I want to narrow the front tyres on the bug and I've noticed a fair few people run 145s on 5.5 rims. I've got 185s on at the moment but I think I'll move them to the back and get narrower tyres for the front.

1: Is this good performance and safety wise
2: if so, were can I get 145s for these rims (914s) in Melbourne?

Thanks guys and girls :b

so you got the rims. great stuff... am curious about this myself, for the beetle. was also wondering about 'space saver tyres'.

You shouldn't have any problems with them. They will fit well on those rims and look great too when / if you drop your ride.

Squiz....

The ride's dropped now and the tyre problem has been highlighted because of it. But it's such a different car now handling and looks wise

tg: yeah the rims are awesome, thanks for your offer of help a while ago. a few teething problems but nothing too dramatic yet (except for finding out that the car is a little shorter on the left side from a bingle that the previous owner must have had - soon to be sorted with some chain, a telephone pole and some careful reversing).

I'll post some pics tomorrow. I'm off to deplete some braincells.

OK,
Ive got 125's,135,s and 145's.
All run on 5 and 5.5 rims.
Obviously you dont go fast up in the hills with 125's,
But 2 of my customers run 145's on the front of their bugs with BRM's.
Never had a problem.Rain or shine.
STAY away from space saver's.!
They are not a legal tyre in Australia,despite what anyone say's.

does anyone know the rolling diameter of a 145 on a 15 rim?

Ummmm,
round n black?

Before you fit 135 tyres read this

Hi

I have posted this before, some of you may have missed it.

The ramifications if your car is found to be illegally modified after an accident are something to consider, I hope that none of you are ever put in this situation. Just because your car was passed for rego by the local servo doesn’t mean that your modifications are legal.

Here are the facts:

The NSW, Qld & Victorian registration authorities state this. The outside diameter of the wheel and tyre combination must be no more than 15mm over the largest diameter wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle and not more than 15mm below the smallest diameter wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle.

Fact: The 135 x 15 is 597 mm in diameter, the 165 x 15 is 645 mm, and I was unable to find details on 155 x 15 tyres. So the 135 is 33 mm to small in diameter

The NSW & Qld registration authorities state this. Any replacement tyre must have a load rating equal to or better than the rating of the original tyres fitted by the vehicle manufacturer.

Victorian registration authorities state this. Load and speed rating equal to or better than that required by the standards for registration.

Fact: 135 x 15s have a load rating of 365 kgs, the 165 x 15 has load rating of 545 kg

The NSW & Qld registration authorities state this. The lesser of each front wheel shall be no narrower than a standard wheel fitted to the your vehicle as original equipment.

Victorian registration authorities state this. Replacement wheels and tyres may be fitted provided that they comply with the following requirements:
The width of any replacement rim must not be: less than the width of the narrowest rim specified by the vehicle manufacturer for that model or vehicle series.

Fact: the 135 x 15 is only allowed to be fitted to rims between 3.5 & 4.5 inches wide, so fitting 135 x 15 to any wider rim would be illegal.

This information was found by visiting a tyre shop and reading his tyre standards book and some research on the websites of the NSW, Qld & Victorian registration authorities. Just imagine what an insurance companies lawyers will dig up after you crash into a Rolls Royce.

Steve

355 kg load on 145's,
hmmmmm thats more than half my 680kg entire dry wieght.
Where's all the positive thinking?
I know there's rule's and guidelines..........
How many roller's do you see out there tho,
Guess that means that all those mini tubbed v8 snot heaps that roll around in plane site and never get pulled are safe aswell.
I know who a cop would go for first.

I know you were asking about 145s but a lot of that info is relevant.

Hi

I dont want to be wet blanket, just trying give the guy all the pros & cons. Its like if you put lower than factory speed rating tyres on a Porsche, Range Rover etc they are illegal even though the tyres would have speed rating higher than our speed limlts in all states except the NT.

Steve

cool thanks for that.

cheers for that info Steve,
give us something to go by.

I had 145s on my 5.5in BRMs for a few years till I sold the beetle - no problems. Not saying if it is legal or not but I never had any dramas including road worthy inspection with the tyres (including 205s out back which are allegedly illegal accoring to QLD rules).

Research as much as you can and in the end make your own informed decision.

Cheers

So i gather 135s are not legal but what about 145s?
I wasn't going to go as narrow as 135 and had 145 as the max I'd go down to. Thanks for the info though.

Ive got 145s on 5.5 inch 4 stud rims on the front of my Orange Smoothie.

I need these as i also have later model discs on the K & L front end. I need the 145s as the off set of the wheel n the lowering of the front end of the car wont let me fit 165s because there rub on the stock steel guards.

I had the guard lip beading rolled as well n the 165s still rub so i have to stay with the 145s. Especially with 2 people in the front

Ive had them on for 2 1/.2 years with no problems.
I dont race the car ( only to work )

thanks dave. Yeah the car just gets me to work and a bit of cruising so it looks like 145s are the go.


Now where the hell do i get them?!:duh

Any decent tyre shop should be able to get them I know they are available in NANKANG brand if that helps when you go to the tyre joint

I have 135s with inner tubes on 5.5 empi 5 spokes on me notch back and never have had a problem although 145 prob would be a better choice.
empi

135s

Just got some 175/65 Bridgestones and I think they've done the trick. Lowered the ride height a little from the 165s as well so I'm pretty happy. I think the bridgestones are for the 'Cruze', can't remember if it's ford or holden. Much cheaper than 175/55s at $145 but still not cheap!