TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:25 pm

I found tires at Tirerack.com with this size. I know the 165/15 is right, I recognize the TR is ok, the only thing I am worried about is the "80" I understand that to be the sidewall, but is that the correct number for the sidewall?

Here is the link to the tire:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=K...mp;place=0

Thank you,
-Rick

Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:28 pm

I think a 165-15 is actually has a 82 aspect ratio (165/82-15).

Sun Jul 02, 2006 7:44 pm

As I understand it, that would be 2 millimeters shorter sidewall. Since the overall size of the tire is the same, would that just be the curve of the tire? I am sincerely asking, I got alot of dry rot on my current tires (63 ragtop just brought home today).

Sun Jul 02, 2006 9:36 pm

the 80 or 82 is the aspect ratio

so to break it down its not the height of the sidewall in mm

it's the percentage of the width (165mm sidewall 2 sidewall and not tread)
that makes up the height

so per say a 196-65 and a 205-60 are going to be real close to the same height because the 5% difference in aspect ratio ismade up by the difference in width

Mon Jul 03, 2006 3:03 am

Also note that depending on manufacturer, tire heights can and will vary. I know this because every time over the years when I've put new tires on my 62, I check the odometer and speedometer variance and they are never the same (never bought the same brand twice)

for examples, Coker tire sells different 165SR15, 165R15, 165HR15 (but no 165/80TR15)tires. There is a tire size selector on their website, and if you click on "view details" they give a diameter specs for each, and you'll note they vary a bit from brand to brand. Compare those to the original bias ply tires they sell in stock size 560-15 (and 600-15)

http://cokertire.com/store/customer/search.php?tire_size=165R15&in_category=108&x=7&y=9

Mon Jul 03, 2006 4:37 am

In other words "No Rick, do not buy 165/80TR15 tires, they wont fit".

Thank you everyone,
-Rick

Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:22 am

rsperko wrote: In other words "No Rick, do not buy 165/80TR15 tires, they wont fit".

Thank you everyone,
-Rick
Quite the contrary-- they are as close as you'll get to an original
size at a VERY low price.

Mon Jul 03, 2006 7:08 am

this is what i'm running on my 4.5in rims: http://www.nankangtyres.com.au/prodDetail.php?pid=28 ... i wish they were a little wider to grip the road better, but without new rims, a narrowed beam and other mods, it likely wont happen. i can't find a 175 or 185 that's tall enough (and i'm not sure 185s would fit on a 4.5in rim anyway... esp. without rubbing issues). to the previous point, these seem like a good deal on a tire that's close to the original size. would be interested in performance comparisons against the nankang tire. the solid center rib in the kumho looks like an improvement.

Mon Jul 03, 2006 8:06 am

That is great news. Thank you. The other nice thing about these tires will be taking my stock 63 up to the 118mph the tires are rated to ;)

Mon Jul 03, 2006 9:53 am

rsperko wrote: In other words "No Rick, do not buy 165/80TR15 tires, they wont fit".

Thank you everyone,
-Rick

i wouldn't say that i feel they will work fine...

Mon Jul 03, 2006 11:01 am

doubledoor64 wrote: i wouldn't say that i feel they will work fine...

Can you please elaborate on that? As I read it your are indicating that they will not work fine. Why is that?

Thank you,
-Rick

Mon Jul 03, 2006 10:35 pm

rsperko wrote: doubledoor64 wrote: i wouldn't say that i feel they will work fine...

Can you please elaborate on that? As I read it your are indicating that they will not work fine. Why is that?

Thank you,
-Rick

this is the difference in diameter....(as per calculation not variance in manufacturer)

165/80/15 roughly 25.4"
165R15 roughly 25.6

only .2 difference not much considering most type-1's came with 155R15 radials that are really hard to come by so the 165/80/15 is actually closer to stock..

Tue Jul 04, 2006 5:57 am

Wouldn't that be better since the original tires were narrower than 165R15? Maybe it will fit better in the spare area too!

Thank you for your input on this I obviously do not want to get tires that wont fit my car.

-Rick

Tue Jul 04, 2006 8:59 am

For a close match to stock height tires, you will want a 155 r 15, not 165. Also the "T" in TR is the tires speed rating, not a variance in tire sidewall height. A 165 15 is a 165 15, it doesn't matter who makes the tire

Tue Jul 04, 2006 9:15 am

165/15 = 24.74" diameter
Play around with a tire calculator if you want some slightly wider tires that have a close diameter to stock.

Tue Jul 04, 2006 10:28 am

the nankang-812 165/80R15s commonly sold at many VW parts houses work well on my 63, front and back.

for me, 135/145/155 were a bit too narrow for me and since none are 5.60-15 bias-ply, they aren't any more "original" than the 165s. the 165s fit well in the spare-tire well (tight, but they fit)... i'm currently looking into performance upgrades (wider tires, wider rims, etc.), but for stock-ish 4in or 4.5in rims, these are the goods.

in theory, (modern) 155s (155/80R15) would be smaller in diameter than their 165 cousins, which wouldn't be ideal... in fact, the nankang-803s are about 30mm shorter than the 812s. there was tire sold by btlmx in a 155 size, but the site's gone under and no one posted the diameter... here's a link to the discussion.

do yourself a quick favor and get the kumhos or nankangs... they're cheap and as close to stock diameter as you'll conveniently find (without importing them from a far off land or waiting for an NOS set to pop up...). they fit well and will be a bit "safer" then their skinnier cousins... or you can be truly original and buy coker bias plys or vintage michelins.... at about 25.4-25.8in in diameter, but 4X the cost of your kumhos.

now go get some tires and drive your car. it's a nice day.

edit: added url

Wed Jul 05, 2006 1:04 am

i bought my 165/80-15's off tire rack, the kuhmo's.. i like them a lot. and they chirp nicely :twisted:

Wed Jul 05, 2006 8:03 am

I'm running nankags, they fit fine no rubbing quit worrying about it get some new shoes for that ride and enjoy it.

Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:14 pm

I have those tires on the front of my 71' Chevy Nova. Theyre pretty good tires. They drive nice even with my V-8 over them, and they seem to be wearing great too.

Wed Jul 05, 2006 2:07 pm

165/80R15 are the original tires on my '79 I just looked at the original Continantal spare. They will work fine and are a direct replacement tire for the 6.00x15. The 5.60x15 on older cars direct radial replacement is a 155/R15 or 155/80R15 but the 165's will work fine too and are the common replacement tire.