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Stock Beetle Tyre size

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tg007tim Casual Dubber

26 posts · joined Feb 2010 ·

#888061
Can someone please confirm the stock tyre size for a 69 beetle.

The manual states 5.60-15 which equates to a 155/R15 however what is the side profile?

And did VW allow in its specs for a larger tyre size than this? Does anyone have any evidence of this?

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#888068
tg007tim wrote:Can someone please confirm the stock tyre size for a 69 beetle.
5.60x15 on a 4" rim
The manual states 5.60-15 which equates to a 155/R15 however what is the side profile?
80%
And did VW allow in its specs for a larger tyre size than this? Does anyone have any evidence of this?
4.5" rims were standard from around 1972 probably with 5.90x15 tyres.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#888073
155s haven't been around for decades.

Most people run 165/80s as they are that bit wider but the same rolling diameter as stock 155s.

Trouble is even they now are classed as a classic tyres which permits bullshit prices.

The last time I replaced tyres on stock rims I fitted Federal Formoza 185/65s (nice modern tyre and cheap) but thats on the later 4.5" rims, people do fit them on the earlier 4" rims but the walls balloon out abit.

TorxKiwi Officially Full-On Dubber

231 posts · joined Jun 2011 ·

#888084
I've got 4.5" stock rims and purchased 3 new tyres from Bob Jane last week.

Roadstone 165/80/R15 $99 each fitted and balanced. Seem okay.
"Ownership of a Beetle is not a destination it is a journey."

helbus Administrator Mad fabricator, paint and body

7,386 posts · joined Sep 2002 ·

#888097
At our work we fit thousands of 165/80/15 tyres every year. There are hundreds in stock. Austin Healey, MG, Triumph, Beetles, and the list goes on. They are easy to get. Kumho Power Star, Nangkang CX, Hankook Centrum or even Nexens.

I got Kumho's fitted to our Beetle at work, and the retail price would have been $110 each.
EJ22 into Bay Microbus - Finished project build thread- click on this spot here for info

aintgotitmusthaveit Officially Full-On Dubber

295 posts · joined Jun 2006 ·

#888174
Guys Tim wants to go bigger than factory on his buggy
The engineer has stated he can only marginally increase the stock circumference per the ADR. I think he said 15mm!
As such we need to exactly establish "with evidence", what stock circumference was.

AA003 Custom Title Time!

1,189 posts · joined Oct 2011 ·

#888188
I think that he would be limited by width for the 4" rim more than the height.

The standard tyre was 5.60 not 155. A 5.60 would be taller than a 155.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.

Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!😂

aintgotitmusthaveit Officially Full-On Dubber

295 posts · joined Jun 2006 ·

#888206
Actually the acts don't refer to width. Theory refer to track. They don't let you change the track by more than x-mm. With track measured from the centre of the contact pad. Do by getting rims with the right offset you can keep the track nearly unchanged and therefore meet the ADR requirement.
It's all about forces on suspension,
I assume the rewuirement aims at keeping the same radius of gyration (proportional to rolling diameter and spring mass) and centre of the contact pad. They don't account for the sprung mass of the wheel!

aintgotitmusthaveit Officially Full-On Dubber

295 posts · joined Jun 2006 ·

#888213
Actually got it a bit wrong before:

ADR states:
4.2.4 Overall Nominal Diameter
The overall diameter of any tyre fitted to a passenger car or passenger car derivative must not be more than 15mm larger or 26mm smaller than that of any tyre designated by the vehicle manufacturer for that model.

Wheel Sizes and Axles
All rims fitted to a front axle or a rear axle must be of the same diameter, offset, width and mounting configuration (except for spare wheels used in an emergency situation).

4.2.8 Maximum Passenger Car Tyre and Rim Width
Tyres fitted to passenger cars or passenger car derivatives must not be more than 30% wider than vehicle manufacturer’s widest optional tyre.
The rim width must not exceed the recommendations for the tyre fitted.
For example, if the original widest optional tyre is 185mm, the maximum tyre width is 1.3 times 185mm = 240.5mm, i.e. a 235mm wide tyre. The maximum rim width for a 235mm tyre is 9 inches if the aspect ratio is 60 or below.

aintgotitmusthaveit Officially Full-On Dubber

295 posts · joined Jun 2006 ·

#888214
Some more ADR extracts
4.2.9 Passenger Car Wheel Track
The wheel track of passenger cars (or derivatives) must not be increased by more than 25mm beyond the maximum specified by the vehicle manufacturer for the particular model. This means that the rim offset must not be changed by more than 12.5mm.