[T3] changing tire size

[Brion Sabbatino]

ZB's take:
Low profile tires are for making a styling statement or for the track.
In warm non snow regions, or the summertime, one can use them. Dry weather handling coupled with a correctly balanced suspension is superb.
Snow conditions require a tall self cleaning skinnier tire. The rubber compounds are softer also. You need tires that can cut a path.
That's my two cents.
Brion S. aka zionbrionS. Utah  - where snow is a rare novelty.

> From: topnotch at nycap.rr.com
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Date: Wed, 22 Jan 2014 12:56:30 -0500
> Subject: Re: [T3] changing tire size
> 
> Have you ever tried driving one of those low profile tires in the snow?
> OMG they are USELESS!  When it snows I have to get up in the middle of the
> night now and up the hill or someone will spin out and close it for everyone
> by 7AM.  I drove my Aunts car in the first storm with 60 series tires and I
> almost couldn't keep it on the road, it was all-seasons and snows would be
> better but still, I have to decide between fixing the Golf or driving a new
> Honda in the winter and that old Golf with its 80 series is likely to win
> The Winter car choice.
> 
> And yea, the junkyards have piles of bent rims these days!  So many that
> getting a set of steelies for a newer car for snows is hard to do.
> 
> Keith
> 
> 
> Top Notch Restorations
> topnotch at nycap.rr.com 
> http://www.a383ina68.addr.com/radiorest/main.htm
> 71 Squareback "Hothe"
> 65 Notchback "El Baja Rojo"
> 65 Squareback "Eggcrate"
> 87 golf "Winterat"
> 93 RX7 "Redstur"
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org
> [mailto:type3-vwtype3.org-bounces at lists.vwtype3.org] On Behalf Of Jim Adney
> Sent: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 12:25 AM
> To: type3 at vwtype3.org
> Subject: Re: [T3] changing tire size
> 
> On 21 Jan 2014 at 22:25, Bobbokush at aol.com wrote:
> 
> > my rims are not stock, would those tires still fit, ? would the larger  
> > tires affect the ride, which is wonderful now.
> 
> Start by finding out what your rim width is now, then check to see if 
> this is an allowable width for the tires you want to put on. Then 
> check your clearances to make sure you don't end up with something 
> that's undrivable. Mounting tires that are too wide for the rims will 
> actually degrade the handling.
> 
> If you end up having to buy new wheels, too, check to see what the 
> offset is, because the offset is likely to be different and not put 
> the tire where you expected it.
> 
> MANY years ago, I had some 185s on the rear, and IIRC, those barely 
> cleared the fender. Those were on stock 4.5" rims and they were the 
> old standard profile tires. I believe those were the widest tires 
> allowable on that width rim. Unfortunately, they pushed the rear end 
> way high and made the car too tall and wobbly. That was back in 1974, 
> and low profile tires weren't available in the sizes they are now.
> 
> I know that extremely low profile tires are all the rage now, but I'm 
> not among their fans. Our Jetta came with 55 series tires, and my 
> daughter hit a pothole over Christmas. That bent one wheel and 
> destroyed one tire. There's a second tire that is probably damaged 
> enough that it's days are numbered. The cost for that single incident 
> was over $500, not counting the second tire.
> 
> A higher profile wheel and tire might have survived. I would pay 
> extra to move UP in tire profile in a new car, but the only options 
> these days is to move down.
> 
> If the roads in your area are always smooth and flat, this may not be 
> something you need to worry about, but in areas where there is winter 
> and potholes, low profile tires are a real gift to the tire shops.   
> 
> -- 
> *******************************
> Jim Adney, jadney at vwtype3.org
> Madison, Wisconsin, USA
> *******************************
> 
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