Volkswagen Dasher Tires

Volkswagen Dasher uses three listed tire sizes across the 1974 to 1981 range: 155R13, 560-13, and 175/70R13. The 155R13 size appears on 1974 through 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1981 models, and it fits a 13-inch rim. The 560-13 size also appears on 1974 through 1977, 1979, 1980, and 1981 models, and it likewise fits a 13-inch rim. The 175/70R13 size appears on 1974 through 1977 and 1979 models, and it also uses a 13-inch rim.

That means the main fitment question is not wheel diameter but which size system and construction your specific Volkswagen Dasher uses. Some cars in the same model year can be matched to either a bias-ply or radial size, and some years include a wider radial option as well. Check the size stamped on the tire, the wheel width, and the overall look you want before making a final choice.

On a Volkswagen Dasher, 560-13 is a numeric bias-ply size. The 560 refers to a nominal section width of about 5.60 inches, and the 13 identifies the wheel diameter in inches. Available products in this size are bias-ply tires on 13-inch rims, with rim-width ranges centered around narrower original-style wheels.

That makes 560-13 different from the metric radial sizes also listed for Volkswagen Dasher. Buyers usually choose it when they want a more traditional bias-ply appearance, especially with whitewall styling. Because the products in this size are bias-ply rather than tubeless metric radials, tube use is part of the fitment plan and wheel condition should be checked carefully on a low-use collector car.

A 1974 Volkswagen Dasher can show 155R13, 560-13, and 175/70R13 because that year includes more than one fitment approach on the same 13-inch wheel diameter. The split is not a wheel-diameter change, since all three sizes use 13-inch rims. Instead, it reflects a trim-level or configuration difference alongside a construction split between bias-ply and radial tires.

That is why year alone is not enough for a 1974 Volkswagen Dasher. Start by checking the size currently mounted, then compare wheel width and the car’s intended use. A restoration aimed at period appearance may point toward the bias-ply option, while a car already set up for metric radials should stay with the radial size that matches its wheel and stance.

Volkswagen Dasher tube requirement depends on the size and construction chosen. The 560-13 products listed for Volkswagen Dasher are bias-ply tires, and that style calls for tube use. The 155R13 and 175/70R13 options are radial sizes, so they are not treated the same way as the bias-ply fitment.

If your Volkswagen Dasher is running 560-13 tires, plan the installation around tubes and inspect the wheel carefully for corrosion, rough edges, or damage that could affect sealing and tube life. If the car is using one of the radial sizes, match the tire to the wheel width and valve setup already on the car. Keeping the construction type consistent on all four corners is the more important practical rule.

Volkswagen Dasher is listed with both bias-ply and radial tire options, so the right choice depends on how the car is configured and what you want from it. The 560-13 size is a bias-ply fitment, while 155R13 and 175/70R13 are radial fitments. All of them mount on 13-inch rims, but they do not represent the same construction, profile, or driving character.

A buyer focused on period appearance, especially with whitewall presentation, may prefer the bias-ply route. A buyer using the car for more regular road driving will usually want to stay with the radial setup already established on the car. The best practice is to choose one construction type that matches the wheels, the stance, and the intended use rather than selecting by year alone.

Yes, radial tires can change how a Volkswagen Dasher feels on the road when compared with a bias-ply setup. The listed radial sizes for Volkswagen Dasher are 155R13 and 175/70R13, while 560-13 is bias-ply. That means the car may respond differently in steering feel, ride quality, and overall road manners depending on which construction is fitted.

For a Dasher already running radial wheels and radial-sized tires, staying with a radial usually preserves the car’s current behavior. Moving from a 560-13 bias-ply setup to a radial setup can alter the car’s appearance and feel enough that wheel width, clearance, and alignment condition should all be reviewed first. Changes in profile can matter even when the rim diameter remains 13 inches.

Mixing crossply and radial tires on a Volkswagen Dasher is not a good fitment strategy. The available sizes already separate into one bias-ply option, 560-13, and two radial options, 155R13 and 175/70R13. Those constructions behave differently, and the size systems also reflect different tire shapes and intended wheel pairings.

A more sensible approach is to keep one construction type on all four corners and match it to the car’s present setup. If your Volkswagen Dasher has been restored with 560-13 bias-ply tires, stay within that bias-ply format. If it is already using 155R13 or 175/70R13 radials, replace within that radial family after confirming the wheel width and the exact size stamped on the existing tire.

A 1979 Volkswagen Dasher can use 155R13, 560-13, or 175/70R13, so the correct size has to be confirmed from the car itself rather than from the model year alone. All three sizes use 13-inch rims, but they represent different tire profiles and construction types. The narrow radial, the bias-ply size, and the wider 70-series radial are not interchangeable assumptions.

Check the sidewall marking on the tire currently fitted, then confirm the wheel width and the visual setup you want to preserve. If the car has been restored, compare the present fitment to period photos, service records, or marque-club guidance. That process will usually tell you whether your 1979 Volkswagen Dasher should remain with a bias-ply presentation or with one of the radial alternatives.

Volkswagen Dasher tires are listed with both blackwall and whitewall sidewall styles. The radial sizes, 155R13 and 175/70R13, are shown in blackwall form. The 560-13 bias-ply size is available in narrow whitewall and wide whitewall versions, giving a distinctly more period-styled presentation than the radial options.

That choice affects the look of the car as much as the fitment itself. A stock-appearing or European-style Volkswagen Dasher often suits blackwall radials, while a customized or period-personalized car may lean toward a whitewall bias-ply tire. Sidewall style should be chosen only after the correct size and construction type are settled, because the appearance options differ by size family.

Volkswagen Dasher tire options here come from Michelin, Dunlop, BFGoodrich, Firestone, and Avon. Michelin and Dunlop cover the 155R13 radial size, BFGoodrich and Firestone cover the 560-13 bias-ply size, and Avon covers the 175/70R13 radial size. That spread gives buyers a mix of construction styles and visual presentations within the Dasher’s 13-inch fitments.

Brand choice should come after the fitment choice, not before it. Once you know whether your Volkswagen Dasher needs 560-13, 155R13, or 175/70R13, then you can narrow the field by sidewall style, intended driving use, and wheel width. Comparing brand options within the correct size family helps avoid choosing a tire that looks right but does not match the car’s established setup.

Volkswagen Dasher tires are listed in four series: Michelin XAS-FF, SP Sport Aquajet, Silvertown Classic Bias Ply, and Firestone Classic Bias Ply. The Michelin and Dunlop series are radial offerings in 155R13, the Avon CR6ZZ is a radial offering in 175/70R13, and the Silvertown and Firestone series are bias-ply offerings in 560-13. The key difference is construction approach first, with sidewall style differences appearing mainly in the bias-ply group.

That means the series name matters most after you have settled on size family and intended use. A Volkswagen Dasher kept in a more original visual style may point toward one of the classic bias-ply series, especially with whitewall treatment. A Dasher already operating on radial tires should remain within the radial side of the catalog, then be narrowed by width, profile, and overall appearance.

A Volkswagen Dasher should be stored on clean, properly inflated tires in a cool, dry, dark space away from direct sunlight, ozone sources, and temperature swings. Electric motors, battery chargers, welders, and heaters can all accelerate rubber aging. If the car will sit for long stretches, keeping the tires out of standing moisture and away from petroleum contamination is just as important as preserving tread.

Collectors usually get the best results by moving the Volkswagen Dasher occasionally to avoid prolonged flat-spotting and by keeping the car off hot concrete when possible. If the car is fitted with 560-13 bias-ply tires, those habits matter even more because older-style constructions can show storage effects sooner. A clean indoor environment and regular pressure checks do more for tire life than low annual mileage alone.

Tires on a Volkswagen Dasher should be inspected before any meaningful drive and at regular intervals even when the car is mostly parked. Check inflation, visible cracking, sidewall bulges, tread separation signs, valve condition, and uneven wear. On a collector car, age and storage history matter as much as mileage, especially if the Dasher sees seasonal or occasional use.

A practical routine is a quick visual inspection before each outing and a more careful check several times a year with the car off the ground if possible. Look at the inner sidewalls as well as the outer faces, because age damage often starts where it is less visible. If your Volkswagen Dasher uses 560-13 bias-ply tires and tubes, include the wheels and tube-related hardware in the inspection plan.

Volkswagen Dasher tires should be replaced when age, cracking, hardening, impact damage, sidewall distortion, or any sign of structural deterioration appears, even if the tread still looks usable. Collector tires often age out before they wear out. That principle applies to both the radial sizes and the 560-13 bias-ply size, because low-mileage storage does not stop rubber from aging.

A tire specialist familiar with collector vehicles can help judge whether a Volkswagen Dasher tire has become too old or compromised for continued road use. Replace in complete matched sets when possible so the car keeps consistent handling and appearance. If a low-use Dasher has spent years parked, inspection should focus on age condition first and tread depth second.

Volkswagen Dasher is associated here with 155R13, 560-13, and 175/70R13 fitments across the 1974 to 1981 range. The available products include both radial and bias-ply series, which shows that more than one period-appropriate fitment approach exists within the model range. Because several years carry multiple listed sizes, original fitment can vary by configuration rather than following one universal answer.

For a true restoration, the right path is to match the exact year and configuration of your Volkswagen Dasher, then compare that with surviving factory literature, window stickers, service records, or marque-club references. A car restored for formal judging may need a different tire choice than a driver restored for road use. Getting the size, profile, construction, and sidewall style aligned matters more than choosing by appearance alone.

Correct tire fitment can affect how a Volkswagen Dasher is judged and how seriously a restoration is taken. Size, construction, sidewall treatment, and overall stance all influence whether the car looks consistent with its era and configuration. A Dasher fitted with a whitewall bias-ply tire presents very differently from one on blackwall metric radials, even though both can be associated with the model range.

That makes tire choice part of the restoration strategy rather than an afterthought. If your Volkswagen Dasher is being prepared for marque judging or concours display, verify what is expected for that exact year and trim before finalizing the tires. Clubs, period brochures, and unrestored reference cars are often the best way to decide whether a radial blackwall or bias-ply whitewall presentation is more appropriate.

Volkswagen Dasher tires are available here in blackwall, narrow whitewall, and wide whitewall styles. The radial sizes are blackwall only, while the 560-13 bias-ply size includes both narrow and wide whitewall choices. That means sidewall correctness depends first on whether the restoration is following a radial or bias-ply fitment path.

Most restorers should choose the sidewall style that matches the car’s intended appearance and the configuration they are recreating. A stock-looking Volkswagen Dasher commonly suits blackwall radial presentation, while a custom-period or personalized look may justify one of the whitewall bias-ply options. Sidewall style should support the overall character of the car rather than conflict with the wheel, ride height, and trim presentation.

Volkswagen Dasher can be driven on public roads when the tires are the correct size, in sound condition, properly inflated, and matched to the car’s wheels and suspension condition. The listed options include both radial and bias-ply constructions, and each can be appropriate when used in the configuration it was chosen for. Safety depends less on the name of the size and more on age, condition, and correct installation.

Before regular road use, make sure the Volkswagen Dasher has a matched set, no obvious cracking or impact damage, and no wheel issues that could compromise the tire. Cars that have sat for long periods deserve extra caution because brakes, alignment, and steering condition can affect tire safety immediately. A collector car that looks tidy can still need a full mechanical review before highway use.

Before driving a Volkswagen Dasher, check tire pressure, visible sidewall condition, tread condition, valve stems, wheel fasteners, and any signs of rubbing or uneven wear. Also verify that all four tires are the same construction type and compatible sizes. A Dasher running mixed bias-ply and radial tires or mismatched profiles can behave unpredictably compared with a properly matched set.

A sensible pre-drive routine also includes confirming brake feel and looking under the car for leaks if it has been stored. If your Volkswagen Dasher uses 560-13 bias-ply tires, pay attention to tube-related issues and the general condition of the wheel. If it uses 155R13 or 175/70R13 radials, verify that the wheel width remains appropriate for the tire currently fitted.

Appropriate speed for a Volkswagen Dasher depends on the exact tire fitted, its age, and its condition rather than on the model alone. A fresh, correctly fitted radial setup and an older-style bias-ply setup should not be treated the same way in real-world use. Even when a tire size is correct for the car, age-related deterioration can reduce the margin for sustained higher-speed driving.

The practical rule is to drive a Volkswagen Dasher at conservative speeds until you know the tires are recent, healthy, properly installed, and suited to the car’s intended use. A collector car on 560-13 bias-ply tires should generally be driven with more restraint than one on modern radial construction. If there is any doubt about age or structural condition, keep speeds down and have the tires inspected before longer trips.