TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:08 pm

Hi ,

I want to buy whitewall tires for my beetle. Do you know which dimensions are better? I know that the stock tires are the 560 15 but i've heard that is much safer to use 165 15. Any suggestions ?

Also which make you suggest for wide whitewalls (firestone,bfgoodridge,coker...???)

Thanks
Skaravaios

Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:54 pm

560 X15 is a bias ply tire. 165 r 15 is a radial tire.

They are approximately the same circumference. The difference is the type of tire and its appearance.

Bias ply whitewalls like Firestone and Denman look vintage original.
Radials don't, but perform better, particularly in certain conditions.
It's as simple as that.

Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:37 pm

depends on your application. 560-15's are original spec. so if you are going for authenticality that's it. Otherwise it is totally up to you.

-Kent

Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:52 am

So you are saying that with classic 560 15 i won't have problems on the road.

Any recommendation for companies?

Thanks

Fri Mar 17, 2006 12:59 am

Skaravaios wrote: So you are saying that with classic 560 15 i won't have problems on the road.

Any recommendation for companies?

Thanks

I cant say whether you will have problems or not, but here is part of my reply to a PM earilier today. Govern yourself accordingly...

...Coker.com has about the only selection of vintage whitewalls.

http://www.cokertire.com/store/customer/product.php?productid=17400&cat=&page=1

There are two that are 560-15's like the originals. However, the whitewall sizes are not the same as the originals. My Dunlops have a 1 3/4" whitewall, but Coker only supplies Firestone 560-15 whitewalls with either a 1" or 2 3/4" (which is like a pimp Caddy). The tread of the tire and fluting at the outer edge is nearly identical to the Dunlops, you just have to decide on the width of the whitewall.

Hope that helps.

Kent

Fri Mar 17, 2006 1:08 am

Does he produces his own tires (coker)? Anyone who had an experience with coker tires?

Also is there a standard size for the original whitewalls?

Thanks

Fri Mar 17, 2006 6:31 am

155x15 is correct replacement for 5.60x15. 165x15 is correct replacement for 6.00x15,but you did not ask which is correct replacement . 18-20lbs pressure on front tires and 28lbs. on rear tires on a beetle if swingaxle rear suspension. the radials are safer on the highway and ride better than bias ply tires.

Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:37 am

A friend of mine put bias plys on his 64 at one point. I remember him saying he really liked how well it ran and handled, and the tire noise was overall quieter. But there was one pitfall - on any roads where the pavement was worn down with "ruts", or on grooved pavement, it would wander a lot more than radials would, especially at freeway speeds.

-Andy

Fri Mar 17, 2006 10:51 am

If you want the "vintage" pizza cutters then 5.60-15. I have them on the '65 (not going to be a daily, but like the vintage look of bias ply whitewalls). I run 165R15 blackwall radials on the '67. It handles great (for a bug) on the highway.

It just depends on what you want to do with your car. you have options. search the Coker site for vintage styles, otherwise your local tire shop should be able to hook you up with a 165 radial with or without a whitewall. If not Coker has the whitewall radials and you arrange for mounting.

http://www.cokertire.com/store/customer/search.php...0&y=11

Fri May 05, 2006 5:20 am

I'm looking at getting new tires for my '65. A rep at cip1.com recommended the 145/SR15 for a radial that was close to stock.

Are 145s too thin?

Hans

Fri May 05, 2006 6:29 am

I have the coker 560x15 Bias Ply, yes they are the wide whitewall, not original.

So far they drive fine.

Fri May 05, 2006 6:35 am

Perhaps the rep was thinking about maintaining the thin look of the 560-15 tire while giving you a radial. The 165s on my '67 are a little wider than my 560-15 tires. It depends on what's more important to you: handling/performance or a "vintage" look. I have 560-15's on my '56 and '65. Personally I prefer the handling of my '67 with the 165's.

-Kent

Fri May 05, 2006 6:43 am

Nice wheels, Will! That's what mine looked like at some point back in the day (before the barn stay!) Are they Lemmerz or repros? If repros, where'd ya get em? Mine are all Lemmerz (from a 356) but they need rechroming which is going to be pricey!

-Kent

Fri May 05, 2006 6:55 am

67 Florida Deluxe wrote: Nice wheels, Will! That's what mine looked like at some point back in the day (before the barn stay!) Are they Lemmerz or repros? If repros, where'd ya get em? Mine are all Lemmerz (from a 356) but they need rechroming which is going to be pricey!

-Kent

Repros from CIP1

http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=ACC%2DC10%2D6621

Fri May 05, 2006 8:23 am

A 145 is too small for stock. A 155R15 is the same as a 5.60x15
The 165R15 is commonly used in place of the 5.60x15 and works fine although technically is a little bigger. I have run them in place of 5.60s for almost 30 years and they are fine. Bias ply tires are really yesterdays technology but I do run them on my split, 60 bug & 71 Ghia and they are fine other that that "wandering" on some roads.
If you want radials in the correct size as the 5.60x15 and don't mind blackwalls, www.tirerack.com sells a Kuhmo Power Star 155R15 which was the OEM tire on Mexican Beetles, is a fantastic tire AND only about $30.00

Fri May 05, 2006 9:32 am

Thanks DrDarby,

Unfortunately, the Kuhmo Power Star 155R15 is not available in Canada. I phoned the company.

Hans

Fri May 05, 2006 11:04 am

www.tirerack.net ships to Canada....

Sat May 06, 2006 3:46 am

I phoned Tiretrack and the rep had never heard of this tire. I sourced the distibutors through the Kumho site and they supposedly have distributors in Toronto, Canada. Locations:

http://www.oktire.com/en/location/ProvinceList.aspx?RegionCode=23

Thanks for the tip on the Kuhmos. I will look into them further.

Hans