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