Buying new tires

Here's the place to come to post when you have questions relating to technical issues or mechanical questions on the 1966 model year.

D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Buying new tires

Post by D2 »

What brands of new tires are available for the 66 Bug and where can they be purchased. I remember back in the 60's 5.60 x 15. Those numbers are no longer valid. Continental, Michelin, Pirelli or Dunlop. Are any of these available nowadays? Thank you.
User avatar
Digger89L
Senior Member
Posts: 258
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 10:23 am
Location: Western Canada (SK)

Post by Digger89L »

Lots of info on this forum and others about VW tires, etc. (Use the 'search" function) ....but this will get you started:

Most manufacturers make a tire that will work.

VW wheels & tires
15 inch x 5 inch; 5 x 205mm bolt wheel (3.25 inch backspace)
Original tire size was 5.60-15 bias-ply construction.
An equivalent modern alpha-numeric sizing would be 155-SR15
Or: 165/80R-15 or: 185-65-15 or: 185-60-15 or: 195-65-15 or: 205-65-15

Remember, for example:

205 = 205mm: the tire at its widest point (section width), sidewall to sidewall = 8.07” (the larger this number, the wider the tire)

60 = tire’s sidewall height from rim to top of tread is 60% of its section width (ie: 4.84”) (the larger this number, the “taller” the tire)
Blue Baron
Senior Member
Posts: 879
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by Blue Baron »

A stock rim is actually 4.5 inches wide.

I like Classic Tires on a stock Volkswagen, and Tire Rack is a great place to buy them.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... -2134100-2
User avatar
Digger89L
Senior Member
Posts: 258
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 10:23 am
Location: Western Canada (SK)

Post by Digger89L »

Yeah ...forgot about the 4.5.

Those Tire Rack prices look okay ..shipping is a bit of a killer though ...

Anyone aware of similar size, similarly-priced narrow whitewall? Always thought the white walls looked sharp on these cars... like on my original 66 from back in the day ...
Attachments
my bahama blue 66 crop.jpg
my bahama blue 66 crop.jpg (79.92 KiB) Viewed 24036 times
D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Buying Tires

Post by D2 »

Blue Baron wrote:A stock rim is actually 4.5 inches wide.

I like Classic Tires on a stock Volkswagen, and Tire Rack is a great place to buy them.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... -2134100-2
Thank you for the feedback. Locally in New Hampshire, at 'tires' in both BJ's and Sam's Club, they're suggesting a BFGoodrich P155/80R15 83S Radial at $96.00 each with a $15.00 installation package each tire. Yippee. This is about half of what it cost to put tires on my Toyota Tundra about six months ago.
D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Buying Tires

Post by D2 »

Digger89L wrote:Yeah ...forgot about the 4.5.

Those Tire Rack prices look okay ..shipping is a bit of a killer though ...

Anyone aware of similar size, similarly-priced narrow whitewall? Always thought the white walls looked sharp on these cars... like on my original 66 from back in the day ...
Thank you for your feedback. Coincidence. I have been thinking about and looking at Beetles for months. They are all I drove fifty years ago. And about ten days ago, I became the proud and happy owner of a '66 Bahama Blue Bug - Sunroof, 36680 miles, Blaupunkt radio, very clean always garaged car - just like the one you pictured. My car is in my garage now and will stay there until next April when I'll bring him out for a little fresh air.
This will be a great trip for me.
Blue Baron
Senior Member
Posts: 879
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by Blue Baron »

h~moto wrote:
Locally in New Hampshire, at 'tires' in both BJ's and Sam's Club, they're suggesting a BFGoodrich P155/80R15 83S Radial at $96.00 each with a $15.00 installation package each tire
My recommendation is to get a quality tire even if it costs more. I have used BF Goodrich for years and they have worked well for me. Coker Tire sells BF Goodrich 165R15 in wide or narrow whitewalls. The price you got for the BF Goodrich looks VERY good. Don't be surprised if they can't balance the tires because of the wide 5 bolt pattern of the rims. Don't take my word though - it's been a real long time since I've bought tires from a tire store.
I have both! I have the B.F. Goodrick narrow whitewalls on my Sea Blue '66, and the Classics on my Seasand sunroof '66, and they're both great tires. The B.F. Goodrich cost twice as much, however, but if you're after that narrow whitewall look, they're the best.

Image

Image

The thing I especially like about the Classics is they have more of a taller, skinnier look, like the original tires, compared to other 165 radials.
D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Post by D2 »

Two very nice looking cars - showing the difference in the whitewall/blackwall appearance. The local garage where I get my '09 Tundra serviced can get Coker Classics and mount and balance them for me. Thanks for the info.
Blue Baron
Senior Member
Posts: 879
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by Blue Baron »

Okay, there's some confusion here.

The blackwall tires on the Seasand '66 are Classic brand tires. (Classic All Season to be exact.) No relation to Coker.

The narrow whitrewalls on the Sea Blue are the B.F. Goodrich Silvertowns, purchased from Coker.
D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Post by D2 »

Thank you for clarifying the tires you had pictured.
Roadbug
Senior Member
Posts: 86
Joined: Sun Jun 13, 2010 7:53 pm
Location: Smoky Mountains

white wall tires

Post by Roadbug »

Would like to replace my whitewalls. How wide is the white originally?
Is there a less expensive option than Coker?
[/img]
An old car nut who got his driver's license in a new 1961 VW and has owned 10 VW's (1957-1972) since then. Favorite was the 67's (2), but the 66 is the longest owned and current VW.
User avatar
Digger89L
Senior Member
Posts: 258
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 10:23 am
Location: Western Canada (SK)

Post by Digger89L »

Interesting update: I was making inquiries on VW tire availability with a supplier in Ontario, Canada and this is the response I got:

5.60-15's are still available, in either a Firestone or a U.S. Royal with a 1" whitewall.

Radials go to a 165R15, I have BFGoodrich with a 3/4" whitewalls in stock for $248 each, plus shipping and taxes.

The radials will be a bit cheaper than the bias ply, it all depends on the look you are going for.


....so, that adds a bit to the discussion ...
D2
Member
Posts: 29
Joined: Tue Sep 30, 2014 12:31 pm
Location: Wolfeboro, NH

Buying new tires

Post by D2 »

$248.00 sounds way high. BJ's Warehouse in Portsmouth, New Hampshire quoted me $96.00 each when I inquired a couple of months ago - for BF Goodrich All Season tires.
User avatar
Digger89L
Senior Member
Posts: 258
Joined: Sun May 12, 2013 10:23 am
Location: Western Canada (SK)

Post by Digger89L »

Yes, I agree. $248 (then add $45 per tire for shipping!!) is a bit on the high side ... $1172 plus taxes for a set of tires!!! Of course, I guess they'd last for the rest of the life of a non-daily driver rebuilt VW ...but still ....

We seem to get hosed on a lot of automotive things up here in the (currently) frozen Great White North .....the 20% difference on the US / Canadian dollar doesn't help either. Walmart Canada sells a 185-60-R15 all season tire ('Autoguard' brand) for $52.62 per tire. That's within my budget for sure. Maybe some of that white sidewall paint and a steady hand would give that 3/4 inch white stripe I'm looking for !!!!
Blue Baron
Senior Member
Posts: 879
Joined: Sun Jan 18, 2009 8:34 pm
Location: Tampa, Florida

Post by Blue Baron »

Yes, Canada does get hosed. But if you want a narrow whitewall in a radial, Coker is your option.

Also, 5.60-15 bias ply tires will look more correct on a stock restoration, but a radial tire has always been a huge improvement over a bias ply tire.

In ride quality, road holding, lower rolling resistance and longevity, a radial tire is superior. I would recommend a bias ply tire for a trailer queen or more of a museum restoration.
Post Reply