Hey all.My recently purchased 63 beetle has 125 x 15 front yres that are past their use by date and follow
every groove in the road.
Ive put on some 165's that are good nick but hit the guards when the wheel is turned (been lowered a bit).
As I'm going to the Sturt police station for a vehicle identity check next week (yikes!) i dont want plod slapping a defect sticker on it.
My question's are, what is the original tyre width for a 63 beetle and if i buy some 135's, are they legal in SA?
Any advice would be great.

165-ish is the radial equielant
In those days it was cross ply

Technically if it has been lowered it would need an engineers report etc etc

Personally i wouldnt drive on 125/13 Cal look tyres - but if you want a cool lowered beam beetle that is the price you pay

Cheers bud.
Yeah,thought that maybe the size.
Once its been passed (i hope) Ill put up with the pizza cutters.145's maybe the go if i can get them

Yes,
original sized radial ply tyres was 155 x 15
which are no longer available in the normal tyre shops..
165 x 15 are now used...

135 x 15 145 x 15 are NOT usually available from your normal tyre shop

antique tyres usually have all sizes but at a PRICE $$$

remember that most of your braking an a car is done by the front tyres....
so I wouldn't have 135 or 145s...

cheers

LEE

Cheers Lee.That makes sense to me!
Love the pizza cutter look but not real happy with the potential braking problems.
Lee

NANGKANG make a 135 & 145 15 tyre, most tyre places can get them and they are ok in SA ... i run 135's on my beetle & 145's on my razor... both see the road all the time as they are both daily drivers and i live in SA, been pulled over a couple of times, usually for being too low .... but never once faulted for the tyre size.

Also went to regency with 135's on the car and passed, with nothing said about them.

hope that helps

oh yeah , never had a problem with them stopping my car, nor have they ever stepped out on a cornor on drives up through the hills either.

i find most people that say they are a problem have never had them on a car ... i use both sizes all the time and have never had a drama. in dry or wet.

try reading this one
http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=14329 

Cheers guys.
As my beetle has been lowered a bit and the 165's are touching the guards at full turn,ill go for the 145's before i get it inspected.
Ive no time to get the front end raised up before wednesday or thursday so ill just hafta pray i get a decent copper at Sturt police station.
I appreciate your comments and advice

Hey dude, saw your car on the road coming out of 'The Tread Shed' the other day. She's a hot looker. Good luck with the inspection.

Cheers boris,i love it.
To be honest,I'm amazed at the amount of attention vw's get.Shoulda got one years ago.
Fingers crossed the ID check doesnt turn into a canary
on the window! Seeya on the road,ill be the one with the stupid grin on my face

whats the identity check for? what caused it to need this identity check?

Its a Victorian car and the engine number was different to
what was on the rego papers.
Before any interstate vehicle is regoed in SA,they must first pass the engine and
chassis number check.And to verify that its not a 'rebirthed' car or its been stolen etc.
I took it to Sturt Police station and it took 5 minutes to do the check.
Then ofcourse straight to the rego office and get SA plates on it,Stoked!
ID check cost $46.Worth the money for peace of mind