Smaller rear tires?

[lawrence]

The launch thread mentioned switching rear tires from the current trend of 205/70 "steamrolllers" to a traditional 70's size.

A few weeks ago I deceided to switch my rear setup of 205/70s on ercos to 165s on stock steelies. The first thing I noticed was that the stock wheels with cheap 165s actually weight LESS then .190 thickness ercos with 205s. I was amazed. When I drove the car it made a big difference because the acceleration was better and the car ran at a better rpm on the freeway. The 205 acted like an overdrive on the freeway, too low of an rpm. Not good for the cooling as dyno don mentioned.

One downside with the 165s is that they break loose very easily when you launch at a high rpm or gas through a turn. With the 205s I could leave hard and just chirp the tires.

I plan on getting new wheels soon and my tires sizes will be 175/65s and 195/65s. This combination is almost identical to 145/165s but slightly wider. I hope it will give the car a traditional look since I actually like the look of a smaller tire in the rear wheel well now. Babbling on ....any thoughts folks??

[Donny B.]

I have been running 195/65s for years and although the are a little short when compared to 165s the work great.  My car is a driver and not a racer so I don't need huge tires.  The 195s are wide enough for me.  I think they are just right for what I want.

[speedwell]

i will go  on 185/70/15 on my 61

[dirk zeyen]

one downside with the 165s is that they break loose very easily when you launch at a high rpm or gas through a turn. With the 205s I could leave hard and just chirp the tires.

hello,
if you are runing a stock gear-box, this means less trouble with it. spining tires are better than a broken gear-box!!!

dirk zeyen

[Donny B.]

i will go  on 185/70/15 on my 61

I ran those until I wore them out.  They are very hard to find in the U.S.  That is why I now run 195/65s on the rear of my car.  From what I've been told they are the same diameter as 165s.  Good choice!

[Zach Gomulka]

I had a blow out last night... my right rear Michelin XZX 165 bit the dust. Luckily I was only going about 35mph, so there was no other damage (I had just pulled off the highway when it happened... I was going 70mph! ) So I got the 195/65's that we just pulled of off Slinger's Single Cab on there this morning, and I'm not crazy about the look. A little bit shorter than the 165, a hair too wide, and the sidewall bulges out a scosh more than I'd like it to. But it will keep me on the road until I get what I really want... 185/70 Michelin XWX's with my Sprint Stars widened 1/2" toward the inside (15x6).

[dyno don]

YAHOOO....congrats on finding the way to a better driving experience with the smaller diameter tires..!!   in the 60's and very early seventies we used to use 13' and or 14' tires in the rear as it was an easy way to emulate close gears....one can ALWAYS change up to a bigger tire for cruising....

[nicolas]

and what is wrong with tires breaking out? isn't that the whole point  

[Sarge]

Darrell Bomgaars (DKP) used some BF Goodrich Drag Radials that were a size 205/50X15 (I believe) and ran some 12's with stock gears and a 2017 if I'm not mistaken.  Might be worth looking into...  http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/specs/g-force-t-a-drag-radial/1161.html

[streetvw]

I had a blow out last night... my right rear Michelin XZX 165 bit the dust. Luckily I was only going about 35mph, so there was no other damage (I had just pulled off the highway when it happened... I was going 70mph! ) So I got the 195/65's that we just pulled of off Slinger's Single Cab on there this morning, and I'm not crazy about the look. A little bit shorter than the 165, a hair too wide, and the sidewall bulges out a scosh more than I'd like it to. But it will keep me on the road until I get what I really want... 185/70 Michelin XWX's with my Sprint Stars widened 1/2" toward the inside (15x6).

Zach why do you want 6" sprints 185/70 XWX's look fin on 5.5" sprints, look!

[Zach Gomulka]

Zach why do you want 6" sprints 185/70 XWX's look fin on 5.5" sprints, look!

Because I'm an idiot...

Here is the reason... I want the buldge on the tires to match front and rear... I have 145 fronts on 4.5" (114.3mm) wide wheels- that is a difference of 30.7mm. With a 185 tire on a 6" (152.4mm) wide wheel, the difference almost exactly the same at 32.6mm. I will do the widening all on the inside so that it still looks like a normal 5.5" wheel from the outside.

I know it's alot of money to pay for an extra 1/2", but like I told you, I'm an idiot.

[Fastbrit]

I know it's alot of money to pay for an extra 1/2"

[lawrence]

Here is some size info I took from the web:

                            Diameter                Tread width               Brand
195/65/15                 25"                           n/a                      Conti

185/70/15                 25.24"                      7.44" (probably section width)       Vred

175/65/15                 24"                           n/a                      Conti

165R15                     25.2"                        5.1"                     Vred and Mich similar

155r15                      24.7"                       4.60"                    Vred  

145r15                      24.3"                       4.1"                      Firestone

135r15                      23.25"                     3.75"                    Firestone

[j-f]

I know it's alot of money to pay for an extra 1/2"

   

[Zach Gomulka]

I think the 175/65's and 195/65's would look great on the right car... with wide 5 chromies, 4.5's front, 5.5's rear

That Zenith Blue '67 looks the bollocks

[67worshipper]

I had a blow out last night... my right rear Michelin XZX 165 bit the dust. Luckily I was only going about 35mph, so there was no other damage (I had just pulled off the highway when it happened... I was going 70mph! ) So I got the 195/65's that we just pulled of off Slinger's Single Cab on there this morning, and I'm not crazy about the look. A little bit shorter than the 165, a hair too wide, and the sidewall bulges out a scosh more than I'd like it to. But it will keep me on the road until I get what I really want... 185/70 Michelin XWX's with my Sprint Stars widened 1/2" toward the inside (15x6).

Zach why do you want 6" sprints 185/70 XWX's look fin on 5.5" sprints, look!

what motor you got in there street?

[streetvw]

it was my brothers car and ran a 95hp 1776 with 40idfs the new owner is just getting a 2110 built for it will be interesting to see how it goes once thats in 

[airstuff]

I think 195/65/15 look good enough

[Gaz1]

it was my brothers car and ran a 95hp 1776 with 40idfs the new owner is just getting a 2110 built for it will be interesting to see how it goes once thats in 

Changed my mind about the 2110 mate,went for 2276 instead 

[gibber!]

Changed my mind about the 2110 mate,went for 2276 instead 

Oooph...! 

[Zach Gomulka]

Do you need tubes for the 185/70 XWX's? Longstone Tyre recommends them for some reason...