Hi all
Got some tyre price quotes today for some tyres for my type 3..
The guy was having trouble finding a tyre that would fit my wide rims but still give me a similar overall wheel height..
The ones he found are 195/65/R15.. at $130 each... so i guess i have two questions..
1) Is this an average price? or can i get decent ones cheaper?
2) Will these fit ok on 5.5 inch rims on a stock height type 3? Without rubbing...
[ Edited on 27-1-2006 by jo_tas ]
I have 14 x 6 rims with 195 / 65/ 14's and they are no trouble at all on my 72 Squareback. I think 195's will be a bit too wide for standard rims.
Beach Buggy
74 L Beetle
Mk4 Golf
what have you got on there at the moment?
62/60 model bug eye baja bug, (Full Build in Progress)
1974 Chevrolet Luv
1970 MK2 Ford Cortina GT
1979 Yamaha RX125 Two Stroke tracker project.
2004 Harley Davidson Sportster XL Custom
I agree..I think 195's will be too wide for your stock rims.
I've got 'em on the back of my bug on 5.5s but they'll be too big for the front of a type 3. Maybe more like a 175x65? You can get a bridgestone for about the same price in that size.
The front of type 3's is less problem than the back. Larger OD tires might rub on the inside of the wheel-well at the front - standard tires can do this. 195/65 x 14 and 205/60 x 14 are fine on the front of type 3 as regards clearing mudguard.
At the back: 205/60 on 6 x 14 wheel WILL hit tops of guards. 195/65 on 6 x 14 WILL hit tops of guards. (With normal-type offset Al wheels). This is NOT good as tyre may be cut. It may look OK as it sits on the ground but will hit when car is loaded or over bumps. You can pull the guards out at the top and bend the inside lip up & in as a do-it-yourself flare. Clearance on INside should be fine. Haven't tried 5.5" rims, but the offset should be as inward as possible. It might be possible to machine Al wheels to give extra negative offset.
Standard steel wheel's offset is different for type 3 and beetle though they look very similar and have no markings show it. You can pick it by eye (just) with hubcap off and looking across rim, or measure it. Offset is inwards about 10-12mm for type 3 compared to type 1 (for 4 stud).
You don't need to maintain the same diameter. It is OK to go a bit smaller. Tyre catalogues sometime have all the diameters. Stock diam. is around 638-645mm. I think you can go as low as around 600mm without too many problems...
The hex-cap screws holding the composite drum together on type 3's may foul some Al wheels. May need to 'clearance' the wheel at that point.
Tyres are the one item that should be bought with no reagrd to cost. Yokohama A539 are one of the best choices for wider tyres, or Michelin' XZX' 165 SR 15, for standard rims. Both of these are 'the best' for wet-road grip.
Hey.. sorry about the lack of info..
They're going on 5.5 inch rims..
They're GT Radials (as endorsed by Allan Moffat)... lifetime garuntee... $115 each..
Getting them put on friday.. so we'll see what happens...
Widened steel or alum. rims?
Who's lifetime?
Can u try one first to see if it hits anywhere?
What will you do if they hit the body?
The lifetime garuntee means as long as the tyre has a legal depth of tread on it, if anything goes wrong with it, it will be replaced with a new one.
They're widend originals... (steel)
The guy who runs the place (only a small business) is good friends with my BF's dad, really nice guy, and he said if they rub he'll replace them with something else free of charge...
You could fit:
185/65 x 15 at 621mm OD. This possibly wouldn't hit. Yokohama makes one in new "C Drive" model.
185/60 x 15 at 603mm OD. (comments as above)
195/60 x 15 at 615mm OD Probably will hit rear guard, as will other 195's. (Depending on rim offset)
195/65 x 15 at 635mm OD (comments as above)
All good tyres will have a guarantee re faulty manufacture. There will be exclusions for damage/ wear & tear. "Cheap" tyres are not good value.
That make is probably from China, or Indonesia. Good luck.
Good luck? you've made it sound like i won't have ANY.
Anyway.. we'll see come friday
Well i've proved you wrong.
They fit perfectly... no rubbing.. no change in gearing (none noticable anyway)
Grips and handles sooo nice now 🙂
Looks pretty damn good too! (check out member's rides)
"Tell him 'We've already got one'"
