im currently running 135's on the front of my beetle.. which is great cos i dont get rubbing, but blows because there is hardly any tyre on the ground for steering/stopping and such 🙂
can i go wider with a lower profile to stop rubbing, but be more stable on the road?
and also, what is the widest tyre you can put on a Stock beetle rim (i dont know the width in in inches.. but im currently running 165's on the rear)
Tagedeezee Heezy
145 smartcar tires, depending on how low u are might manage 165..... maybe a 165 lo pro
145's much chop? i was hoping to squeeze 165 lo pro's on there if i could - i was running 165's before i lowered it
Tagedeezee Heezy
..... depends how low it is ....... narrowd beam?
naa🙁 not narrowed.. but pretty low.. i'd say between 9 and 11cm off the ground... bit hrd to say.. it was definatley 9cm a while back.. but i played with the adjustered.. but it didnt seem toi do much.. what way should i turn the bolts?
i had the rear crazy low.. but rooted my bump stops and shockers... and just about everything else.. so go tnew shocks, bump stops, and had the rear raised professionally.. still lower than stock but not as nuts.. i'll try raising the front a bit.. saw a old fairlane (i think) with a slamme rear and stock lookin front.. it looked mad.. might give that a try 🙂 and whach the 165's back in...
Tagedeezee Heezy
Damo you can get 175 continentals in 50 profile which is really low and wide but probably too wide for standard rims. All of the smart car tyres are the only decent types of tyres you can get in Aus. Kim (golde60 ?) has done the research on this.
are you talking 175/50/15 suitible for fronts?
im running an IRS pan, and my steering/stopping, and comfort blows cossa the way i lowered my ride - by myself, and kinda mis-informed lol
putting BRM's on hold, to get the right width stock rims, with good size tyres, to get the car performing better.. im really happy with my height in the rear now.. front is gonna come up a little more, and i'll hafta re-new the shockers and such, and get some decent rubber under there without narrowing the beam cos i can't afford it🙂
Tagedeezee Heezy
i have 185s on the rear of my bug but they are 80 series
1961 swb buggy
1960 karmann ghia
1963 Single Cab: "El Concreto"
1963 bent 23 window " Frieda Samba "
1963 Eriba Faun camper " Cara Van daCamp"
2012 Skoda Octavia scout
Get down low and go,go,go
That bug just winked at me! :thumb
this may sound terrible but why not put on 14" rims or even 13's and then you'd have more to play with.
The reason I say this is that I lowered my KG and also put on 13's way back in the 80's, was so low I couldn't get into petrol stations:P
car was previously lower.. wanting more comfort, and saftey especially with winter coming cold/wet roads 135's a shite to stop with, and i want to be able to go up and down my drive way still 🙂
Tagedeezee Heezy
pfft.... u want to stop...... Pussy!! :P
I considered 135 and 145s, but i wanted more rubber on the ground for when i slammed on the brakes. also, i dont like the cheese cutter look on the front end
145 x 65 continentals were an option, but again too narrow.
next step up in width was 175 x 55 continentals, which cost a bomb but the profile is basically the same height as the 145 contis.
you can get 185 x 55 for a bit less, but i decided on the contis as they have the best reputation for stopping.
this is what i ended up doing for my front.
rears are 215 x 55 GTs.
i got the look i was after, but still a little while til i go and test it all out for rubs etc.
one thing to be aware of is the legalities of running narrow tyres. you might get insurance, but if the tyres arent meant to be on there and you have a crash, the insurance company will use this a way to avoid paying.
1302 steve will give you the low down on the legalities.
me....
.... i getting my car engineered, cos there are a whole lot more mods that mean i would be an insurance nightmare without and engineering certifcate.
hope this helps
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