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Speedster Portugal - 155 or 165 tyres?

FM Former Member
Fellow listers,
I was wondering if anyone with a non flared Speedster, swing axle rear suspension and vw floor pan had done any research or has any experience in choosing the size of the tires. I have several arguments pro and against and I'm not sure if I should buy 155 or 165:
1. since the car is legally a beetle, our MoT (inspections) authorities force me to use 155 tyres (or at least to show up in the inspection with them); naturally, I will only use them regularly if that means more safety, otherwise I'll buy used 155's only for the MoT;
2. previous listers told me thinner tyres would be a better choice in the rain, but probably will be worse with dry weather;
3. before I lowered the rear suspension, the 165's were almost hitting the fenders; now, with the change in the camber angle, I can use one or the other without any problems;
4. the 165 tyres I currently have aren't very good and proved to be dangerous in wet conditions; however, since then, some weight was added in the front end and the rear suspension was lowered, so this can improve the grip, right?
5. I know the original Speedsters used the Michelin 165 XZX, but this is not an original car.
Anyone has some good advice for me? Thanks in advance.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
Original Post

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FM Former Member
Fellow listers,
I was wondering if anyone with a non flared Speedster, swing axle rear suspension and vw floor pan had done any research or has any experience in choosing the size of the tires. I have several arguments pro and against and I'm not sure if I should buy 155 or 165:
1. since the car is legally a beetle, our MoT (inspections) authorities force me to use 155 tyres (or at least to show up in the inspection with them); naturally, I will only use them regularly if that means more safety, otherwise I'll buy used 155's only for the MoT;
2. previous listers told me thinner tyres would be a better choice in the rain, but probably will be worse with dry weather;
3. before I lowered the rear suspension, the 165's were almost hitting the fenders; now, with the change in the camber angle, I can use one or the other without any problems;
4. the 165 tyres I currently have aren't very good and proved to be dangerous in wet conditions; however, since then, some weight was added in the front end and the rear suspension was lowered, so this can improve the grip, right?
5. I know the original Speedsters used the Michelin 165 XZX, but this is not an original car.
Anyone has some good advice for me? Thanks in advance.
Best regards.
Miguel Caldeira Proenca
m.caldeira.proenca@mail.telepac.pt
Ron ORon O1984/2010 IM, B.C. Canada
I know of swing-axle speedster owners who have mounted 185/65 x 15 tires on the back (on 5 or 6 inch rims). The proper offset is the key. Handling will be GREATLY improved with the wider rubber. check out the Tire Rack address below for 185/65x15. Interestingly, they don't have anything in a 185/70 which would give you something a bit closer to stock wheel height. The 165s have a diameter of 25.4 inches, while the 185's have a diameter of 24.5 (probably about 1000 rpm difference).
The Tire Rack
www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?startIndex=0&width=185%2F&ratio=65&diameter=15&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&do=Search
Ron
FM Former Member
The best setup for a classic body swing axle speedster seems to be 185/65-15 on 5.5 inch rims in back and 165-15 on 4.5 or 5.5 inch rims front. That seems to be the biggest that I can fit on my 1968 pan classic body VS. I may be able to get the 195 tires on the back, but I would have to test fit before buying.
Wet weather handling should be fine with a good quality tire such as Dunlop or Michelin. I find the 165/86-15 Kelly tires (which came on my VS) do not offer good grip in any conditions.
The short length of the Speedster really requires some good tires on the back to stabilize it's desire to swap ends.
FM Former Member
Eric, thanks. Okay, two opinions in favour of larger tyres. I think mine has 165/80-15, which is the same measure (length and height) as the original had. I don't think I can fit anything larger than 165, even after we lowered the rear; I've already changed the 4.5" rims to these present ones with a different offset (but still 4.5") to get the wheels 'inside' the car but I still don't think it's enough to put anything larger than 165. Based on your opinions, I'll probably try the 165 instead of the 155.
However, the last time I searched, the only brand I could find with 165/80-15 were Michelin XZX, the ones that everyone recommends for the originals. I've never seen these tyres. Are there any better ones with the same measures?
Thanks.
Best regards.
Miguel
HossHoss
Eric is right on. the Kelly-Springfield tires are indeed not sticky. This was made abundantly clear on a run with the big dogs (real Porsches) last weekend. They squeal and they really don't grip well. On my wish list will be a good set of tires, a camber compensator and and anti sway bar. Nothing like some squirrely cornering to drive the point how, eh?
John H.
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