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Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:05 pm

I was thinking of buying a '72 SB, but the guy I was talking to said the only tire compatible w/ the standard wheels of the SB was the 165R15; that the more commonly available 165 80R15 tire would hit against the strut suspension.... Is this true? As the original 165R15 tires are pretty much unavailable, what tires are being used w/ the standard wheels? Thanks

jlex.

Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:08 pm

jlex wrote: I was thinking of buying a '72 SB, but the guy I was talking to said the only tire compatible w/ the standard wheels of the SB was the 165R15; that the more commonly available 165 80R15 tire would hit against the strut suspension.... Is this true? As the original 165R15 tires are pretty much unavailable, what tires are being used w/ the standard wheels? Thanks

jlex.

Well not sure about the 16/80r15....BUT the 165R15 are very available
Try socal Imports...or any number of VW mail order houses
1952

Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:22 pm

The 165's talked about are actually 165/80's. You may find this helpful: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=294720

Fri Mar 13, 2009 4:54 pm

I have Kumho 165/80R15's on my 72 Super and have had no rubbing issues.

Dustin

Sat Mar 14, 2009 6:07 am

Thanks for the replies, guys. The mechanic who told me that seemed really knowledgeable about VW's...maybe he was just mistaken...

jlex.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:25 am

It's the same tire. If the superbeetle has the wrong offset wheel neither will fit.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:45 am

i've heard of people running 195/65 r15 on there beetle. i was going to try them someday.

i have 165 r15 on my beetle now. they are the size recommended on all years beetles as a replacement for stock 5.90 R15 tires.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:30 am

conrad1468 wrote: i've heard of people running 195/65 r15 on there beetle. i was going to try them someday.

i have 165 r15 on my beetle now. they are the size recommended on all years beetles as a replacement for stock 5.90 R15 tires.

5.60-15?

Sat Mar 14, 2009 1:52 pm

Right, but the problem is the 165R15 isn't readily available (at least I can't find any...) The 165 80R15 can at least be found w/o paying a mint.

Jlex.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:08 pm

jlex wrote: Right, but the problem is the 165R15 isn't readily available (at least I can't find any...) The 165 80R15 can at least be found w/o paying a mint.

Jlex.

A tire referred to as a 165R15 is the same as a 165/80. The "R" just means radial. Some manufacturers may or maynot use the R in their size description.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 2:35 pm

I was thinking the 165R15 was a slightly different size: equivalent to a 165 85R15.... thought I read that somewhere... maybe I'm wrong. Believed that the 165 80R15 was the closest substitute.

jlex.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:11 pm

No it isn't. As stated above, a 165R15 is exactly the same size as a 165/80R15. Your mechanic isn't that knowledgeable in tires or VWs if he doesn't know that.

Sat Mar 14, 2009 3:55 pm

jlex wrote: I was thinking the 165R15 was a slightly different size: equivalent to a 165 85R15.... thought I read that somewhere... maybe I'm wrong. Believed that the 165 80R15 was the closest substitute.

jlex.

This site says it can be 80 or 82 profile...

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html