Hi,
What size tyre do I need so that my spare will fit in the wheel well in the front ? cause sure as flit the 165x80x15 thats on the spare now wont , I've phoned a couple of tyre dealers and I may as well been talking freekin swahali for all the sense I could get.
Please can anyone help,
AAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHHHH, Al .

I presume you have a pre 67 Beetle

You need to get a 145 or 155 x 15 tyre to make it fit in the spare wheel area

You could also yank the front beaver section out a little by hand ( carefully ) as it may be pushed in slightly over the years

You can also loosen the valve off and deflate the tyre then fit it in the hold and inflate this will adjust the front beaver section as well if you do it a few times with a bit of ply wood or similar

Thanks for that vw54,
Yup newly aquired is a 64, I finaly found a tyre dealer that didn't know but was prepared to find out for me and is getting in a 135x80x15 so hopefully tht's that fixed--I just didn't have a clue what size to go after, I am also very gratefull for the body mody tip--good stuff to know,
Thanks again,
Cheers,
Al .

i have 165/15 white walls,they fit in my oval just a bit tight, the original 5.60/15 is a loose fit

The 165 x 15 x 80 is basically a stock tyre and really should fit into the cavity

I have one in my stock 65 but its never been hit so the cavity is good

Try the method above how does yr bonnet fit up does it sit properly and have a even gap all the way around ????

Check it out B4 u buy the tyre

What brand of tyres are they fitted ???

Thanks guys,
I've done the air blowy bit and thats helped a lot now the tyre will go in with a bit of a squeze but the hood was catching it so I adjusted the latch (which I'm guessin aint origional or at least off this model) --to the max that is still going to keep a seal-- aaarrrggg---and it still just catches the top of the tyre, the car has almost certainly has never been belted, the thing is the wheel well needs to be 1 to 2 cm's or so deeper -- or the bloody tyre a tad smaller---so I'm doin the tyre today.

Quick question does the lift up part of the hood normaly have a seal round the lip--I seem to recall it did but can't be sure,
Cheers all for the help,
Al .

No the seal is on the body only. I think the last 1990s/00s mexico cars had the seal on the lid instead

165/80 fits my Oval okay - but it's a tight, lean-on-it fit

[ Edited on 23-1-2007 by VWCOOL ]

using on original spec crossply tyre will fit the spare wheel cavity perfectly as the sidewall construction/profile shape, is different to radials...

OK guys , got that one licked-- Nankang 145 x80x15 fits with a bit of room to spare cost$79 fitted and balanced and it dont hit the bloody bonnet when I close it (by a bees )---
Now ----------------does anyone know where I can get an origional upright jack ?????????????

Cheers, Al .

just remember not to drive for too long with a 145 on one side and 165 on the other if you get a flat rear tyre. Your diff will not thank you for it!

You aint wrong there I'm running 205x70x15 rear so a flat at the rear will involve a fronts (165-80-15's) to back wheel change performance which will be abso-- farkin--lutely delightfull, ho ho ho
Cheers , Al .:beer

man thats a big rear tyre. someone put them on my sisters old 1500 bug, rubbed on the rear guards with rear passengers.
Do you have flared guards or something??

Most of Us have the tyre problem Al....
since the 155x15 went off the market...

I know many people still have an old or even New 5.60 x 15 original crossply tyre as the spare...

or a deflated 165 x 15.... and carry a pump...

that was a good price on that spare tyre Al....
I thought it would have been well over $100+...

cheers

Lee

No mate,theres plenty of room even with a little bit of lowering (1 notch only) it's a 62 pan with a 64 body so I don't know if that makes a difference though.

Thought I'd just put up a pic of the tyre in place I'm just thinkin of it as my version of the modern space saver ---he he he.

so it fits alright now ???

Mate it fits so well there's even abit of slack so I made up a little retainer out of a battery hold down thingo with a wing-nut ($2 from the wreckers) a spare bit of alloy checkerplate I had hangin around with a rubber gromet under it for cushioning.
Cheers , Al .