For years I've been inflating the tyres of Beetles to the 18 psi front and 28 psi rear that is specified in all of the manuals. I've never had a problem until now.

Over the Easter weekend I loaned my Beetle to some Eastern States visitors to the Bug-in in Toodyay to compete in the motorkhana. FYI One of them won a trophy. It's the Army drab green one.

Yesterday one of the tyres went flat and the tyre fitter told me that the leak was caused by sand getting in the bead area.

He said that the tyre pressures that I used caused the problem as the pressures were for cross ply tyres only, not 165 x 15 radials and that were much too low

He recommended 35 psi on all tyres.

That seems a bit high.

What do you have to say about this?

Volkswagen would know more about Beetle tyre pressures than your tyre fitter. Stick to the pressures specified in the owner's manual!

i would think radial vs cross play pressures would be quite different.

keen to hear pressures for both.

put 25psi in front and back on old cross plys the other day?

You should have told him to stick to putting tyres on Falcons and Commodores tyre fitters always know better than VW
Radials are not a new invention and were around back then too.

Sand getting in the bead would have happened regardless.
You could always stick a few PSI more in them for those kind of events but on the road it will just make the car dangerous.

The reason the front is run so low is due to the lack of weight.
Even with the low profile fanbelts I run on mine I still stick with 20F and 30R.

Braking and cornering becomes very unpredictable when the fronts are over inflated.

good info thanks

I had a pair of 31" ATs put on the back of my Baja last time I was in Brisbane. I happened to be in the shop with them giving them a bit of a hand to fit them cause I know the manager of the store. The guy pumped the tyres up once they were fitted. I asked him what pressure he put in and he said 40PSI
I told him I normally run about 25, he told me I was wrong because these are 4WD tyres and that's the pressure they should be run at.
I couldn't be bothered starting the "my car weighs 800kg not 3t argument"
So once I left I let them down to the correct pressure. On my Baja I have found 18 in the front and 22 in the back is about perfect.


Smiley

Interesting discussion. I have been running 26psi in front and 30 in rear for about 20 years with no problems. Have 195/60/15's on 5 1/2" rims. I have small amount of negative on the front, a shimmed Z bar and Koni's. Never have more than 1/2 a tank of fuel and minimal stuff in the boot. If the fronts lose pressure when the car has been sitting for a while, steering feels heavy. Nevertheless, there's heaps of folks on here that know far more than I about Beetles, so I will drop the fronts to 20psi and give it a try.
Cheers....Wayne

It is important to always check tyre pressures COLD. This obviously need not apply to racing pressures.

For a 1302S with new radial tyres.

I have found rear 34psi rear and front 22 psi to be the top end of the scale based on dozens of trips. Roadfeel, economy, braking, steering etc.

Every time I've had new tyres fitted over the years they come back with some ridiculous pressure in them (ALWAYS way,way over inflated), it's just common sense to check them. My son just had his tracking done last week and the local dealer we took his car to decided to put a bit of air in as 'they were a bit low'! 35 psi he put in! Do all modern cars have 35 all round? I don't think so

That just reminded me

Going back a few months ago I pulled into the woolies servo behind this old duck who was checking her tyre pressures.... well attempting to.

After me sitting there several minutes watching her look rather confused at the digital display I went to see if I could help

She looked at me and said "the tyre shop told me to run 32 in them but this doesnt go lower than 35"

When I looked closer it was set on KPA.

Sorry darl, you wont be going real far with only 5psi in your tyres

haha
yep of course he would say that as he wants to sell u more tyres
those pressures look good to me as I've run those numbers for the last 15 years or so n no dramas
it's not just me but others around here seem to think alike
no brainer really

I can't ever remember having tires fitted that weren't over inflated - usually about 35psi. Damn thing feels like it's got solid steel wheels, and bounces all over the road. Fronts lock up very easy too.

I always let them down at the first opportunity - I run about 22 in the fronts and 28 in the rear - I do usually have some sort of tools in the front.

After reading above, I might try a little more in the back though.

I can't ever remember having tires fitted that weren't over inflated - usually about 35psi. Damn thing feels like it's got solid steel wheels, and bounces all over the road. Fronts lock up very easy too.

I always let them down at the first opportunity - I run about 22 in the fronts and 28 in the rear - I do usually have some sort of tools in the front.

After reading above, I might try a little more in the back though.

Thank you. That's what I thought. You've been very helpful.

Ill stay with the old pressures.

Thanks again.

Quote:

Originally posted by Joel That just reminded me Going back a few months ago I pulled into the woolies servo behind this old duck who was checking her tyre pressures.... well attempting to. After me sitting there several minutes watching her look rather confused at the digital display I went to see if I could help She looked at me and said "the tyre shop told me to run 32 in them but this doesnt go lower than 35" When I looked closer it was set on KPA. Sorry darl, you wont be going real far with only 5psi in your tyres

I've got 5.5 mangel rims and 195/65 tyres - what sort of air pressure should I have on them?

How would a tyre fitter know?

They fit tyres and usually not very well.

It's like asking the chemist for medical advice instead of the doctor.

Whenever I've had tyres fitted both here and in the UK over the last 40 years the tyrefitters have always inflated them to some ridiculous pressure (maybe to get them to seat properly?) and I've always then let them down to 17 psi front and 28psi rear. Front engine rear drive, front engine front drive and rear engine rear drive would all have different handling characteristics and the tyre pressures would reflect this surely.

Tyres are pumped up to higher pressures to make sure the bead seats properly.
Then they should be let down to the correct pressure.
A step often (usually) neglected by tyre fitters.

I have just had yet another run in with my local tyre store.
They are a bunch of ignorant fools.
I would change, except I think this is typical of the species.

I remember 18 psi on fronts and 24 on back. But this was on the cross-ply 5.60x15's and that is what is printed on the door placards.Or thereabouts.

Pressure ratings for 2 ply radials should be higher, but again the purpose of the air pressure is to make sure the flex of the tyre is compensated for by the weight, so that the tyre tread sits flat on the road.

When your car is only half the weight of a Commodore, I don't think you need to have too much pressure in those tyres.

recently had a puncture repaired, and apart form them having trouble with finding reverse. they inflated to 36 and when i picked up the car they told me they had done this.
i mentioned that i dont run more than 30 in them as the car gets too bouncy around corners, the guy looked at me and then asked if id like it dropped down to 30. he was more than happy to do this for me.
i think i found a good one

^^ bloody typical isn't it, I mean it's not that hard !!!!!

Hi

I think most people have experienced driving any type car on the road with low tyre pressures. The car squirms about and the tyres squeal.

I have had no such issues running VW recommended tyre pressures.

Steve