175/65R15?

[Bret Young]

So I have a bone stock L87 pearl white 1965 bug. Stock suspension, stock rims, stock tires. Been driving it for 8 years now and the stock tires are on their way out.

Well last night I got a steal on a set of BRM (4.5 fronts, 5.5 rears) minus tires. I was thinking about doing an old school Cal-Look setup. Stock height in the rear with 205/70R15s. Front end I was thinking about keeping the stock width front beam, dropped spindles and a tire like 145's. The typical rake/performance look from back in the day.

Only thing is that I dont really like how skinny the 145's are. Id be down to find a set of front tires that are the same height as 145's, but a wider contact patch would be ideal. Ive been able to lock up my 165's in panic stops with crappy drivers, and I was looking around earlier today and found that 175/65R15's were almost the same height as 145's.

Anyone run these tires on the front? How do they look? I tried to find photos in the gallery, but no luck.

[Bret Young]

Nobody has run this tire on the front of a bug?

[ALB]

I have ran 135's and 145's and agree; for a street car they're dangerous! I think you'll be much happier with 175/65's. They'll look great!. Al
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!!

[Mike Fisher]

I have run 175X65 & 195X70 on my slightly lowered squareback. Now I'm on 185X60 & 205X70 with a 1.5" forward rake.
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[Bret Young]

What was your impression of the 175/65? Is there a reason you went with the 185/60's instead?

[Mike Fisher]

I have the 175 & 195 on my wire wheels since 195 rubbed in the front. The 185 & 205 are on my 2.0 liter Porsche wheels with a different offset than my wire wheels. Since you only have 4.5" wheels for the front the 175 would seem like the 'perfect' choice for you as 185 is really too big for 4.5" wheels.
_________________
https://imgur.com/user/FisherSquareback/posts
69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
66 sunroof,67,70,71,71,71AT,72,72AT,73 Parts
two 57 oval ragtops sold
'68 Karmann Ghia sold

Society is like stew. If you don't keep it stirred up you end up with a lot of scum on the top! - Russ_Wolfe/Edward Abbey

[lawn ninja]

The 65 series is enormous. Here are my 175/55 on a 5.5 Speedmaster.

_________________
Jason

My 64 1500 S Notchback project here
My 58 sedan project here
My 63 Ghia here

[Bret Young]

lawn ninja, those rims look rad man!

But in reality, the 65 series of those tires is the same height as a 145R15, just wider. If I were to be going as low as you were, they would be way to big, but I am not slamming the front end.

Thanks for the pictures!

[Bret Young]

Finally found a guy with a bug that was running the 175/65's on a bug. He to search the late model forum.

[jarmchairpilot]

Consider carefully there was a good reason Why the Expert VW Engineers designed the stock suspension and tire sizes spec so that the front is over an inch higher than the rear end because it's the Best Handling setup for the car.

The trendy Look of a lowered front end is a fashion taken from drag strip racing pros who knew what they were doing but this setup is dangerous on a public road!

Lowering the rear suspension correctly to maintain an ideal camber and castor angle combined with a matching lowering from stock height could improve handling while still giving an increased front end height. This will ultimately result in a car that drives better and stops better when high quality tires are fitted. I recommend Michelin brand.

If you don't have a more powerful than stock 1600 then putting tires of any wider section than stock 165 will actually Slow your Bug down as rolling resistance increases!
This makes an increase in fuel consumption possible, along with increased wear to the transmission, engine , braking and suspension components.

Of course it's your bug, your life and you can do what you want
I put 165/65 15 up front and 165/80 15 at the back of my stock 1200 72.
Every 6 months I rotate the tires to even wear out, then I have 165/80 upfront and 165/65 at the back that results in the best handling setup because then the front is over an inch higher than the rear with stock suspension apart from that I have red Joni classic shocks at the back.

[jarmchairpilot]

Haha, funny typo red koni classic shocks!
They help compensate for original torsion bar sag in the back. They have an easy 3 settings for a softer, medium and harder set suspension built in. The front end doesn't need them because a bug is super light up front.

[Stock Steve]

[NJ John]

I will be ordering some 175/65r15’s to replace my 145r15’s. Not sure if I’m sticking with 4.5” or changing to 5.5” wheels. I like the tucked drag look in the front. I’ve seen them mounted on both width rims.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[Erik G]

I've run the 175/65 on a bug and I didn't like them (continental)

I think the 165/60-15 is better for a bug

[NJ John]

What didn’t you like? The 165 is just over an inch shorter and a little narrower than the 175. I’m replacing my 145r80 tires. Same height as the the 175. But, obviously the 175 is wider. Could affect rubbing on the inside. 3” narrowed beam.
_________________
1973 standard, yellow, lowered, 3” narrowed front, 1600 blo-thru turbo w/single dell 15.4@86, so far
11.41 et buggy. Long gone
Let’s go O’s! Let’s go O’s!
https://www.youtube.com/@AirSpooledGarage

[SparksLP]

No pictures, but I saw a pre-68 Bug with the 4.5 inch wheels and 175/65s at a car show once, the owner said he had no rubbing issues. Good luck!
_________________
Tom
1966 VW Beetle Sunroof Sedan

[Rome]

Conti 175/65 on 4.5" wide '72 stock steel wheels on the front axle of my '77 Beetle, a few years ago. The tires were new "take-offs" from a current MINI Cooper base wheel which received larger accessory wheels prior to customer delivery. Car is lowered in front with an adjustable beam, done by the PO.

I had these tires for nearly 10 years in sun-shielded storage before mounting them. After only a few years, the tread started cracking near the transition to the sidewalls. I had 165/80 tires installed, and took this photo of the 2 tire sizes directly next to each other. Speedometer error was about 3 mph high based on in-town radar apparatus displays.

Rear tires in this photo were General Altimax 205/65 on 5.5" Brazilian steel wheels. I downgraded to Vredestein Sprint Classic 185/70 at the same time as going to the 165's in front.

[TXHCBeetle]

This car is running 15x4.5, 175/65r15 fronts...I really like the look of this car. I want to recreate the stance but not sure how wide the beam is..
_________________
In Progress:
1958 Beetle Sedan - L243 Diamond Gray
1967 Beetle Sedan - L456 Ruby Red

[Glenn]