165-SR 15 tires

[Lost in Space]

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.

[pb_foots]

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.

[helowrench]

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

[60ragtop]

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

[green1303]

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

[Tim Donahoe]

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
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Richard O'Brien

[Max Welton]

Not that many cars left Tim. And the ones that are left aren't wearing out tires like they used to. Cause they aren't driven every day.

Max
_________________
1967 Type-3 Fastback
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[Tim Donahoe]

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
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Let's do the Time Warp again!

Richard O'Brien

[air-h2o-air]

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

[Frank Bassman]

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

[WD-40]

Time for a 2016 update?

As far as I can see, most of the tires previously mentioned as being discontinued are now gone. Maybe one here and one there of old stock on eBay and other places, but gone from general availability.

A quick search of "what's left" came up with these:
//edit: I should clarify that I only looked at blackwall tires...

Classic All Season 165/80R15 China $62.62/each 87T / 280 B B (T=118mph)
Tire Rack
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=C...m=68TR5CAS

Firestone F560 165R15 $80/each Speed rating P (93 mph)
Coker Tire
https://www.cokertire.com/firestone-f560.html

Michelin XZX 165SR15 $136/each Load index 86, speed rating S (112 mph)
Coker Tire
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/michelin-xzx.html

Vredestine Sprint Classic 165HR15 $119/each Load index 86, speed rating H (130 mph)
Coker Tire
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/vredestein-sprint-classic-narrow-tread.html

Michelin XAS 165HR15 $204/each Load index 86, speed rating H (130 mph)
Coker Tire
*Requires tubes.*
https://www.cokertire.com/tires/michelin-xas.html

Veento Vee Rubber G2 165/80-15 $56/each 87TR / 500AA (T=118 mph)
Discount Tire
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361473325440
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1931388
(Not on Discount Tire's website in this size, but might be able to order through local stores?)

Nankang CX-668 165R-15 $55.97/each T / 400AB (T=118 mph)
Discount Tire
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1931389
(Not on Discount Tire's website in this size, but might be able to order through local stores?)

Eldorado Classic A/S 165/80R15 $53/each 87 T / 280 B B (T=118 mph)
Vulcan Tire
http://www.vulcantire.com/tire_detail/elclassicas_t.htm_16561

GREMAX Capturar CF2 165/80R15 $54/each 87T / 480 A A (T=118 mph)
Performance Plus Tire
http://www.ebay.com/itm/191710612711
http://www.performanceplustire.com/products/tires/...taID/40382




Know of any that I missed?
_________________
"The new Volkswagen 1303. We've made so many improvements, they're beginning to show."

[EverettB]

I don't know if you missed any but there was another recent thread in Type 3 that may have others too:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=655883

Thanks for making a list, I added a "2016 Tire Update" link to the start of this thread
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[glutamodo]

The Nankangs can be had here:

http://www.tires-direct.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=...p=R-163175
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[green1303]

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

[Cusser]

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresBySize...amp;cs=165
_________________
1970 VW (owned since 1972) and 1971 VW Convertible (owned since 1976), second owner of each. The '71 now has the 1835 engine, swapped from the '70. Second owner of each. 1988 Mazda B2200 truck, 1998 Frontier, 2014 Yukon, 2004 Frontier King Cab. All manual transmission except for the Yukon. http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335294 http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=335297

[mark tucker]

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.

[glutamodo]

[gt1953]

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})

[glutamodo]

[green1303]

BF Goodrich still makes the 155/80R15 tire. The car will sit 5/16 of an inch lower, and the speedometer will read 2.5% too fast, but the tire fits.

http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/tire-selector/size/155/80/15/OE/BNW/radial-t-a/tire-details
_________________
1973 green Super Beetle