TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sat Jan 15, 2011 10:07 pm

Hello,

Noob here. I just picked up a 1969.5 Ghia convertible and looking to replace the tires. Pretty much tried to read up on tires most of today.

My original thoughts were to get whitewalls. The wide ones. They just have a classier old school look to them. However, the more I read, the more many have stated to either go thin white walls to be period correct, or just stick to black walls. Still debating this. If anyone has photoshop skills, please let me know.

Anyhow, had a couple of questions....

1) Tire Size
In reading the Tire Survey thread Richard has here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...mp;start=0

It looks as though most are running 165/SR15.

In reading this post:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1...p;start=20

Everett mentioned that stock is 155/SR15

Can anyone that has run both tire sizes speak to the differences in ride quality?

2) Tire Models

So in searching the net for different tires in the above sizes, I found the following tires that I am considering. Any opinions on them would be greatly appreciated.

Blackwall
- Vredestein Sprint Classic in 155SR15 or 165HR15
http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Vredestein/vred_sprint_classic.htm

- Kumho Power Star 758
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/tires/kumho/produ...p;pc=33387

- BFGoodrich Radial T/A in 155/80R15
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA

- Michelin XZX in 165SR15
http://store.cokertire.com/165sr15-michelin-xzx.html

Whitewalls
- BFGoodrich Silvertown in 165SR15 (wide whitewall)
http://store.cokertire.com/tire-styles/radial-tire...ewall.html

- BFGoodrich in 165SR15 (thin whitewall)
http://store.cokertire.com/tire-styles/radial-tire...l?___SID=U

It looks like the XZX's are the most preferred, but with a $183 price tag right now, that's more than my Michelin 31" tires. I mean if most consider these far superior, then I will bite the bullet and pull the trigger. But if there is a close second for a better value, I might look there. That is, if I decide not to get whitewalls. Part of me wants to be period correct, the other part of me likes the whitewalls.

Thanks,
John

Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:42 am

Sorry but you must be kidding. :? The reason you haven't found a clear answer whilst reading the tyre topics all day is there isn't a definitive answer.

Asking a car forum which is the best tyre is like asking a real ale forum which is the best beer. 50 pages later you'll have a recommendation for just about every tyre in creation and every beer and you'll be none the wiser.

Tyre characteristic vary slightly over the various makes but they all have to adhere to set safety specification and all the major makes you've enquired about will all do an excellent job.

As for ride characteristics it all depends...on ride height, suspension set-up, prevailing road conditions, vehicle condition, bias-ply or radial, how much you're prepared to spend etc etc.

Choose any one of those you're asking about and there'll be very little difference. ...but that won't stop others telling you which is best...let the confusion begin. :lol:

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:22 am

You said it very well John.
One more thought..... No matter the tire you pick, make sure you run proper pressure. Ghia's weight porportion is something like 35/65. Because they are so light in the front it's important to not overinflate. Opinions will also vary on this but 20-22 lbs. front and 26-28 lbs. rear seems to be ideal for radials 155 or 165 widths.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:36 am

Hi John,

I know that getting a definite consensus on any one single tire model is impossible when everyone has their own taste. However, with the other car forums I am in, there is typically a handful of models that the mass uses and they can comment on. Surely enough there will always be outlier models, but for the most part, people find something they like and they stick to it.

But if you're saying for the most part they are all pretty similar, that should make my decision easier.

Thanks,
John

Sun Jan 16, 2011 7:53 am

It wasn't aimed as a smartass reply John but I've never really noticed any major preference for the Ghia.

It's a little easier on the early stock lowlights for bias-ply whitewalls, as the choice is very limited but unless you push you Ghia to the limits of adhesion (which few owners do) there will be few here who can tell you how a particular tyre behaves at those limits.

Most big name Radials are pretty bloody good in all normal road conditions and the choice between 155 and 165 tyres is which one will allow you to close your front trunk lid with the tyre fully inflated. :wink:

Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:05 am

John Moxon wrote: Most big name Radials are pretty bloody good in all normal road conditions and the choice between 155 and 165 tyres is which one will allow you to close your front trunk lid with the tyre fully inflated. :wink:

Yep. Now to decide to do the 165 route for four and 155 for the spare, or 155's all around.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 8:29 am

limerence wrote: John Moxon wrote: Most big name Radials are pretty bloody good in all normal road conditions and the choice between 155 and 165 tyres is which one will allow you to close your front trunk lid with the tyre fully inflated. :wink:

Yep. Now to decide to do the 165 route for four and 155 for the spare, or 155's all around.

That's how my daily driver arrived when I bought it (155 spare)...has Firestone Bias-ply Whitewalls now that it's a fair weather driver.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:14 am

limerence wrote: But if there is a close second for a better value, I might look there. That is, if I decide not to get whitewalls. Part of me wants to be period correct, the other part of me likes the whitewalls.

Thanks,
John

I believe you can mount the whitewall facing in for a different look. Two sets for the price of one!

Sun Jan 16, 2011 10:44 am

kingkarmann wrote:
I believe you can mount the whitewall facing in for a different look. Two sets for the price of one!

I just read that no more than ten minutes ago on another thread. The only additional cost would be to dismount and mount the tire on the correct side of the wheel.

My options in order of preference right now are:

1) BFG Silvertown 2.25" Whitewalls 165/SR15, $148 each - Qty 4
BFG Radial T/A 155/80R15, $67 each - Qty 1
2) Vredestein Sprint Classic 165/HR15, $100 each - Qty 4
Vredestein Sprint Classic 155/SR15, $87 each - Qty 1
3) BFG Radial T/A 155/80R15, $67 each - Qty 5
4) Vredestein Sprint Classic 155/SR15, $87 each - Qty 5

I would like to have all the same tires in options 1 and 2, but it looks like 165's are sometimes an iffy fit as spares. And since I'm mail ordering, I don't want to end up having to ship anything back so might as well be safe and get a 155 spare from the get go.

Although I could do 155's all around, I'm leaning towards four 165's since I am assuming most go with this size because it rides a little better? Or is it due to the size availability?

Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:35 pm

I run on the Vrederstein Sprint Classics. 155/sr15. Yes, 155's are not a common size. 165's are easier to come by.
My Ghia is a 67. The issue I have is the rear track is 1" wider on that year making a 165 a bit too wide. They have served me well. The only issue now it they are coming up on 6 years old and only have 4500 miles on them. You can find many threads discussing the expiration date of tires (6-7 years they say). Mine are close but appear near perfect. The idea of tossing out what are essentially new tires makes me sick!

If you click on "The Ghia" below you can sort of see the tire profile. They don't look or feel too skinny to me.

Sun Jan 16, 2011 12:55 pm

kingkarmann wrote: You can find many threads discussing the expiration date of tires (6-7 years they say).

I totally understand where you are coming from. I have Michelin LTX M/S on my land cruiser that are about 5 years old and perfect too. Only put about 5k miles on them and some in the land cruiser forums have hit 70k miles with them. I think I will keep them until they're worn. But then again you see things like this that make you feel otherwise.

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897

Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:02 pm

So what did you end up buying, I am shopping around right now as well for a set of 4 tires.

Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:04 pm

I just found this:
http://www.directbuytire.com/SearchResults.asp?Search=1658015

45.00 each for NANKANG 1658015 165/80/15

Mon Feb 14, 2011 3:57 pm

I ended up getting 4 BFG Silvertown's and then 1 BFG Radial T/A.

I could have done 5 Silvertown's but I didn't want to risk it not fitting the trunk. I got it from Jeg's.

Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:50 am

I am running these:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA

In the front and 165's in the back. Ride seems fine, although eventually I'll go all 155.

Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:32 am

Decided to replace the worn-out Metric 165s that came with the car with Vredestein Sprint Classic 155/SR15. Ordered them last night from tires-easy.com. Noticed today however that they jacked up the price from $74 to $116!

Wed Feb 16, 2011 10:37 am

rrock wrote: Decided to replace the worn-out Metric 165s that came with the car with Vredestein Sprint Classic 155/SR15. Ordered them last night from tires-easy.com. Noticed today however that they jacked up the price from $74 to $116!

For around the same price, someone interested in Vreds could check out

http://www.tiresunlimited.com/ALL%20TIRES/Vredestein/vred_sprint_classic.htm

They are $86 a pop with free shipping.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:21 pm

use this website
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

I have 185/60/15 with riviera wheels on my 71. a tight fit but because of the shorter walls, i NEVER scrape the rear tires on the fenders no matter how hard i corner.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:24 pm

one other thing- i use the goodrich "traction T/A" tire. got 'em pretty cheap at sears auto center. they had to order them but they were 30 bucks cheaper than any one else. best handling tire i ever bought.

Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:27 pm

todmeg wrote: one other thing- i use the goodrich "traction T/A" tire. got 'em pretty cheap at sears auto center. they had to order them but they were 30 bucks cheaper than any one else. best handling tire i ever bought.

what size are you running? and how much was it at sears? i dont need it but just for others knowledge just in case they are interested