Baja'd Squareback tire question

[VWDog]

Hi All,

I purchased a Baja'd Squareback some time ago when I thought I had time and money at the same time. Lol, good one, eh?! Anyhow, I am just getting my head above water work-wise and am starting to think about tires to replace the rubber bands the PO had on the front(don't ask me why but he replaced the front tires before I had the car shipped ). I have couple of old, but good condition 7.75 Firestone "Tractionaire" tires that are about 27" in diameter for the front(stock steelies). Of course these are bias ply tires, so I was wanting to match them up to appropriate bias ply rear tires. The car currently has 215 75R15 BFG All Terrains but these are of course radials and I know enough not to mix the two.

The Square has a 1776 built by Herbert Performance which I gather is a reputable company, but I don't know if it is a Type 3 or Bus transaxle. From reading about off-road appropriate tires and power requirements it seems to me that I want a 28" tire, not the more available(it seems) 30". I am open to all suggestions as to what to run as long as it is bias ply, because like all VW owners I am cheap and want to run what I have and there aren't a lot of tall skinnier front options in a radial tire out there(to match the current rear radials).

Input is much appreciated from those in the know
Cheers,
Don

_________________

1970 Lotus White Single Cab 2015- , 1979 Sage Green 2014-2015, 1978 Dakota Beige Westy 2012-2015, 1978 Neptune Blue Riviera 2012-2017 , 1970 Neptune Blue Bus 2010-2012, 1970 Deluxe Savannah Beige 2010-2012, 1985 Iltis 2010- , 1962 Single Cab 2010-2013, 1975 Brasilia? Bay/Split Kombi from Brazil 2008-2011, 1985 DoKa 1999-2009, 1971 Bus 1999-2000, 1968 Double Cab 1991-1998, 1965 Ghia 1987-1991, 1970 Westfalia-bought by Mum and Dad in 1970, sold by me in 1993 why-oh-why :_(

[GjMan]

Good looking car. Find out what trans you have and we can help you w/tires. Need to know final drive ratio to determine best rear tire diameter whether bias or radial. Also, how wide are those rear rims?

Car looks like a '68 judging by the gas filler door. True? If so it would have come w/a SA rear suspension unless it was originally an auto.

[Brian]

Without knowing the transmission I'd say just go with the same size all around. 215/75-15s can do a lot just fine
_________________
Wash your hands

'69 Bug
'68 Baja Truck
'71 Bug
'68 Camper

Only losers litter

[dustymojave]

Considering how many of us VW offroaders run 7.00-15 Bias ply front tires with radial rear tires. And my own decades of personal experience with a mix of radial with bias ply, I say don't worry about that old 1950s "wisdom" about not mixing the 2 types. Those same folks who tell you about that will tell you that you should not drive a passenger automobile designed to be used on the street in offroad situations. And you should never try to drive a 2WD vehicle on a 4WD trail. And that you should never have different size tires from front to rear of your car.

I agree with Brian above that a 215-75-15 is a pretty good tire for what you have there. A 235 might serve for the rears. Or even a 255-60-16 AT for the rears.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet.

[GonzoGravy]

That thing is sweet. Please don't cut it up. What do you want for it?

[TDCTDI]

Some proper offset VW wheels will allow you to run 205/75/15 or 215/75/15 without the tire/fender interference that you will have with the current wheels.

I’m running 205/75/15 on my Ghia with only minimal rolling of one rear fender to keep from making contact.

_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.