51 Barndoor basket case

[djfordmanjack]

quickest way for you is replacing low profile radial tires with large bias ply tires. you could easily use 6.50-16 in the rear, which probably makes the tire 7-10 cms larger in diam. that means 3.5-5 cm more ground clearance.
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Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior

[luftgekuhlt]

[djfordmanjack]

6.50- 16 !

radial tires are wider which makes it hard to remove from under the bus rear.
bias ply tires are narrow in tread width and sloping shape. also the BD 16 wheels are only 3.5" wide.
just for comparison your 185 tires are 185 mm wide and have an overall diam of 620 mm.
a 6.50-16 BF Goodrich is only 125mm wide and has an outer diameter of 744mm ! so that raises your bus 124:2 =62 mm raise in ground clearance. all of this is pure theory. depends what gearing your transaxle has, what engine, if engine is strong enough to pull the tall tire gearing aso....you will need to find out the wheel well clearance aso...

this is just a tip, for your consideration. good luck !

edit: even a std BD size tire (5.50-16) is approx 682mm tall)
so even that would give you 3cms more road clearance and certainly would be much easier to fit in the wheelwell. (tread width of a 5.50 16 is only 112.5mm)
_________________
Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior

[luftgekuhlt]

At the moment I have 185 65 R15 in the rear axle. Could someone tell me the corresponding size for bias ply tires, I need narrower tires to make it easier to remove. Thanks
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Buy the best. Cry once.

1965* 21W Samba (MCode 430 114) - 51 BD Standard Microbus (Type 22A. M62) - 1967 Westfalia pop-top (SOLD)
* 1965 according to chassie number but regged as 1964

[djfordmanjack]

according to the Coker Tire cross reference table, a
185/70 R15 matches 5.90-15 and 6.00 15 in outer diameter.

the heigth difference between a 65% and a 70% tire section is minimal.
5.90 has approx 95mm tread width and the 6.00 110mm.

Another possible and logical choice would be the 6.40- 15 which is the standard bus tire for 1955-1963 buses. it is 115mm wide and approx 50mm taller in OD than your radial tire.


edit: caution, you MUST use bias ply tires on all four wheels. DO NOT MIX bias ply tires on one axle with radials on the other. It causes deadly dangerous driving characteristics.
( a perfect match for the front axle would be 5.60-15 which is the standard beetle size. it gives you a neat little California look rubber rake stance as well)
_________________
Hotrods, Fords, Veedubs and Triumph Twins !

52 Barndoor DLX Coachbuild project
55 Wolfsburg panel project, og paint Taubenblau L31
62 Dickholmer, custom color Seeblau L360
63 1500 Notch, og paint Rubin Rot L456
67 1500 Käfer, og paint Lotus weiß L282 w/red interior

[mandraks]

one more thing to think about. Bus wheels sit farther inside then a beetle wheel would. what kind of wheels do you have?

as stated above:
a stock barndoor 16 inch wheel and tire would definitely raise your bus enough. and they are super skinny.

a stock 55 and later 15 inch wheel and tire would work as well and be easier,as in cheaper.

6.40 or 6.70 x 15 tires are very tall.
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regards

Uli

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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel