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bviwahine
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2006
Posts: 57
Location: British Virgin Islands
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 Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:13 am Post subject: opinion: Is Bigger Better? |
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Hi,
It's time for new tires and I want to go bigger. The question is not simply what size but is bigger in the rear better?
I have a 2003 stock height Mexican Beetle/Sedan that is my daily driver of 7 years and will continue to be. I will be putting on 5" -5/5" rims so there are no issues with size there and I actually WANT a little more height as I oftern bottom out on our driveway.
Important: Where I live is all mountain driving on the worst paved roads you can imagine....black top washed off with 2 - 4" inch drops, potholes, concrete washboard, etc. Also, I rarely drive over 45mph do to road conditions, hairpin turns, steep hills, etc. My daily drive is 30min to and from work four days a week.
As I've been talking with friends the common thread is that I should put larger tires on the rear than the front and I've gotten many opinions and reasons for this. What is your opinion, if yes, how large and why?
Thanks ahead of time.
Scottie |
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runamoc 
Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2006
Posts: 5601
Location: 37.5N 77.1W
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:57 am Post subject: |
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Try and get 78 or 80 series tires in what ever cross sectional width you get. More 'cushion' for the pits.
_________________
Daily driver: '69 Baja owned 44 yrs - Plan B: '81 Rabbit Diesel LS Deluxe - Plan C: '72 Ghia
Yard Art: 2 Sandrails
Outback: '69 Ghia - '68,'69,'70,'72 Beetle - '84 Scirocco, GTI - Pair of '02 Golfs-
VW Wiring = It's just wires |
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dcnjoe60
Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2008
Posts: 434
Location: Missouri
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| Do you like the way it rides/handles now? If so, put the same size tire on that you have now. If your concern is with occasionally bottoming out, unless you are just barely scraping, a larger tire, at least one that will still fit in the rear fender probably won't raise you up enough to make a significant difference. |
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johnR
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 668
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| By your description of the roads, maybe you should go with something like a class 11 car -- like 215/75R15, which will fit on a 5.5" rim. |
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Lotrat
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2007
Posts: 2528
Location: Vista, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:11 am Post subject: |
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| johnR wrote: |
| By your description of the roads, maybe you should go with something like a class 11 car -- like 215/75R15, which will fit on a 5.5" rim. |
Class 11 guys run 235/75R15s on 4" rims. This will only work on lifted bugs. Not sure if the OP is looking to lift his bug or just get the biggest tires on he can at the stock height. He's stock now.
Lifted... the sky's the limit.
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johnR
Samba Member
Joined: August 25, 2009
Posts: 668
Location: Virginia
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 9:23 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, that's why I said something like class 11. The 215/75 would better fit 5.5" rims (than 4") and add about one inch of height to the car. I'd think they would fit without a body lift kit, as long as the front is not lowered. |
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bviwahine
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2006
Posts: 57
Location: British Virgin Islands
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 10:12 am Post subject: |
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Its all stock but will get 5-5.5 wheels and no I don't like the way it handles these roads...hard and slippery.
Ok, but I'm curious as to the effect that bigger in rear than on front has on the car, handling, gears, etc? Should I run the same size all the way around?
Anyone have any thoughts on a 205/70/15? Would it fit up front without rubbing? |
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MLTIGGER2
Samba Member
Joined: May 01, 2006
Posts: 1154
Location: Fort Wayne, In
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 3:55 pm Post subject: |
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Awesome!!! What does it take to lift a bug that high?
_________________
1968 Squareback
1970 Wunderbug Beetle |
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Lotrat
Samba Member
Joined: December 08, 2007
Posts: 2528
Location: Vista, CA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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| MLTIGGER2 wrote: |
| Awesome!!! What does it take to lift a bug that high? |
Cut & Turn, lifted spindles, or both up front.
Reindexed rear, T2 or T4 or 930 CVs, with matched stubaxles and output flanges.
I love having a baja, but those lifted bugs are the cats ass IMO. |
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vw_hank
Samba Member
Joined: February 07, 2001
Posts: 5371
Location: Everett WA
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| Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2011 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Lotrat wrote: |
| MLTIGGER2 wrote: |
| Awesome!!! What does it take to lift a bug that high? |
Cut & Turn, lifted spindles, or both up front.
Reindexed rear, T2 or T4 or 930 CVs, with matched stubaxles and output flanges.
I love having a baja, but those lifted bugs are the cats ass IMO. |
Before I decided to sell my 1969 bug, thats what I was going to do, my plans were: A bus tranny with the reduction boxes, Thing spindles, I live in the PNW so its more mountain trails and mud then sand and open desert, So having the gears is nice! that with all the other little things to make it fun  like A rack, A set of duckboards, roll-cage, skid plates,
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1302s sunroof..
1600cc motor. Glenn ring 010. full toplineparts.com suspension. factory front disk brakes. Tram type-3 rear brakes. Hurst shifter. empi-8's. low-back's. tons of mods! |
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