185/65 tyres on a 4.5j rim, will they fit safely?

Discuss with fans and owners of the most luxurious aircooled sedan/wagon that VW ever made, the VW 411/412. Official forum of Tom's Type 4 Corner.
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wshawn
Posts: 209
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:36 am

185/65 tyres on a 4.5j rim, will they fit safely?

Post by wshawn »

I have three sets of wheels. One set of 4.5jX15 fitted to my 412 which I am led to believe were the original stock wheels for this car currently fitted with 165/80 15 tyres. The second set are either 5.5 or 6 inch wide alloys that were fitted to my 412 that wobbled like crazy that no amount of balancing would rectify which are now on my wifes Bug fitted with 185/65 15 tyres. The third set are the original 4jX15 rims that are fitted with bald 155/80 15 tyres stored in my shed.

The alloys that are on the bug drive fine, without any of the vibration that I used to get on my 412, but my wife hates them as they are possibly a tad wide for the otherwise completly stock looking bug.

Therefore I need to get some tyres sorted out for the wheels that were originally on the bug.

So what I am considering doing is taking the 165/80 15 tyres off the 4.5j stock steels that are currently on my 412 to put on the stock steel 4j rims we have for the Beetle thus replacing the bald tyres that are on these rims at the side of the house so they can be refitted to the bug.

The 185/65 15 tyres that are currently on the alloy wheels on the bug I want to then put onto the now tyreless 4.5j rims that are on my 412, and then sell on the alloy wheels that are now tyreless from the bug. Followed me so far?

So, the big question is... will the 185/65 15 tyres safely fit onto 4.5j rims without looking wrong?

My other choice is to just fit new 155/80 15 tyres onto the 4j stock wheels and put them on the bug and leave mine alone but as I have two sets of nearly new tyres between these wheels I thought I'd explore the cheaper option first.

Sorry its a rather long winded post but just a quick 'yes they will fit, handle well, be safe and look OK' or 'no its a stupid plan' kind of answer will be much appreciated. :lol:
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raygreenwood
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Joined: Wed Jan 22, 2003 12:01 am

Re: 185/65 tyres on a 4.5j rim, will they fit safely?

Post by raygreenwood »

I ran 185/65 and 185/75's for years on the stock 4.5" rims. Its hard to tell them visually from stock 165/185 width. Ray
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wshawn
Posts: 209
Joined: Thu Dec 27, 2007 6:36 am

Re: 185/65 tyres on a 4.5j rim, will they fit safely?

Post by wshawn »

Thanks Ray,

I'll see about getting the tyres swapped around then.
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