Trunk stuck with spare radial tire

[PuceGoose]

1974 Volkswagen Beetle Sedan 111

Two days ago, I'd found a flat on the sedan. (I was told that driving over a deep pothole, large bump or even a curb would result in this.) The spare tire was of a different size from the other tires. Yesterday, I found a tire dealer who had the tire size needed. 165SR15 Radial was installed in place of the spare, which seemed to be of a metric scale, and the spare tire, itself, was replaced with a radial. The trunk took some difficulty in closing. Not thinking much of it, I drove home happy that all tires, including the spare, were coordinated.

Today, I thought I'd check the brake fluid level in the vehicle, having already purchased two days prior the appropriate brake fluid mentioned in the owner's manual. Even with the glove compartment's trunk release in "release" position and to my horror, I could not open the trunk.

Related information, suggestions, and/or techniques would be greatly appreciated!

[boschmann]

Have someone push & pull on the handle (with safety latch button depressed) while you pull the release in the glovebox.

[PuceGoose]

Not to be pretentious or obnoxious, I have tried that method myself, having had to do that even with the smaller tire. :-)

[boschmann]

I take it that release cable is not pulling the latch enough to let the plunger pin pass through. The other alternative is to try to release the cable from the pull lever in the glovebox & pull it harder with a vise-grip. You've probably seen several cars with damaged gloveboxes due to this problem.

[PuceGoose]

The vise grip method worked. It seems the car was running on four tires of 165 when it seems the original size was 155. We're considering swtiching all the tires to 155 and have a 155 as a spare.

Thanks for your help. :-)