Author |
Message |
Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:02 pm Post subject: SMART tires fit VW Beetles! |
|
|
Hey ...always been curious about the SMART car. Saw a 2010 model in the mall parking lot yesterday. Tire size looked odd ...too big for this tiny car. But a close look showed they were Continental 155-60-15's ...and then I looked up the tire size for that car (2010 Smart Passion) and sure enough, that's the stock size! (for the front only ....rear takes a 175-55-15)
A quick check online finds the Continental ContiProContact 155-60-15 74T at Tirerack.com for $78 ....and my local Canadian Tire store for $112.
Bizarre. Is it not widely known that the SMART car uses vintage VW bug-sized tires?? _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
grandpa pete Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008 Posts: 6426 Location: St. Petersburg, FL
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 12:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Not sure how to interpret the data. 74T 'load speed' and SL 'load range'. The tire shown on tirerack is marked 906 LBS. So, is that 'per tire' or for the whole vehicle? Says they're designed for a 4.5" wide rim.
Smart specs say 1808 lbs curb weight, and gvw of 2315
66 bug specs say 1720 lbs curb weight and gvw of 2558
...so, that seems to be within range .... _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
60ragtop Bonneville Belt Bitch
Joined: March 13, 2006 Posts: 7800 Location: Big Wonderful WYO 82401
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 1:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search...=titleonly
Yep old, old news _________________ Rick
Certified Mechanic by the State of Michigan in 1977
ASA certified in 1987
Certified Hunter Wheel Alignment Master Technician 1986
tasb wrote: |
I've restored a large number too, but I don't toot my horn quite as loud.
|
sb001 wrote: |
maybe he just snapped cause his car sucked |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 1:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry ...search specifically for Smart Car Tires and didn't find anything.
So ...that begs the question: if this is such 'old news' why is everyone whining about not being able to find these size tires?? _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
anthracitedub Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2007 Posts: 3241 Location: Michigan
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Had them on my 57 ghia for a year now... Good fit for lowered suspension...better foot print than a 135. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Todd66 Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2012 Posts: 461 Location: Utah
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 3:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
It's the factory size tire that is getting difficult to find. Which is taller than the smart car tiresyou are talking about. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bruce Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2003 Posts: 17285 Location: Left coast, Canada
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: SMART tires fit VW Beetles! |
|
|
Digger89L wrote: |
......a close look showed they were Continental 155-60-15's ...and then I looked up the tire size for that car (2010 Smart Passion) and sure enough, that's the stock size! (for the front only .... |
The Smart car tires are not the stock VW tire size. They are a low profile tire that will work on a VW. The equivalent tire today for a stock VW tire is a 155-80-15. _________________
overheard at the portland Swap Meet... wrote: |
..... a steering wheel made from a mastadon tusk..... |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Digger89L Samba Member
Joined: May 16, 2013 Posts: 1130 Location: Western Canada (SK)
|
Posted: Sun Aug 16, 2015 5:35 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Well ....excuuuuuse me. Do I feel stupid or what ! I guess I'll just go sulking backing to my shop and putter on something useful .... _________________ "If you can't fix it with pop rivets, crazy glue and duct tape, or hold it together with zip ties, velcro or magnets, it REALLY is broken." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Aussiebug Samba Member
Joined: June 03, 2002 Posts: 2162 Location: Adelaide Australia
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 3:38 am Post subject: |
|
|
Digger89L wrote: |
Well ....excuuuuuse me. Do I feel stupid or what ! I guess I'll just go sulking backing to my shop and putter on something useful .... |
Hey dont sulk!
Using those low profile tyres on a bug will increase the rpms for the same road speed, and it will make your speedo over-read - so at least you'd be driving slower than indicated and less likely to get a ticket :-)
The closest "stock" tyre you can get these days is the 165/80R15. _________________ Rob
Rob and Dave's aircooled VW pages
Repairs and maintenance for the home mechanic
http://www.vw-resource.com |
|
Back to top |
|
|
grandpa pete Samba Member
Joined: July 06, 2008 Posts: 6426 Location: St. Petersburg, FL
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:58 am Post subject: |
|
|
Digger89L wrote: |
Well ....excuuuuuse me. Do I feel stupid or what ! I guess I'll just go sulking backing to my shop and putter on something useful .... |
Before you go off sulking ; I would like to personally thank you for your attempt to add to our Volkswagen experience with your extensive knowledge.... _________________ 63 two fold rag
66 sedan delivery Type 6
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569619&highlight=sedan+delivery |
|
Back to top |
|
|
EverettB Administrator
Joined: April 11, 2000 Posts: 69801 Location: Phoenix Metro
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
cide1 Samba Member
Joined: August 12, 2015 Posts: 19 Location: Fishers, IN
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 10:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
I need new fronts for my lowered '66, these may fit the bill well. Thanks! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Mark Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2003 Posts: 1523 Location: Victoria, BC Canada
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 6:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
If you want an easy additional rake, go 155/60 front & 185/60 rear Contis. It will throw your speedo off a bit though and the ride is noticeably more shopping cart-like. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
EVfun Samba Member
Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 5473 Location: Seattle
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 7:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Along those lines you can get a little more rake and a slightly taller back tire by running P145/65R15 front and P185/65R15 rear. That is right at 1 inch of rubber rake. _________________
Wildthings wrote: |
As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Glenn Mr. 010
Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 76889 Location: Sneaking up behind you
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 7:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Skinny front tires handle like crap.
Slammed is slammed, but you can lower it and still handle.
195/55-15 front and 205/60-15 rear.
_________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rubadubdub Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2009 Posts: 41 Location: Saskatoon, SK
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Glenn, I really like what you did there! Would you explain to me what you did to acheive that stance? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
FullFender Samba Member
Joined: October 25, 2014 Posts: 647
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I just received four brand new 175/55/15's for free and I was wondering if anyone has used those on the front of their bug? Do they handle good? Do they rub on the fenders? Thanks. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
69judson Samba Member
Joined: October 04, 2005 Posts: 200 Location: Los Angeles Thousand Oaks
|
Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 8:40 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
sfizio Samba Member
Joined: November 30, 2014 Posts: 75 Location: Norwalk Connecticut
|
Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2015 10:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
I was considering the Coker Firestone 165 80 R15. Is the Continental 155 60 R15 closer to the original 165R15 VW tire? _________________ Like me, looks good from 10 feet away. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|