Radials on stock smoothies.....

[1963Vdub]

Is it ok to use radial tires on stock 1962 smoothy wheels?
Will they lose air?Whats the closest radial size to a 165\15?
Thanks Matt

[veedubfreak59]

Yep. 165/80/15 is stock size.

[Dangermouse]

Query requirement for inner tubes when using radials with stock smoothies, something to do with a lip that needs to be present on the rim for the tyre to bed against, otherwise you need inner tubes. Do a search, it will be more informative than my babbling. I just know the topic's come up before and there was a potential issue. Somebody with some actual knowledge will chime in soon...
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[veedubfreak59]

Just take em into a Discount tire and ask. They wont mount anything that could fail as it will get them sued.

[durfeec]

i just mounted radials on my smooties and they hold air fine.

[KTPhil]

Read this thread first... you want tubes.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=400416&highlight=hump

[CLASSIC CAR GUY]

I have put radials on hundreds of cars over the yrs with old rims of all yrs with out any issues, the hump on the lip inside the "J" series rims is there to help keep the bead set when and if the tire goes flat, all those 40-50's cars out there, rat rods and stock classics have been running radial wide whites for yrs, no problems,, my 61' and 62' type 1's have stock wheels with radials there really is no issue here, i have seen issues with tubes in radial tires causing a problem, something about the way a radial flex's in relationship to a bias ply tire, it will cause wear inside the tire casing..
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[Egorspyle65]

Ive run nothing but radials on all my VWs and never had a problem. Even had a few flats on my 65 bug and still not a problem. Never had a tire roll off them rim. You will be fine running tubeless. Ask anyone at a show if they run tubes on theyre stock rims and im sure you will get lots of NO's.

[andk5591]

14,000 miles (so far) on my stock sized radials on my 65 with smoothies. I don't baby the car and do take it pretty quick on a lot of corners - No issues at all.
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D-Dubya Manx clone - 63 Short pan,1914.
Rosie 65 bug - My mostly stock daily driver.
Woodie 69 VW woodie (Hot VWs 7/12).
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There's more, but not keeping them...

[DrDarby]

By the way, if you want to be "proper" you'll need a 155R15, 155SR15 or 155/80R/15 for your 1962. The 155 is a radial equivalent of the stock 5.60x15 bias ply tire. The 165R15 is a little bigger and is the equivalent of the later beetle's 6.00x15 tire. Either will work ok but the 155 is "correct"
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Midwest Autosavers, Inc. Woodstock, IL

[Geier]

I have had radials on my 65 for years with no tubes. Love em.

[Dangermouse]

Well for what it's worth, I've run radials for years with tubes in 'em and had no issues either

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Do not follow me, for I may not lead. Do not lead me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either; actually just bugger off and stand over there will you.

[Bobmagneto]

As I recall, 57 and later models no longer need tubes. I have a early 57 oval and never had leaking air issues.

[glutamodo]

True. But if you've ever seen the writeup about radial tires that VW put on their old 1200 Workshop manual, they warn that all "currently available" radial tires they tested would not hold up to hard cornering and keep the beads sealed. This was with tubeless rims... so they specified only to use tubes with radials.

Keep in mind, that was probably written circa 1965. Tires have gotten better in the years since then. I certainly never had a tire lose air from hard cornering.

-Andy

[pav266]

Here is my experience for what it is worth.

Back around 1982, I converted from bias ply to radials on a 63 bug. Stock rims. I had Goodyear Arriva radials installed at an authorized Goodyear dealer. They were absolutely sure that since the rims were not "safety rims" with the raised lip, that tubes were mandatory. In addition, the tube must be the type that was specifically designed for radials. A bias ply tire tube must not be used.

I ran those tires for over 60,000 miles. The handling was much improved.
If I had to guess, I would say that running radials on old stock rims without tubes would likely work 99.9% of the time. The 0.1% is what gets you in trouble; low inflation and an emergency maneuver which can cause a complete loss of tire pressure as the bead unseats from the rim. I think it has something to do with the more flexible radial tire side wall as compared to a bias ply tire.

FYI, Michelin invented the radial tire. It was originally developed for the Citroen DS which was introduced in 1955. I own a 1969 DS. The tires are a Michelin XAS that are only used on the Citroen "D" models. They are tube type tires. The sidewalls specifically say that tubes must be used.

If it was me, I would use the correct tubes with the radials. I am running tubeless bias plys on my current 1963, but I don't drive it a lot and I wanted the vintage look.
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Paul

1963 1200 Anthracite
1969 Citroen DS21 Pallas BVH
1974 Citroen SM 2.7L 5 speed injection electronique