Tire size/recommendation for my 59 bug

[Omario]

Found out that my tires are 18 years old. What is the standard size for an original 59 bug? What tire brand is best? Where to buy them from?


Thanks

[glutamodo]

Stock size was bias ply 5.60 x 15. The closest radial equivalent is 155SR15, but you don't really find either of those sizes any more. 165/80R15 is the usual go-to size for stock Bug tires.
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Andy T.


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[andk5591]

If you want original style replacements, go to Coker Tire. They sell 560-15 bias ply in various styles and makes. They aint cheap -starting around $150 each plus shipping. If you want radials, they sell those as well and there are cheaper options as well from other sources.

Tires are a personal choice and I personally hate bias ply, but that's what came on the cars originally for many years.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[glutamodo]

More than just "many years" , save for some special editions, Beetles always came with bias ply tires all the way to the end of German production.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[Omario]

Sorry for my ignorance. What is Bias ply?

[Sqrbckguy38]

A bias ply tire is simply just a different construction of the tire. Radial tires are what most everything else now a days it's made with. The bias are made in that the sections of a tire are interdependent to each other, where as radial tires are made so that the sidewalls and tread can move and act independently.
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It's not the fall that hurts, it's the sudden stop at the bottom.
69 Square needs love, even after 15 years
70 Fasty former dd, now my daughter's
67 Beetle, Opal

[glutamodo]

plus the fact that bias plies use polyester cords and steel betled radials use a mesh of fine braided steel molded into the structure of the tire.
_________________
Andy T.


IMAGE NOTE: It has been noted that Chrome based browsers may have issues in displaying my vast image library, which use non-secure links and are on an FTP server. Images should still be viewable if the link is clicked though.
I do not know how to fix this. All I can say is it all works fine for me with what I use, Firefox.

[andk5591]

I have had several of our cars that had bias ply when we acquired them. Ride quality and handling was very inferior to how the were after I switched to radials IMHO. It really gets down to how "correct" you want the car to be. If going to an AACA judged show, you may want to confirm whether you are penalized for radials or not. I do not know the answer but would be surprised if there was a penalty.

All gets down to what you are doing with the car and what your priorities are.
_________________
D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
"John's car" 64 VW woodie - The first ever
Maxine 61 Cal-look bug - Cindy's daily driver.
Max - 73 standard Beetle hearse project - For sale
66 bug project - Real patina & Suby conversion
There's more, but not keeping them...

[Omario]

Thanks everyone for the feedback. My car is show quality. However, drivability and comfort is more important to me, so I will go with radials.


Question: If going with radials, any shop can do balancing on these old rims or have to go to a specialty place for proper balancing?

[Omario]

Also, what is the widest radial I can put?

[my59]

You will need a shop that has the adapter to fit the rim.
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my59: Well son, my grandfather died before I got to drive it, so does that answer your question?
our79: sunroof bus w/camper interior and 2.0 FI
Other:'12 Jetta, '77 Benz 300D, and a 74 MG Midget.

[andk5591]

[panicman]

Below is a link to a thread that you should consider regarding balancing. Balancing beads eliminate the need for lead weights. They have been used in big rigs for a while, and they just happen to work great in our cars- I’ve been rolling on mine for years and love them. They are not expensive at all- no additional cost above a normal balance service.


https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=503595&highlight=dynabeads
_________________
Plate of shrimp

[glutamodo]

Myself, I bought a bolt-on adapter many years ago, which I supply to the tire shop enabling them to fit wide-five wheels onto now/current balancing equipment.

[herbie1200]

Bias ply tires have pros and cons...

Their design make them very strong against impacts on the side, heavy load, stones, etc.

However this robust design is an handicap when driving at high speed because the tire does not adapt well its shape on a flat road, as a bias ply tire should do.

The two ends of the question: a tractor mounts bias ply tires, a sport car radial tires.

[Mos6502]

There are still a few 155/80R15 tires available. The Coker repro of the Firestone F560 is what I am currently running. They're relatively cheap, and while they don't look correct for a 1950's car, they look a lot better than most modern tires.

Vredestein makes the Sprint Classic in this size. It's a little more expensive, but genuinely looks like a 1960's tread design. I've seen them on a number of vintage imports and they look pretty authentic.

Michelin offers a few tires in this size, and they exactly reproduce the treads Michelin made in the 1950's and 1960's - but they're very expensive, and I have heard they don't actually drive that well.

[herbie1200]

I found my ideal tire: Hankook 165/80R15 "kinergy eco-2".

The "energy" model is a very... sliding? flowing? tire, designed for fuel economy.

In our VW world, with engines often under-power, the slidingness of that kind of tire seems to give 4-5 more HP.

Another world respect to traditional tires: Michelin, Firestone, etc.

AND they have a slim design similar to the original 5,60/15 bias ply tires.

[mukluk]

[Ragman]

The cheapest option is the standard 165R15 which is what most people use for basic drivers.

[Helfen]