Choosing the Right Tires for Your T34

Lee Hedges talks about choosing the right tire to give your T34 the vintage look. From the March 1999 Registry newsletter.

OK, your old T34 now needs new tires and you’re faced with a simple choice: “Do I get inexpensive blackwalls or go with whitewalls? Do I go with radials or the original bias-ply tires?” If you choose radial blackwalls, there are plenty of choices at just about any tire store from $25-40 each. If you want to go for whitewall tires in either radials or bias-ply, the choices are not so easy and the suppliers are few.

Here’s what I learned in my search for original authentic tires. Type 34s originally came with 6.00 x 15 bias-ply tires. Blackwall tires were standard and whitewalls (¾”) were offered as an option. Radials were not offered on Volkswagens until the early 1970’s. If you are interested in “keeping it stock”, then you’ll want the original bias-ply whitewall tires from Lucas Tire (562 595 6721) in Long Beach. They are the only source I could find that have the authentic T34 tire. Their Fidelity 6.00 x 15 (7/8”) whitewall bias-ply tires are in stock for $39 each. These tires have a 4.5” tread width (radials are 5.0”), and the whitewalls are 0.75” from the rim.

If you are interested in whitewall radial tires, then you have three options.

• Coker Tire in Tennessee (800 251 6336) has a 165R15 whitewall tire (¾”) cast from the original BF Goodrich GT-100 mold for $81 each. These tires look great, handle nice, but some folks feel the tread pattern is not as pleasing as the ones from Diamondback Classics Tire (888 922 1642) for $84 each.
• The Diamondback 165R15 tires have a nicer tread pattern and the whitewall size can be cut to any size desired. An “innie” whitewall might not be your choice, however, so the Coker tire is the option with an “outie” whitewall design.
• Lucas Tire also offers the Denman or Firestone radials, both only in wide 2” whitewall design.

My choice? Since my 1965 T34 has only 89,000 original miles and is in very original condition, I decided to go with the original 6.00 x 15 whitewall bias-ply tires from Lucas Tire. I drove into my local Discount Tire and had them order five of these tires. It took 2 days to get down to San Diego and an hour after they came in, the new tires were installed on my T34. I paid a total of $400 for the five tires ($210), shipping ($55), installation ($70), and hazard coverage ($65). When I got home, I had to scrub the residue off the tire walls, then seal with a rubber sealer. They drive excellent, look simply awesome, and handle just like radial tires. They do not “grab” the road grooves (like I’d heard rumored) at all.

2002 Update: I chose the Coker Tire BF Goodrich thin white wall for my T34 Cabrio. They have the vintage authentic look, handle very well, and are undoubtably safer modern tires.

2003 Update: Coker may be the only way to go now. Lucas Tire doesn't seem to carry the tires mentioned above anymore. Hmm...stock up on those Cokers! Also, price for the GT-100s is now $83 each. I was quoted a price of $60 for shipping 4 of them to San Diego - ScottMcW