[T3] Tired Searching for Tires

[Dave Hall]

It's an unfortunate fact of life that many components on a 40+ year old car
are obsolete.  Soon it will only be the air we use for cooling that is ther
same as it used to be, and with all the pollutants around, even that will
not be true in most parts of the world.

I could only get Korean tyres for my Variant last summer when I noticed the
rear pair were a bit near the legal limit and had begun to crack a little -
not the sort of thig to use driving to Germany and back.  The Michelin XZX
on the front were only fitted recently, but I bought them a while ago when
the local tyre guy said there were a pair at the depot, but they were the
last before they became 'vintage' and only made when order numbers grew
enough.  

There are a few brands here in the UK that still do them.  Even the more
expensive ones are good value when you consider the car probably isn't
costing you any depreciation - maybe even getting more valuable as it ages. 

Dave.
UK VW Type 3&4 Club
===================

-----Original Message-----
From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
[mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of J. Jonik
Sent: 04 February 2012 22:43
To: type3 at vwtype3.org
Subject: [T3] Tired Searching for Tires

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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