| Author |
Message |
Speedbird73
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2017
Posts: 36
Location: Copake NY
|
 Posted: Fri Mar 02, 2018 7:16 pm Post subject: What size rear tire? |
 |
|
Hi guys,
Curious, I was on busselcta.com playing around, and it made salivate over the look of a large tire in the rear of my '72 bug. It has been lowered "2 clicks" according to the PO. What is the biggest tire that you think would fit back there? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14576
Location: 18 miles North of the border
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
esde
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 5963
Location: central rust belt
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 9:44 am Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
My experience is that 2 clicks down and 205-215/ 70 series tires often don't play well together. The wheel back spacing has to be just right to get the tire centered in the fender.
_________________
modok wrote:
Bent cranks are silent but gather no moss. I mean, ah, something like that. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ALB
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 3483
Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
A 205/70-15 is over 26 1/4" tall so as well as possible clearance issues, it will suck the life out of the car's acceleration and with a smaller engine and stock transaxle you may find 4th gear somewhat unusable.
Just something to keep in mind...
As usual, just my 2 1/2 cents (I'm Canadian, eh). Al
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Speedbird73
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2017
Posts: 36
Location: Copake NY
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 03, 2018 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
Thanks guys, I didn't even think of it robbing the power (that it barely has!)
Any ways, here she is last summer, I like the tires on it I suppose.
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ALB
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 3483
Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2018 5:16 am Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
The car looks good, Speedbird. What size tires are on the back now?
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14576
Location: 18 miles North of the border
|
| Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2018 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
| ALB wrote: |
A 205/70-15 is over 26 1/4" tall so as well as possible clearance issues, it will suck the life out of the car's acceleration and with a smaller engine and stock transaxle you may find 4th gear somewhat unusable.
Just something to keep in mind...
As usual, just my 2 1/2 cents (I'm Canadian, eh). Al |
I’d have to disagree with this assessment. My ‘59 Beetle is still powered by the original 36hp engine and crash box trans. It has no problems propelling the car with it’s 205/70-15 rear tires.
_________________
1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
dagen_1
Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2017
Posts: 77
Location: Virginia
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2018 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
| Speedbird73 wrote: |
Thanks guys, I didn't even think of it robbing the power (that it barely has!)
Any ways, here she is last summer, I like the tires on it I suppose.
|
out of curiosity, what size are the rear tires pictured here?
_________________
74 Super Beetle |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ALB
Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2008
Posts: 3483
Location: beautiful suburban Wet Coast of Canada
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 11:02 am Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
| RareAir wrote: |
| ALB wrote: |
A 205/70-15 is over 26 1/4" tall so as well as possible clearance issues, it will suck the life out of the car's acceleration and with a smaller engine and stock transaxle you may find 4th gear somewhat unusable.
Just something to keep in mind...
As usual, just my 2 1/2 cents (I'm Canadian, eh). Al |
I’d have to disagree with this assessment. My ‘59 Beetle is still powered by the original 36hp engine and crash box trans. It has no problems propelling the car with it’s 205/70-15 rear tires.
|
First- good looking car! Love it. And ok, 'suck the life out of the car's acceleration' may be a little bit of an exaggeration, but going to a taller rear tire is like putting a taller r&p in the trans- it changes things. You may not have noticed it (or care), but it's not as quick off the line as with the stock size tires.
All I'm saying is it's something to be considered. Al
_________________
On a lifelong mission to prove (much to my wife's dismay) that Immaturity is Forever!! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Stewartwms21
Samba Member
Joined: April 26, 2018
Posts: 34
Location: North Carolina
|
| Posted: Fri May 04, 2018 4:10 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
| RareAir that is the look I'm going for on my 74. What size tires are you running up front? Also what is the width of your wheels and are you lowered in front and back? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
RareAir
Samba Member
Joined: May 11, 2002
Posts: 14576
Location: 18 miles North of the border
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 8:03 pm Post subject: Re: What size rear tire? |
|
|
| Stewartwms21 wrote: |
| RareAir that is the look I'm going for on my 74. What size tires are you running up front? Also what is the width of your wheels and are you lowered in front and back? |
Wheels are Fuch (pronounced Fox, as in German. Not foosh as most Americans pronounce it).
Fronts measure 15x4.5J with 145R15
Rears are 15x5.5 with 205/70R15 (soon to be replaced with 15x6J)
Front end is lowered approx 3-1/2” using dropped spindles and Avis adjusters
In those older photos, rear end was at stock height. Car currently sits 2” lower (+3 inner spline, -2 outer spline)
_________________
1947 Typ 11a
1954 Typ 117
1956 Typ 151
1959 Typ 117
1959 Typ 265
1961 356B
1966 Typ 151
1966 Typ 241 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
aa390392
Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2007
Posts: 3602
Location: So.Cal
|
| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:21 am Post subject: Re: What size rear/front tire? |
|
|
Looking for some advise, on my 56 convertible tire sizes, a few question
1.will these tires fit on a stock smoothie wheel. 185/65r 15--195/65r 15's?????
2 iffen they do fit will they work, or are they to large for a stock suspenion car?
Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
Cheers Thomas
_________________
.
getting grumpy & less tolerant!
55 ragtop
56 delux sedan
56 Kabriolet |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 17969
Location: Eugene, OR
|
| Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2018 8:44 am Post subject: Re: What size rear/front tire? |
|
|
| aa390392 wrote: |
Looking for some advise, on my 56 convertible tire sizes, a few question
1.will these tires fit on a stock smoothie wheel. 185/65r 15--195/65r 15's?????
2 iffen they do fit will they work, or are they to large for a stock suspenion car?
Any help or suggestions will be appreciated.
Cheers Thomas |
4.5" wide VW wheels are only safe for up to 185's but no bigger!
_________________
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 |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
