Volkswagen Base Tires

Volkswagen Base in 1978 is listed with three tire sizes: 155R13, 560-13, and 175/70R13. All three use a 13-inch rim diameter, but they are not the same type of tire. The 155R13 and 175/70R13 options are radial sizes, while 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The radial and bias-ply choices also carry different approved rim-width ranges, so the wheel itself matters along with the size code.

The practical takeaway is that year alone does not settle the choice for a Volkswagen Base. Start by checking the size already fitted to the car, then confirm the wheel width before choosing among the listed options. Owners seeking a more original visual character often look at the 560-13 bias-ply choice, while owners keeping a radial-equipped car generally stay with one of the 13-inch radial sizes.

560-13 is a numeric bias-ply tire size used on the 1978 Volkswagen Base. In that format, 560 is the nominal section width designation and 13 is the rim diameter in inches. It is not a metric radial code, so it reads very differently from sizes such as 155R13 or 175/70R13. Products listed in 560-13 are bias-ply tires built for 13-inch wheels.

That matters because a Volkswagen Base running 560-13 will have a different period look and road feel than one fitted with radial tires. Before selecting it, verify that the wheel width matches the approved range for the specific 560-13 tire you are considering. If your goal is factory-style appearance on a collector Volkswagen Base, this is often the size buyers investigate first.

A 1978 Volkswagen Base has three listed tire sizes because the model year includes more than one fitment approach on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. The split is not a wheel-diameter change; it is mainly a construction and sizing split between 560-13 bias-ply tires and two radial formats, 155R13 and 175/70R13. That means different cars, or differently configured cars within the same year, can legitimately use different sizes.

The right way to sort that out is to identify the exact configuration on the car in your garage instead of choosing by year alone. Check the sidewall size on the existing tires, confirm wheel width, and decide whether you are preserving a period-correct bias-ply presentation or maintaining a radial setup. That process will usually narrow the correct Volkswagen Base tire choice very quickly.

Volkswagen Base does not require the same answer across all three listed sizes. The 560-13 option is a bias-ply tire format, and for that application a tube is required. The 155R13 and 175/70R13 options are radial sizes, so they are handled differently from the bias-ply fitment. The key point is that tube requirement follows the specific size and construction, not simply the model name.

If your Volkswagen Base is fitted with 560-13 tires, plan around tube-type installation and make sure the wheel condition is suitable for that setup. If the car is using one of the radial 13-inch sizes, focus instead on matching the tire to the proper wheel width and overall intended use. Mixing assumptions between the bias-ply and radial options is where fitment mistakes usually start.

Volkswagen Base in 1978 is listed with both crossply and radial choices, so the correct direction depends on how the individual car is configured and what you want from it. The 560-13 option is a bias-ply tire, while 155R13 and 175/70R13 are radial sizes. Bias-ply tires are usually chosen for a more period-correct look, while radial tires are generally chosen when the car is already set up around radial sizing and usage expectations.

Most owners should begin by deciding whether the goal is authenticity, appearance, or regular road use. A restored Volkswagen Base being kept visually true to an earlier presentation may point toward the bias-ply size, while a driver already on radial tires is usually best kept within the radial fitments listed for 13-inch wheels. The important step is to keep the decision consistent with the wheel width and the rest of the car’s setup.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Volkswagen Base feels compared with a bias-ply setup because the listed radial sizes and the 560-13 bias-ply tire are different constructions. The 155R13 and 175/70R13 radial options generally represent a different road character than the bias-ply alternative. The change is not only about the sidewall marking; it also reflects a different tire profile and intended operating behavior on the same 13-inch wheel diameter.

That means a Volkswagen Base owner should think beyond simple fit. If the car has been restored around a traditional look, a switch to radial tires may alter the visual stance and steering feel. If the car is already running radial-size wheels and is used more regularly on modern roads, staying with a radial fitment often keeps the car closer to its current driving behavior.

Mixing crossply and radial tires on a Volkswagen Base is not a good approach when the listed fitments already separate clearly into one bias-ply size and two radial sizes. The 560-13 bias-ply option and the radial 13-inch options are built around different construction principles. Even though all three sizes share a 13-inch rim diameter, that does not make them interchangeable within a mixed set.

A Volkswagen Base should be fitted as a complete, consistent tire package matched to the wheels and intended use of the car. If you are changing from one construction type to the other, treat it as a whole-vehicle decision rather than replacing one tire at a time with a different format. That helps preserve balanced handling and avoids confusion about tubes, wheel width, and appearance.

The best way to confirm the correct tire size for a 1978 Volkswagen Base is to check three things together: the size already mounted on the car, the wheel width, and the type of construction you intend to keep. The listed choices are 155R13, 560-13, and 175/70R13, all on 13-inch rims. Those sizes do not simply represent brand substitutions; they reflect different fitment directions within the same model year.

Start at the wheel and tire actually on the car rather than making assumptions from registration year alone. A narrow radial setup, a wider metric radial setup, and a period-style bias-ply setup can all appear under Volkswagen Base for 1978, so the physical wheel dimensions matter. Original literature, past restoration records, and marque knowledge can help settle which route is right for your specific car.

Volkswagen Base tires in the listed sizes are available in more than one sidewall style. The radial choices shown in 155R13 and 175/70R13 are blackwall tires, while the 560-13 bias-ply options appear in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions as well as additional whitewall styling. That creates a meaningful appearance difference even before construction type is considered.

For a driver-oriented Volkswagen Base already using radial sizes, blackwall tends to align with the listed radial offerings. For a more stylized or period-flavored presentation, the 560-13 bias-ply whitewall choices can substantially change the look of the car. Match the sidewall style to the era and presentation you want, but keep the size and approved wheel width as the first priority.

Volkswagen Base tires in the listed sizes are available from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Avon. Michelin and Dunlop appear in the 155R13 radial fitment, BFGoodrich and Firestone appear in the 560-13 bias-ply fitment, and Avon appears in the 175/70R13 radial fitment. That gives the Volkswagen Base a mix of period-style American bias-ply choices and European-style radial choices across the 13-inch applications.

Brand choice should come after size, wheel width, and construction type have been settled. Once you know whether your Volkswagen Base belongs on 560-13, 155R13, or 175/70R13, the available brands become easier to compare by sidewall style and intended character. Picking a brand first and size second is where many collector-car tire searches go off track.

Volkswagen Base tire listings include Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, Firestone Classic Bias Ply, and CR6ZZ series names. Those series are not all the same kind of tire. Some are radial touring or sport-oriented radial designs in 13-inch sizes, while others are classic bias-ply lines offered in 560-13 with whitewall styling. The series name therefore signals both construction type and overall period character.

That means the series decision should support the role of the car. A Volkswagen Base meant to preserve a classic visual presentation may point toward one of the bias-ply classic series, while a car staying on radial sizes will naturally narrow into the radial series offered in 155R13 or 175/70R13. Once the correct size is confirmed, the series helps fine-tune the look and driving personality.

A Volkswagen Base should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place with clean tires and stable inflation. Keep the car away from direct sunlight, ozone sources such as electric motors or welders, and long exposure to moisture on the floor. If the car will sit for extended periods, moving it occasionally or supporting it carefully to reduce flat spotting can help preserve both bias-ply and radial tires.

Storage habits matter especially on a collector Volkswagen Base that sees irregular use. Bias-ply tires can take a set from sitting, and radial tires also age even when mileage is low. Clean the tires gently, avoid petroleum-based dressings, and make storage part of the long-term preservation plan rather than something considered only during winter lay-up.

Tires on a Volkswagen Base should be inspected regularly, not only at annual service time. Look for sidewall cracking, impact damage, uneven wear, air loss, aging around the bead area, and any change in how the car steers or tracks. On a collector car that may sit often, condition can change with time and environment even when tread wear remains minimal.

A practical routine is to inspect the Volkswagen Base before each drive and more thoroughly at regular seasonal intervals. Pay extra attention if the car runs 560-13 bias-ply tires, since tube-type applications and older-style construction deserve close visual checks. Any vibration, pull, or sudden pressure change is reason to stop and evaluate the tires before further road use.

Tires on a Volkswagen Base should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, structural damage, repeated air loss, or abnormal wear indicates that service life has been reached, even if the tread still looks acceptable. Collector-car tires often age out before they wear out. That is true for both the 13-inch radial options and the 560-13 bias-ply option, especially on cars that spend long periods parked indoors and are driven only occasionally.

The important point is to judge a Volkswagen Base tire by condition and age as well as tread depth. If a tire shows sidewall deterioration, deformation, or any sign that the casing is no longer healthy, replacement should move ahead regardless of how much tread remains. Low annual mileage can create a false sense of security, so periodic professional evaluation is worth building into the car’s maintenance cycle.

Volkswagen Base in 1978 appears with more than one tire format rather than a single universal original fitment. The listed choices include 560-13 bias-ply, 155R13 radial, and 175/70R13 radial options, with series ranging from classic bias-ply lines to named radial designs. That means the original tire direction for an individual Volkswagen Base depends on the exact configuration and how the car was specified when new.

For restoration work, the best approach is to compare the car against factory literature, surviving labels, and marque-club knowledge for that exact version of Volkswagen Base. The tire category itself can affect how authentic the finished car appears. Once the correct size family is identified, sidewall style and construction become the next details that separate a merely usable fitment from a convincing restoration fitment.

Correct tire fitment can affect both the presentation and judged credibility of a Volkswagen Base. Judges and knowledgeable buyers notice whether the car sits on the right size family, whether the sidewall style fits the era and build theme, and whether the overall tire choice matches the rest of the restoration. A 560-13 bias-ply presentation and a blackwall radial presentation send very different visual signals.

For a Volkswagen Base intended for concours, marque events, or careful resale, tire selection should be treated as part of the restoration strategy rather than an afterthought. The closer the tire’s construction and appearance align with the car’s verified configuration, the stronger the finished impression. When in doubt, compare against period photos and consult the marque community before finalizing the fitment.

Volkswagen Base restoration sidewall choice depends on which of the listed size families the car is meant to use. The radial options shown in 155R13 and 175/70R13 are blackwall, while the 560-13 bias-ply choices include narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions. Those sidewall treatments create distinctly different period impressions even when the wheel diameter remains 13 inches.

A restoration-minded owner should first settle whether the Volkswagen Base belongs on a bias-ply or radial fitment, then choose the sidewall style that matches the car’s intended presentation. Blackwall generally suits the radial route shown here, while whitewall styling is tied to the listed 560-13 bias-ply alternatives. The sidewall should reinforce the car’s character rather than fight against the rest of the restoration.

These tires can be appropriate for public-road use on a Volkswagen Base when the correct size, construction type, and wheel-width match are observed and the tires are in sound condition. The important distinction is that 560-13 is a bias-ply fitment while 155R13 and 175/70R13 are radial fitments, even though all three use 13-inch rims. Safe road use starts with choosing the proper tire family for the car rather than treating every listed size as interchangeable.

Before driving, make sure the Volkswagen Base has a matched set, correct inflation, no visible age cracking or damage, and wheels suited to the chosen size. A bias-ply show-style setup and a radial road-use setup can both be valid, but they should be evaluated on their own terms. Road safety depends as much on condition and installation quality as on the sidewall size code.

Before driving a Volkswagen Base, check tire pressure, sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, and any sign of bead or tube-related leakage where applicable. Confirm that all four tires match in size and construction type, especially because the listed 1978 options include both bias-ply and radial tires. Also look for uneven wear that could point to wheel-width mismatch, alignment issues, or long-term storage effects.

That pre-drive walkaround is especially important on a collector Volkswagen Base that may spend more time parked than driving. A few minutes of inspection can catch a problem before it becomes a roadside issue. If the car has recently changed from one size family to another, give extra attention to clearance, steering feel, and how the car tracks during the first short drive.

Appropriate speed for a Volkswagen Base depends on the specific tire fitted, its condition, and whether the car is on a period-style bias-ply setup or one of the listed radial options. A sound radial-equipped Volkswagen Base will generally be treated differently in use than one fitted with 560-13 bias-ply tires for an original-style presentation. Regardless of type, age and condition matter at least as much as tread depth when deciding how hard the car should be driven.

The sensible approach is to drive a Volkswagen Base within the limits of the tire actually installed, not within assumptions borrowed from a different size or construction. If the car is on older-style bias-ply tires, conservative speeds and attentive steering input are wise. If it is on properly fitted modern-production radial tires in good condition, the car can usually be used more naturally, but only after a careful overall mechanical inspection.