wheel/tire combo...

[rebel]

Kill me all. but yeah, It's a 1302. And I'm in the process of modifying it in the late 70ties/early80s Cal-look style. I know it's a crime here, but I'm looking for some tech info, not comments in the 'get outa here' type of a tone. 

I've got a set of 7 inch wide cookies. Damn too wide for front unfortunaltelly. I'm thinkin again about narrowing 'em.
I've finally found an expirienced and licensed welder, who has done such things and is willling to help for far reasonable price. I almost lost any hope

I'd have some questions on a rubber size though.
I'm planning to cut the 7s an 1.5ich from the inside (to achive the 5.5inch size)just to be able to fit a very narrow tire under the front wings. (stock width of coz...)
I've measured, that theese cookies have almost the same backspacing than my Weltmeisters. That means narrowing ain't gonna put them further towards the brake drum and it means they would go further out for about 2 inches. I wonder how narrow tires should I choose to make them 'hide' under the fenders. I was thinking about 135/80 or at lower profile. What are your thoughts guys?

Another thing is  the rear axle. The 7s are staing as they are. No cutting. I want to achieve an 'fat-tire-olschool-look', which I think 205/70 would suit best, but the other thing is of course Performance
My Powerplant ain't huge, but strong enough to give some fun - a 1914cc/40x37.5/C35cam/40DRLAs.
Don't know the power numbers yet, but I don't want to lose seconds at take off because of too much rubber and risk trans breakage (bonestock for now)...
What are your types?

[Zach Gomulka]

Cookie cutters.... cool. The difference between the 7's and the 6's is an additional inch to the outside on the 7's. They have the same backspace. Therefore, if you narrow your 7's, it wont pull the tire inside the fender any more than it used to, you will still have to narrow the beam the same amount. You would be best off trading a pair of your 7's for a pair of 6's, then having the 6's narrowed down. What size tires are your running up front? If you are going skinny, like a 145, I would get the 6's down to 4 1/2"s.
The 7's will look okay with 205/70's, but will look a little better with 215/65's, IMO

[rebel]

Thanx for aswer, man.
I was afraid about that really... Although I measured it twice, I think.
I can't narrow the beam, coz it's a super That's why I'm so  nervous I think the rims may stick out a 1/2inch o so.
That is why I wonder if it is possible to set the tyre/rim combo in a way to make the top of the tyre to be like that: /_\ and therefore to fit the rubber under the fender.

[John Rayburn]

For the ten millionth time, there were lot's and lot's of Cal Look Super Beetles, as well as other late VW's. There is no crime!!!!

[Zach Gomulka]

Oops! Forgot that you said it was an 1302 You will be much better off finding a pair of 6's for the front and having them narrowed. Narrowed 7's wont make it, they simply have too much "frontspace", which wont be altered no matter how much you narrow the back of the wheel. And having the wheels like this /_\ will just make your tires wear out prematurely. Sorry to tell you this, but I suspect you are also going to have problems on the rear with a wide tire like that. I reccomend narrowing the rear trailing arms like I did on my GTV

[rebel]

For the ten millionth time, there were lot's and lot's of Cal Look Super Beetles, as well as other late VW's. There is no crime!!!!

Sorry, John... don't be mad at me It was just a teaser

[John Rayburn]

I'm not mad, just want to make sure that people know that there were many of them back then, despite what people believe. I'm glad your building a late model, and I don't want people telling you it's not proper! Enjoy your 1302!!

[speedwell]

and some nice 1303 john like this one i saw this one last year at the DAS cruise night in waterlo before european bug in 

[Jim Ratto]

I'm not mad, just want to make sure that people know that there were many of them back then, despite what people believe. I'm glad your building a late model, and I don't want people telling you it's not proper! Enjoy your 1302!!

John's always mad.

[John Rayburn]

I'm not mad, just want to make sure that people know that there were many of them back then, despite what people believe. I'm glad your building a late model, and I don't want people telling you it's not proper! Enjoy your 1302!!

John's always mad.

                                            I'm gonna punch you in the skull!!!!!!!!!

and some nice 1303 john like this one i saw this one last year at the DAS cruise night in waterlo before european bug in 

                                                               That's a cool car !

[rebel]

coming back to the subject:

The 'Cookie Monster' project died, cause my 'cookies' do stick out
about 1/2 inch and finding six-inchers around my place is kinda hard...

 I was afraid just to trust a ruler, so I took off my front the old,
rusty Weltmeister wheel, and relapaced (for a test porpouses) with the 7
inch cookie rim without a tyre on. Well... It would not look ok, and
wouldn't work aceptable either... Damn...

If I theoretically get a set of 5.5 alloys all around I'd like to go
for the oldschool wheel/tyre combo. I was thinking about 135/80 Nankang
front/165/80 Firestone F560 in da back. I'm affraid if theese 135s
would strech enough though. The other way is to go 145 front/195/70 in
da back, but then performace would suffer... Oh, man... so hard choice
stands before me...   What do you think?

 

[Zach Gomulka]

IMO, 135s and 145s both looked stretched on a 5.5" rim. You could get reproduction 4.5" alloys up front and 5.5" in the back...

[rebel]

Okay, my way of thinking was... Aronson/Holmes combo on 5 inch BRMs.  The repros are acually ordered and waiting for delivery

[John Rayburn]

You might consider 155's up front???

[nicolas]

You might consider 155's up front???

those are really nice, but you'll need something a little fatter as a 165 tire in the back then, like a 185/70 that should look cool. or wider if you like that look.

[ESH]

... just want to make sure that people know that there were many of them back then, despite what people believe. I'm glad your building a late model, and I don't want people telling you it's not proper ...

 

Wasn't there a chopped 1302 Gasser at Bug-In 33 parked up next to Zachs car and Animal Crackers?

... I might be going mad?  (Anyone got photos of it?)

... some nice 1303 john like this one i saw this one last year at the DAS cruise night in waterlo before european bug in ...

That car's been getting a lot of attention. 

[speedwell]

Wasn't there a chopped 1302 Gasser at Bug-In 33 parked up next to Zachs car and Animal Crackers?

... I might be going mad?  (Anyone got photos of it?)

the treuhaft 1302

[rebel]

Aw, maaan... Thaks, Fabs!!!

[ESH]

... the treuhaft 1302 ...

Thanks, that's the one. 

[Jim Ratto]

I like tire combo on Rhoads' car in that recent post from fabian...  155 x 185?

[j-f]

This car runs on 155-15 and 185-15. And it look just right!
I'm using 135 and 165-15 on 5.5" and 6" Fuchs. Tires don't look too stretched, but I'm thinking about change it for 155 and 185. Better handling and maybe look without have too big tires.
I took the pic in a vw show few weeks ago.

[qubek]

More pics of this car:

[Diederick/DVK]

what brand are those?
i'll be going for 155-15 and 185-15 once i've burned the rubber that's on my wheels now 

[nicolas]

somehow by the look of those last 3 pics you know they are taken in Belgium, or at least very near to it !!!

[qubek]

somehow by the look of those last 3 pics you know they are taken in Belgium, or at least very near to it !!!

Not really, it's around 900 km from Belgian border

[nicolas]

somehow by the look of those last 3 pics you know they are taken in Belgium, or at least very near to it !!!

Not really, it's around 900 km from Belgian border

really?




if i drive 900 km from the belgian border i DEMAND nice weather!  even to Norway 

[qubek]

somehow by the look of those last 3 pics you know they are taken in Belgium, or at least very near to it !!!

Not really, it's around 900 km from Belgian border

really?




if i drive 900 km from the belgian border i DEMAND nice weather!  even to Norway 

Does it work in the opposite direction?
I'm about to drive 1300 km to Belgium and I'd prefer nice weather too.

[GreenTom]

talkin about tyres
145/65 R15 looks streched on 5,5" rim but it looks nice the worst thing of that combo is that it is too stiff/hard maybe only for Polish roads
I have 155 R15 Veredesteins on 5,5 repo GBees on fornt it looks really nice (didn't expected that eaven) but conected with 195/65 R15 on the back on the size rim doesn't look nince. it looks lke the rear rubbr hav smaller profile (and it is few mm higher than 155/80). I think 195/70 R15 on the back  wih 155 R15 would look nice of corse if you don't have 145 R15

[Neil Davies]

talkin about tyres
145/65 R15 looks streched on 5,5" rim but it looks nice the worst thing of that combo is that it is too stiff/hard maybe only for Polish roads
I have 155 R15 Veredesteins on 5,5 repo GBees on fornt it looks really nice (didn't expected that eaven) but conected with 195/65 R15 on the back on the size rim doesn't look nince. it looks lke the rear rubbr hav smaller profile (and it is few mm higher than 155/80). I think 195/70 R15 on the back  wih 155 R15 would look nice of corse if you don't have 145 R15

You've hit the nail on the head - a 155 on the front would need something of a reasonable size on the back to balance it out. On my '70 I'll be using 155 F560 Firestones on the front and the back will probably be a 195/70 or a 205/65 or 70.

I use this website to work out tyre sizes: http://www.powerdog.com/tiresize.cgi - it's pretty good for general comparisons, but some tyres can look different to other makes.

[GreenTom]

as I remember 195/70 is higher on the side wall than 205/65. Just mesured lots of combos (virtually).
at the moment I have 155/80R15 F, 195/65R15 R because I had 145/65R15 F 195/65R15 before but I had to buy only front tyres ($$$). rear tyres 195/70R15 are comming soon the choice went on Bridgestone  B330  195/70R15  97 T XL about year ago :p. Not too expensive but quite good tyres and popular in polisch shops