135r15 tire proper inflation?

[gmd1417]

Anyone running 135r15 tires on their lowered V-dub? What psi do you have in them? The sidewall states "36 psi Max Pressure". Thanks!

[Stinky123]

The "Maximum Tire Pressure" has nothing at all to do with what sort of tire pressure you should be running/using.

[gmd1417]

I agree, but what should one run in a tire that states "max 36 psi" on the sidewall?

[EVfun]

With 155R15 tires the factory called out 18psi, so a good starting point would be 22psi for the slightly smaller tire. It's going to handle like crap not matter what tire pressure you run.
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[Stinky123]

I was waiting for somebody to respond w/the factory recommendation. I really don't know but, the factory recommendation is a good start. If I remember right, people have had problems, w/the front end bouncing, when running 32#

[Bill Schwimmer]

Is this a beetle?? I run 18lbs in a 145 on a lowered '59 beetle. Drives nice rides good. Any more the steering gets too light & it wanders around.

[gmd1417]

Yes, it's a 1959 Cal-look bug

[EverettB]

I'd use the regular VW tire pressure recommendations.
One note: This is bias ply tires and they recommend adding 2-3 psi for radials so do that

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[gmd1417]

Thanks- What size tires came on stock beetles?

[EverettB]

Bias ply: 5.60x16
Radials: 155R15 and later 165R15

Type 3s were 6.00x15 then 165R15
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[daveblank]

Here is a trick I learned many years ago. Make a thick, straight line of chalk across the tire's tread, drive a short, straight distance(big empty parking lot works great), and observe the chalk wear pattern. If the chalk wears off evenly, the pressure is correct. If the center wears off first, the tire is overinflated; if the edges wear off first, it is underinflated. Adjust as necessary.

[Max Welton]

Thing with small tires is the correspondingly smaller contact patch. And the smaller diameter component gives the brakes more leverage on that patch. And if you over-inflate them the patch gets even smaller.

So they look really cool ... as you slide through intersections with the fronts locked up.

[/rant]

Max
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[hitest]

Fronts are always targeted at 20 on my notchback Any harder and the thing becomes a brake-locked ice skate on dirt-swept roads. P.S.- 135s are dumb, no contact patch. My 145s arrived via Santa and will fix the 135 abominations by spring break.
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