Tires for Riviera's, Need to find 1 or 2 tires Options

[solex]

Hello,

The PO installed 3 very good tires Centennial MKII and 1 very good Toyo 300 on my car. I would like to match the tires and have found out that these tires are no longer produced. I have checked around but no one has any old stock, I also called Toyo and Dunlop/Goodyear.

I am assuming that the Riviera's are 4.5 in wide since the 165 fits well on the rim, is this true, if not what is the widest tire I can fit on the rim?

Also were can I get tires for this diameter/width rim no one seems to carry 165R15's? I am working on other things on the car and eventually will go with a set of 5.5's (or larger) but just can't swing it now.

Thanks,
Dan

[TC/914]

Those are the later reproduction "Riviera Style" wheels made for the VW market. They're a bit narrow and not quite as strong, but will probably be just fine. You can put up to 205's on them without a problem with the wheel, but you'll have to deal with the rear wheel wells rubbing the tire. They're popular with the VW crowd because, unlike the genuine Riverias, they'll fit with drop spindles.

The smooth spoke, cast finish Rivieras were offered by the Porsche dealers as optional sport wheels in the mid seventies and sold as well as the Fuchs around here.

These early Rivs are a really nice wheel, clean five spoke design with a purpose-built look. Thicker outer rim with a wider/higher area where the bead of the tire seats. I tigged up the "dummy" lug nut pockets on mine and they look kinda neat. They're on my Ghia with 215 x 75 x 15 Wranglers mounted on them in the rear. It REALLY gives the car long legs for highway running.

Luck,

TC