Question for the Baja guys.....

What size tire would you recommend for some added ground clearance but not
completely destroying my gas milage and/or turn radius? My bug is a 75'
Standard, will be using Empi 8-spoke rims, gonna raise the front about 2"
with weld in adjusters, and reindex the rear to make it level with the
front. TIA

Mac

75' Baja
70' Baywindow (waiting for the rest of bodywork)
70' Ghia (haven't dug into yet to see if it's worth the effort)

Is this going to remain a full bodied car (no cut or baja fenders)?


Mark Detro
Englewood, FL

66' panel
71' westy
73' baja

>What size tire would you recommend for some added ground clearance but not

completely destroying my gas milage and/or turn radius? My bug is a 75'
Standard, will be using Empi 8-spoke rims, gonna raise the front about 2"

with weld in adjusters, and reindex the rear to make it level with the
front. TIA
Mac
*********
Hi Mac,
I'm not the one to answer this definatively, as I don't recall what sizes
I ran on Annie when I first built her (currently running 1400 x 38.5 x 15
mudders on the rear). But I *do* remember that larger tires ran well
(plently of power with a 1649cc at that time). Of course I wasn't
concerned about mileage but I don't recall that getting worse either. You
should (& need to if you can) get most of your rear height out of larger
tires - although 4" larger dia. might not fit depending on what fenders
you're running.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

>What size tire would you recommend for some added ground clearance but not

completely destroying my gas milage and/or turn radius? My bug is a 75'
Standard, will be using Empi 8-spoke rims, gonna raise the front about 2"

with weld in adjusters, and reindex the rear to make it level with the
front. TIA
Mac
*********
Hi Mac,
I'm not the one to answer this definatively, as I don't recall what sizes
I ran on Annie when I first built her (currently running 1400 x 38.5 x 15
mudders on the rear). But I *do* remember that larger tires ran well
(plently of power with a 1649cc at that time). Of course I wasn't
concerned about mileage but I don't recall that getting worse either. You
should (& need to if you can) get most of your rear height out of larger
tires - although 4" larger dia. might not fit depending on what fenders
you're running.
~ Paul
aka "Tha Driver"

Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

"ThaDriver" > wrote in message
lkaboutautos.com...
> >What size tire would you recommend for some added ground clearance but
> >not
>
> completely destroying my gas milage and/or turn radius? My bug is a 75'
> Standard, will be using Empi 8-spoke rims, gonna raise the front about 2"
>
> with weld in adjusters, and reindex the rear to make it level with the
> front. TIA
> Mac
> *********
> Hi Mac,
> I'm not the one to answer this definatively, as I don't recall what sizes
> I ran on Annie when I first built her (currently running 1400 x 38.5 x 15
> mudders on the rear). But I *do* remember that larger tires ran well
> (plently of power with a 1649cc at that time). Of course I wasn't
> concerned about mileage but I don't recall that getting worse either. You
> should (& need to if you can) get most of your rear height out of larger
> tires - although 4" larger dia. might not fit depending on what fenders
> you're running.
> ~ Paul
> aka "Tha Driver"
>
> Giggle Cream - it makes dessert *funny*!

Wow that is a massive tire.... or sounds like it to me anyway! It will be
used primarily on the road with a few excursions down trails and dirt roads
occasionally. The only reason I converted it was a neighbor moved and gave
me the kit and the bug I bought had been tweaked harder than I thought in
the front at first. Also the rear apron needed to be replaced due to rust.

Mac
>
>

"Mark Detro" > wrote in message
...
> Is this going to remain a full bodied car (no cut or baja fenders)?
>
>
> Mark Detro
> Englewood, FL
>
> 66' panel
> 71' westy
> 73' baja

It has a generic fiberglass Baja kit on it..... sorry if I accidentally
mailed to your personal e-mail earlier. Can't figure out why my previous
post to your question never showed up.

Mac

> Wow that is a massive tire.... or sounds like it to me anyway! It will be
> used primarily on the road with a few excursions down trails and dirt roads
> occasionally. The only reason I converted it was a neighbor moved and gave
> me the kit and the bug I bought had been tweaked harder than I thought in
> the front at first. Also the rear apron needed to be replaced due to rust.

....sounds like you are worrying far too much about ground clearance. Put the
adjusters in teh front and crank up the springplates in teh rear a couple
notches. I really reccomend *not* going with too large a rear tire. You want
*low* gearing off road...not too mention its pretty nice to actually be able to
have the power not to downshift on hills on the road. Once you have dialed up
your suspension the 2- 2 1/2 inches you will get that way, take it and park it
next to your favorite rusty rednecked 4wd pickup of choice. Now look under the
center of each....see that axle and pumpkin hanging down on the truck? I bet
you will find that it sits about the same level of ground clearance (or lower)
than your beetles lowest point. I am running Prodigy Radial A/T tires in a 225
75r 15 size on my baja...very very nice chunky tread pattern, and I can pull
any trail easilly while comfortabley maintaining 75mph on all but the steepest
highway hills. Sure its not impressive sounding, and truck owners may sneer...
but I have driven around a stuck willies jeep and pulled it out of the trails
and to his house after he toasted his tranny being stubborn and refusing help
on a trail <g>


....Gareth

"Gary Tateosian" > wrote in message
...
>
>
>
>> Wow that is a massive tire.... or sounds like it to me anyway! It will
>> be
>> used primarily on the road with a few excursions down trails and dirt
>> roads
>> occasionally. The only reason I converted it was a neighbor moved and
>> gave
>> me the kit and the bug I bought had been tweaked harder than I thought in
>> the front at first. Also the rear apron needed to be replaced due to
>> rust.
>
> ...sounds like you are worrying far too much about ground clearance. Put
> the
> adjusters in teh front and crank up the springplates in teh rear a couple
> notches. I really reccomend *not* going with too large a rear tire. You
> want
> *low* gearing off road...not too mention its pretty nice to actually be
> able to
> have the power not to downshift on hills on the road. Once you have dialed
> up
> your suspension the 2- 2 1/2 inches you will get that way, take it and
> park it
> next to your favorite rusty rednecked 4wd pickup of choice. Now look
> under the
> center of each....see that axle and pumpkin hanging down on the truck? I
> bet
> you will find that it sits about the same level of ground clearance (or
> lower)
> than your beetles lowest point. I am running Prodigy Radial A/T tires in a
> 225
> 75r 15 size on my baja...very very nice chunky tread pattern, and I can
> pull
> any trail easilly while comfortabley maintaining 75mph on all but the
> steepest
> highway hills. Sure its not impressive sounding, and truck owners may
> sneer...
> but I have driven around a stuck willies jeep and pulled it out of the
> trails
> and to his house after he toasted his tranny being stubborn and refusing
> help
> on a trail <g>
>
>
> ...Gareth
>

I was thinking of using a light truck tire all the way around like the size
you stated. If the tire size was too big and bogging down the motor on the
highway I do have a tranny from a 69 Baywindow that I would imagine would
have lower gearing. There's plenty of "redneck 4x4s" around here on the
panhandle of FL... I can just go next door to my neighbor's house. He would
be very upset if I could out-do him 4 wheeling in my bug and him in his 4x4
Toyota!!!! I appreciate all the feedback from everyone!!

Mac

>From: "Mac"

>He would
>be very upset if I could out-do him 4 wheeling in my bug and him in his 4x4
>Toyota!!!!

back in 95 my brother in law bought a brand new toyota 4x4, and was quite upset
when my baja all but litterally "ran circles around him" off road.....
-------------------
Chris Perdue
"I'm ever so thankful for the Internet; it has allowed me to keep a finger in
the pie and to make some small contribution to those younger who will carry the
air-cooled legend forward"
Jim Mais
Feb. 2004

On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 15:06:31 -0600, "Mac" > wrote:

>. I can just go next door to my neighbor's house. He would
>be very upset if I could out-do him 4 wheeling in my bug and him in his 4x4
>Toyota!!!! I appreciate all the feedback from everyone!!
>
>Mac
>

He might be upset, but don't _you_ be surprised when it happens. ;-)
FWIW I ran 31X11.5" truck tires on the rear of my baja with stock 1200
motor. I'd run that size tire again with a baja, but not without *at
least* a healthy 1600.
http://bugadventures.dyndns.org/real...realtires.html

---

"Knowledge speaks; wisdom listens." - Jimi Hendrix
"Stupid people are funny." - me