[T3] Tired Searching for Tires

[Adriel Rowley]

Max, do you have pictures? How is the spacing in front? I have a good amount of 165s (thank you Brian, plus a parts car), but some day might need to buy... Oh, and stored in a dry cool place so as to last. I do check for crazing before a drive. That is why I am no longer running Michelins. ;)

Just because it is Chinese does not mean it will not last. That is what the warranty is for. Also, tread design has made leaps and bounds since type 3 production stopped, so, most likely going to have better traction than an O.E.M. tire. Michelin XZXs are over $100 without mounting, and they were one of the O.E.M.s. In short, just because it cost a certain price does not mean the same all the time: Chinese could be better than French.


Thank you,
Adriel

----------------------------------------
> Date: Sat, 4 Feb 2012 14:49:47 -0800
> From: max_welton_2k at yahoo.com
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] Tired Searching for Tires
>
> 195x65x15 are working well for me.
>
> Max Welton
> http://www.maxwelton2k.net/
>
>
> --- On Sat, 2/4/12, J. Jonik <j_jonik at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> > From: J. Jonik <j_jonik at yahoo.com>
> > Subject: [T3] Tired Searching for Tires
> > To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> > Date: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 3:42 PM
> > Has this topic been addressed here
> > before?  Can that be re-posted if possible?
> >
> > I haven't tried to buy tires for my T III for ages.
> > They are all 165 R 15.  When I found one bad tire, and
> > having used up the good ones from parts cars,  I went to
> > local used tire shops for a replacement or two.    The
> > guys there didn't even recognize my measurement numbers.
> > They all said there MUST be a middle number...something
> > about sidewalls.
> >
> > Long story short...even the VW dealer couldn't help.  They
> > couldn't even advise another size tire that would
> > work...i.e. Narrow enough to not rip itself up on front
> > wheel well when turning.   (VW dealers can't do older VW
> > keys either.)
> >
> > So, finally, a Firestone dealer (two of my tires were
> > Firestone) said he could order tires with numbers  165 80 R
> > - 15.     $68 plus $18 balancing and mounting.
> > Almost $90 for ONE TIRE !  Quite a leap from my usual $20
> > or so for good used ones, for decades.   Don't know what
> > the "80" is about.   And, I think these tires are
> > Chinese.
> >
> > One person told me that the only other car that used that
> > size was Triumph...but don't know what years.
> >
> > What's to know about this?    What range of sizes are
> > compatible with a T-3 ?   How wide is the limit?
> >  Are such tires now turning into some "specialty" item that
> > needs to be mail-ordered?  Are there any known "hoarders"
> > of 165R 15 tires who ship them?
> >
> > This can be a real problem if traveling and getting
> > flats...only to find no tires are available nearby.    A
> > question then is...what to do in a pinch as temporary
> > tires?
> >
> > Salvage yards?   No luck.  Most old VWs have been long
> > trashed for metal...and any tires ON the car would be rotted
> > into the ground.   Gotta get lucky finding one in the
> > trunk.
> >
> > To those with parts cars out on the lawn...get them off the
> > ground if the tires are still usable.
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