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Sat Apr 14, 2012 10:28 pm

I need to buy a new set of front tires. Has anyone ever put a 145/65/15 tire on a 3.5" wheel? One of my cars POs put some skinny Centerline wheels up front with 135s (Centerline didn't make a 3" wheel, did they?). I don't plan to keep the wheels, so I don't want to buy a set of 135s and a year from now have to buy a new set of tires when I get the wheels I want (Yes, I know I could try to sell the Centerlines with the tires on them when the time comes). I'd prefer to just buy some 145s, but I'm wondering are 145s too wide for a 3.5" wheel?

Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:23 pm

For real world reference.......145/65's are as wide as a stock 165 and as tall as a 125/15 temp tire (donut).

They are a nice tire, seem to have the best handling out of all the common lowered vw tires IMO.....oh and feel great on a 5 inch rim up front :wink:

Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:04 am

The tire handles great. By only complaint would be the fact that my car has a ball joint beam. The short sidewall has my scrub line on the low side. But on the plus side I am still running stock headlight buckets

Wed May 09, 2012 9:57 am

sharkskinman wrote: i had a pair and i LOVED THEM
They Were 39$ each for a while now they are up to 70$

Thank you for posting pic. That is so perfect this will be the size for me..

Thu May 10, 2012 11:44 am

Just got these on today:

Lowered on spindles up front.

Thu May 10, 2012 1:08 pm

Is 145/65/15 the correct size to put on the front of my '68 vert?

Stock 15" wheels, stock beam, 2.5" dropped spindles, disk brakes. Current 165R/15 tires rub the fenders. Or is a better solution to get different wheels with a different offset and what size tire? Or is the only good solution a narrowed beam?

I'd prefer the car not be any lower than it is with the 165/15"s.

I've looked thru many posts and can't find a good answer.

Tue May 15, 2012 7:59 pm

me too, stock beam with droped disc, my 165 rub on the fenders. 5.5" 8-spokes. I have always been afraid of 135 being to skinny. do I need 145R15 or 145/65R15 or??

Thu May 17, 2012 9:56 am

Lots of choices here guys; the 165-15's both of you are running are over 25" tall. A 145/65 is a very short tire (22 1/2"); as well as dropping the front end another 1 1/4- 1 1/2", the narrow tread doesn't make for great handling or braking. I have heard there is a 155/70-15 (23 3/4"?) available but I don't know who makes it; you may have to ask around. There is also a 155/60, but it's about the same diameter as the 145/65. I believe there are 165/65's (23 1/2") which may clear your fenders but you'd have to check.

Let us know what you end up with. Al

Thu May 17, 2012 11:20 am

There are also 165/60s, which are also Smart tires. I have ran them, as well as a few sets of the 145/65. I go through a lot of different suspension, tire/setups and know the Smart tires pretty well. The 145/65 155/60 and 165/60 are nothing like the standard Nankang 135 and 145. The 145/65 DO have their limits with braking, however.

In all honesty here, you guys cant come on and ask what will work and such for you; we dont know your car. We can only give estimates. I have had to try different combos over the years to find out what works and what I like with different suspensions and tires. Most of you will need to buy a couple sets or more of tires before you find the right look and handling you are after that works with your combos.

Someone also mentioned a "stock 165"...not accurate. The factory bias plys were more like a 155/80 or so.

This is a 165/60 up front=

Thu May 17, 2012 12:09 pm

Smitty- I hope that's your ride 'cause it looks goood....

Thu May 17, 2012 3:07 pm

yes, its my current daily. Sold the rack, different wheels now, raised up a hair.

Sat May 26, 2012 8:35 pm

animes2k wrote: Just got these on today:

Lowered on spindles up front.

Hey, could you post a pic of your car front to back? I'd like to see the whole stance of the car with these tires on the front.

Mon May 28, 2012 11:49 am

britegreenVWSB wrote:
Hey, could you post a pic of your car front to back? I'd like to see the whole stance of the car with these tires on the front.

Sure thing. This also has the drop spindles in front:

Mon May 28, 2012 3:45 pm

For some reason I really like that one. Clean and simple, just right.

Thu May 31, 2012 3:22 pm

^that has got to be one of the cleanest late models Ive seen on here. That car has some excellent attention payed to detail! Good work, man.

Thu May 31, 2012 3:35 pm

I also just found some 165/65s on tire easy, or easy tire... they should be about the same diameter as the 135s for drop/ground clearance issues. Should give you a hair more height that the 165/60 and a good bit more than the 145/65.

Also, dont forget that your front end will only drop half the difference in diameter between the tires since they mount from the same center, radius difference would give you the amount the front end would drop...

Thu May 31, 2012 4:32 pm

just bought a set of 145/65/15 today

Thu May 31, 2012 6:37 pm

smitty24 wrote: ^that has got to be one of the cleanest late models Ive seen on here. That car has some excellent attention payed to detail! Good work, man.

That is a great compliment. I wish I could take the credit beyond detailing (it's a neuros--er-- hobby of mine). It's a Mexican beetle, essentially a 2000, with a 70 chassis and swing axles. I do love it tho, even if it is a bit of a bastard child.

Fri Jun 01, 2012 12:26 pm

^^A guy in our club has one of the last models made in '01 or '02, I may be off, but it is also on an early 70's chassis. I think it is the only way to register them in the states. His car is that deep cherry red color--looks good but is nothing like yours shown here!! With a large engine, this would get you into the Der Kleiner Panzers club!! This car is slick- custom, but where it counts-no hanous accessories etc. This car is beautiful man; and I hate late models. Probably because all the ones you ever see are piles of crap that are on their last leg--full of mismatched parts and rust/dents, usually driven by some burned out hippie or high school kid. When people invest the time and money into a later, they remind me more of a 911, not a bug!

Just looked again...stance is even perfect! Too high would look too stock and odd, too low means "Im built for looks and lack performance." I think your wheels look good, but Im curious what some real Fuch's would look like on here. Genuine 4 lug 2 liters would even look mean. This is a real nice car.

Tue Jun 19, 2012 8:54 pm

145/65 15 on 5.5" wheel.

Startin to like em a lot. This is without the spare and the toolbox in the trunk so it's a little high..

W