The run around: Tire part 3:( and EMPI tach mounting Tuesday, 02-Jan-01 20:15:59 209.214.46.40 writes: "Sweet Jason, your car looks great!" "Thanks ya'll but I'm sick of picking rubber of the fender, bottoming out on any bump and burning the tires when I put on the brakes." This seems to be the story every day for me. So I took your professional advice and started my LOCAL quest for Nankang 145's. EVERYBODY in town laughed at me when I said the size suggested getting new rims or getting 195/50r15. I told them to piss off I know what I want. So I found a company that sells them BUT everybody in town told me these tires are temporary donuts. Are they and everyone just lives with it. I don't want to narrow the beam and I know I'm not the only goon to wear his tires down on his rims. Thanks a million. Sincerely, Jason P.S. My EMPI tach won't fit in the standard hole that comes in all those gauge backing things. The 3 small ones are standard but what do I do with the tach. Don't tell me I have to find a original fake wood backing one. Thanks everyone. Jason

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I have a set of ERCO zero offset front wheels with like new 135's that I'll sell you. This is one way to get around narrowing the beam.The wheels are NOT D.O.T. approved but many people do run them on the street. E-mail me if you are interested. (n/t) (Marty) (02-Jan-01 21:08:51)

I have had 145x15 Nankangs on the front of my car for 2.5 years and love them!! (Matt Harris) (02-Jan-01 21:56:00)

Jason, the only temp tires i know of are the 125's (spare tires on new cars) they last about 60 miles. the 135's and the 145's will last for a few years. both can be mounted on 5.5 rims. sometimes takes finageling to get the bead to take. might have to order them out of the mag (n/t) (dean n.) (02-Jan-01 22:08:02)

jason,where are you located?? i have lots of 145s at the store... email if interested. thanx dennis (n/t) ([email protected]) (02-Jan-01 22:35:45)

Coker Tire (advertised) has Kleber's (145SR15) for like 45 bucks a pop. I think they are trying to get rid of them becuase Kleber won't make them anymore. At least thats what I heard. The people at Coker are real nice, and they'll ship anywhere. www.coker.com (n/t) (Jimmie J. ) (02-Jan-01 22:39:43)

Actually $35 each! I ordered up some and they seem fine. Mounted up on my 5" Rivs with no problem. The person I spoke with at Coker was very nice, and the tires are not old, dried out stock either. (n/t) (Ed) (03-Jan-01 09:08:31)

i have had michelin-kleber-nankang-& pirelli i like the michelins best folowed by the pirelli and then the nan kang---the kleber seemed to have many problems, sidewall cracking bubbles in the side wall and they dont like heat i dont think i will buy kleber any more (n/t) (john f) (03-Jan-01 16:38:35)

I have had aweful luck with the Kleber 145s...lost 3 in 90+ weather in 2 weeks! The Pirelli centui 135s I had were indestructable for 8 years and 4 cars. As much as I hated the width, they were a great tire. My current choice for avoiding leaving fender rubber is the 185/55/15. Hard to find, but they are shorter than the 145s and do not rub! (n/t) (Brian) (04-Jan-01 01:20:56)

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Rear Tire Suggestions Thursday, 04-Jan-01 23:29:08 24.16.109.27 writes: I would like to get some input on what you guys (and gals), like for a rear tire on a Cal-Look Beetle. If you would, why not list what brand and size rear tires you are using, and on what rim (style and width). Thanks for the suggestions, Deano/ Hot VWs deano

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Re: Rear Tire Suggestions (Kyle from Miami) (04-Jan-01 23:41:54)

Re: 1966 bug, stock (short) axles 225/70/15 (soft compound) 15x8 fuch's. (n/t) ([email protected]. Engineering) (04-Jan-01 23:42:04)

i was running 185/70-15 yokohama(oem tire listed by tire rack)205/70-15 b.f.goodrich touring t/a's are good also same size as drag slicks,fills fender well great. rob-red (n/t) (04-Jan-01 23:45:21) I like the big and little look, agree-205/70-15 BFG on a 6 inch or narrower rim,,, (Mike Gagen) (05-Jan-01 00:11:15)

205/75r15 on empi 8 repos (n/t) (05-Jan-01 00:09:27) 195/65/15 on a Mahle 4 lug... (n/t) (Brian) (05-Jan-01 00:16:28)

195/70's work well.. (n/t) (Steve B) (05-Jan-01 01:05:32)

7 inch 5 lug welds with bfgoodrich touring tires 205/65/15s. (n/t) (John Pagnanelli ) (05-Jan-01 01:33:11)

M&H 6 inch slicks. I run slicks full time. (n/t) (Jimmy) (05-Jan-01 03:52:46)

Dunlop 195/65 on 5 1/2" genuine Sports Bug VW steel rims. These are on my green '77 Bug (not Cal-Look). (n/t) (Roland Metz (NY)) (05-Jan-01 09:05:32) Flat Four BRM 7 inch recapped firestone slick, Thanks to Mike Gagen (n/t) (Buddy) (05-Jan-01 10:12:13)

255/40 S02 soft, 8.5" Boxster 17". Not all fitted though :) (n/t) (Steve Arndt) (05-Jan-01 10:30:25)

BRM's witih 185/65-15 BFG Touring T/A (n/t) (Trevor Pippin) (05-Jan-01 10:38:56)

205/70-15s on a set of fully polished Raders, rolling down the 405 with a couple of magazine editors lashed to the roof rack (n/t) (Dave Cormack) (05-Jan-01 11:07:07)

I like the "fat" look. Used to have 205-65s, a bit too low IMO. Gave them to Bill S (for his 5 spokes) & bought 205-70s. I use Pirellis, like the good 'ol days. (n/t) (Stephan S) (05-Jan-01 12:10:19)

Re: 215-60/15 on 5.5" gasburners with short axel swing trans and stock fender. I had 185-60/15s in front on 5.5 burners. (n/t) ( Mark H) (05-Jan-01 12:16:58)

My favorite sizes, too, Mark, 'cept I'm more into 16's on the back now. The 185/60s are the perfect front tire for my uses. the car still stops!!!!! (Tom H.) (05-Jan-01 14:12:08) 145 Firestone's up front. 205/70 Goodridge out. Look's fantastic with the old nose down ass up. (n/t) (Bunny) (05-Jan-01 12:45:31)

I'm running 185-65 15 Pirelli P400's on Porche 914 Special Edition wheels (Mahle?) all around on my 1960/76 pan car...they fit up under the fenders nicely and ride/handle great. (n/t) (Craig Merrow) (05-Jan-01 19:38:56)

205/65's on 5.5 Fuchs (n/t) (Ron) (05-Jan-01 19:56:28)

Old school Cal-look tires: 145 up front and 165 out back. On original Riviears. (n/t) (Ed) (05-Jan-01 22:05:13)

145 front and 165 rear XZX's though the plan is to move to 195/60? falken grb's all round once i have swaped to a bj/irs pan.. (n/t) (henry roberts) (06-Jan-01 08:02:58)

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I have a 63 beetle and I am running a 195/65 but want to change to a 205/65. I do not know what brand I will buy when I change the size. I have chrome 5 1/2 wheels for now until I get my BRM's back

Kyle from Miami

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on a 6 to 7 inch rim a 225/70 or a Hurst 15x7inch cheater slick see- http://mooneyes.com/01NEW.html.

Maybe a Caldwell capped Firestone 7s (6 wide that is, not sure if the new Phoenix lettering is as cool though?) on a 6 inch or narrower rim.

To match some Michelin fronts like to find some Michelin 205/70/15's that did not look like they belonged on my fathers T bird, Hector Bonilla found some Michelin XGT4 205/70's for his BRMS that look right but appear to have been discountinued. Whatever front tire you have on the front would be nice to have matching larger tires on the back.

Seen a lot of the 65 series rear tires on bugs, looks nice if not a bit tame or more stock appearing to me.

Set of M&H 6 inch slicks to get your car wheels up for your own future feature.

Mike Gagen

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Porsche alloys in the 15x6 size, but 15x7 will work with short axles just fine.

Tom H.

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has anyone here run the Nitto drag radials Monday, 22-Jan-01 12:00:30 166.107.73.246 writes: Anyone here have experience with the Nitto 555R drag radials? I'm probably going to order some later today and just wanted to get some last minute input. Derek Sanchez

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I can't highly recommend them enough. I have 195/50/15s Nittos on the front (450 Extremes) and 205/55/15s on the rear. When I go to the strip I put on my wide rims with the slicks on them. Since the sidewalls are very stiff you need to have a wide rim (7 inches). When they put the 195s on repro empi 8s they used some like 220 psi to seat them. You could use them for street also (I ran them for a couple monthes). (n/t) (Chase) (22-Jan-01 23:03:33)

Can't say on the nittos, but the BFGs are great. Virtually no difference in ET between the BFGs (205 50 15 -- 13.16) and 6x26 "stones" (13.04)) and slicks (n/t) (Mike Lawless) (23-Jan-01 18:00:50)

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What' the widest Monday, 22-Jan-01 23:16:18 64.160.15.42 writes: What is the widest tire I can fit under a 1969 beetle with IRS suspension without widening the fenders? What is the widest rim?

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A 215/60 on a 6" rim looks pretty good (n/t) (Chip) (22-Jan-01 23:40:51) Re:215 50 15 are NICE!!!! (n/t) (BOB JOHNS) (23-Jan-01 00:01:56) Currently using 225/50/15 tires on 15x8s under stock steel fenders. I believe Tom H uses 225/50/16 on 16x7s (n/t) (Bruce Tweddle) (23-Jan-01 13:34:16) yup, as was posted about 3 days ago. (n/t) (TH) (23-Jan-01 14:05:40) Of the three replies to this post, how low are you running the back of your cars? Measuring from top of tire to fender edge. Also, do these sizes cause the tire to protrude beyond the outer edge of the fender, so if lowered enough, would hit the fender? (n/t) (Jim Brown) (23-Jan-01 14:13:39) Use T3 front snubbers on your trailing arms to allow the wheel to go up higher in the wheel well (Bruce Tweddle) (23-Jan-01 16:03:46) To see what mine looks like and the CIP narrowed trailing arms....... (Tom H.) (23-Jan-01 16:19:59) The guys running the 7 & 8 inch wheels, what is the inset and offset?? (n/t) (John) (23-Jan-01 15:06:12)

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Tire goes up as high as it wants, depends how hard I hit the bump. Tire goes completely inside fender, and does not stick out. Top of my tire to fender edge about 1". My wheels (911 Fuchs) have a backspacing of 122mm. Tom's are the same BS even though they are 1" narrower.

Bruce Tweddle

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.... go to my sight at

http://home.att.net/~drsowatt/index.html

The bug stance can be seen on the bug page and you will note that the tires are under the fenders. There is not a trace of tire rub anywhere. I even have SAW adjustable spring plates on the bug, but they requird some careful clearancing so the tire wouldn't rub them. The 8" wheel would also fit and give me more clearance to the spring plate, but I had the 7" Fuchs. Bruce's is the same , no rubbing.

The CIP narrowed trailing arms can be seen on the Notch page about half way down on the rear suspension detail picture. They are narrowed 26mm and allow these style Fuchs to fit. The workmanship is Top Notch and is stronger than stock. Article in June (July?) 94 HVWs.

If you use different back spacing, these wheels have 4 3/4", ie go to 5 3/4", you wouldn't need these arms.

Yes, massive rubber can be had many ways, and this is one. I run Yokohama 520s and have incredible traction now, and they are very good in the rain.

Hope this helps, and

TaTa!

Tom H.