OK I've searched TireRackâ„¢ etc. What size tyres for my car.
Moderators: notoptoy, S Allen, Solex68
OK I've searched TireRackâ„¢ etc. What size tyres for my car.
I have a 66 1600 and don't want to update or change the wheels. What is a "stock" tyre size for the car. The tyres on them are so old they have an outdated tyre size on them...
Thanks in advance for your help.
Thanks in advance for your help.
- spl310
- Roadster Guru
- Posts: 13241
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 10:38 pm
- Location: In front of this keyboard... in Jacksonville, Florida!
The stock size tires were 5.60x14 which is roughly a 155R14 tire. You can put 165R14s on with no problems. If you go much wider, then the tires will not fit properly as the wheels are only 4" wide. I believe that most tire manufacturers recommend wider wheels for anything bigger than those two mentioned sizes.
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
I'll be more specific....
I'm being told by one source that 175-70-14 is the tire to get. Does that sound right? I was looking for style cues also.... White wall'd. white letters, etc.? What was the normal 1966 tire a plain blackwall bias ply?
- spl310
- Roadster Guru
- Posts: 13241
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 10:38 pm
- Location: In front of this keyboard... in Jacksonville, Florida!
OK, more Roadster esoterica! When the 1500 was introduced, it had WIDE gangster style whitewalls - you know, the 2 1/2 wide whites. That lasted about a year, but they look sweet on the 1500 body. Not quite on the later ones though as the progressively bigger flares looked more sporty. Anyway, once the wide whites went away, the whitewall was still wide by modern standards - about 1" or so. That was retained pretty much through the end of production (although the high windshield cars may have had a more narrow whitewall - I am not sure there - but I know that the low windshield cars had the wider than current whitewalls...)
That having been said, the 1600s and 2000s look fine with blackwalls too. It is up to you. If you want to get really anal and go dead stock, Coker tire is the deal - you can get those 5.60x14s with the wider whites there.
The 175 70 sounds like a good compromise for some wider width. Check with the tire manufacturer's website for the rim width recommendations. I have some 5.5 wheels (Libres) that I want to put some 185 65s on at some point. Things to do, things to do...
That having been said, the 1600s and 2000s look fine with blackwalls too. It is up to you. If you want to get really anal and go dead stock, Coker tire is the deal - you can get those 5.60x14s with the wider whites there.
The 175 70 sounds like a good compromise for some wider width. Check with the tire manufacturer's website for the rim width recommendations. I have some 5.5 wheels (Libres) that I want to put some 185 65s on at some point. Things to do, things to do...
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
Good call Sid,
I was reading this and thought of Coker Tire. they sell a lot of Repro restoration tires. If you can't find them on the net (they've got to have a web site!) then they always have an ad in the back of Hemming's. They have those earlier sizes listed.
Of course I say buy 195/60-14 Azenis... But that's just me
I was reading this and thought of Coker Tire. they sell a lot of Repro restoration tires. If you can't find them on the net (they've got to have a web site!) then they always have an ad in the back of Hemming's. They have those earlier sizes listed.
Of course I say buy 195/60-14 Azenis... But that's just me

Thanks guys....
I'll be less of a pest as time goes by.... Just have to hit the learning curve hard, and see what happens...
Thanks again for the input....
Thanks again for the input....
What's that yank?
Crap, does that mean I don't have a boot or a bonnet? To much time hangin around the UK Z3 message boards I guess..... LOL
- spl310
- Roadster Guru
- Posts: 13241
- Joined: Sun Dec 29, 2002 10:38 pm
- Location: In front of this keyboard... in Jacksonville, Florida!
Well, have I got a deal for you!! I found the 13" wide whites in radials. Check out http://www.dbtire.com or http://www.widewhitewalltires.com (both are the same company). They have those plus they can make the 14" whitewalls with the width that is wanted.
Another company is http://whitewallcandystore.com but their prices are higher.
Another option is to check with local tire stores. Most tires can have the whitewall "widened" a bit. This link explains how a guy did it to the tires on his trailer. http://www.300f.com/teardrop/1955benroy.htm#tires
The last option is definately the lowest price!
Enjoy!!
Another company is http://whitewallcandystore.com but their prices are higher.
Another option is to check with local tire stores. Most tires can have the whitewall "widened" a bit. This link explains how a guy did it to the tires on his trailer. http://www.300f.com/teardrop/1955benroy.htm#tires
The last option is definately the lowest price!
Enjoy!!
"Wow, a Roadster!" Stuart Little
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
1967.5 2000
1967.5 2000
1964 1500
1964 1500
1967.5 1600
1968 chassis
2006 Acura MDX
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI wagon
1995 F350 Powerstroke!
More...
- Minh
- Roadsteraholic
- Posts: 830
- Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2003 5:48 am
- Location: Elk Grove, CA (near Sacramento)
Re: Thanks guys....
[quote="Z3BigDaddy"]I'll be less of a pest as time goes by.... Just have to hit the learning curve hard, and see what happens...
[quote]
Nah.. no one's really a pest around here. Everyone on here is on free time, work time, or garage time. Guess which time is used to roam the forum.
[quote]
Nah.. no one's really a pest around here. Everyone on here is on free time, work time, or garage time. Guess which time is used to roam the forum.

'69 1982cc SU
'74 1600cc VW Bug
http://www.311s.org/registry/1969/srl311-07837.html
When life hands you lemons, ask for TEQUILA AND SALT!
'74 1600cc VW Bug
http://www.311s.org/registry/1969/srl311-07837.html
When life hands you lemons, ask for TEQUILA AND SALT!
- ambradley
- Roadster Fanatic
- Posts: 180
- Joined: Tue Mar 25, 2003 10:20 pm
- Location: Mount Joy, PA
- Model: 1500/1600
- Year: High Windshield-68-70
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I put 175/65/14 tires on stock early '67 wheels. They are lower profile than stock so the RPMs will be a bit higher but they looked pretty nice. My '70 had 195/60/14 tires on the stock wheels when I bought it and they held air fine for five years but that really is too wide a tire for the stock wheel.