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Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:07 pm

Hi all. I know that it isn't recommended that you use auto tires on a Westfalia, but I have a brand new set of Pirelli P195/60 R14 P6's that I bought for another car that I would love to use on my '84 Waterboxer. The ones that were on it when I bought it are in good shape but are cheap off-roaders that are rough and noisy. I know it puts strain on the sidewalls and wouldn't be a good idea if I was to drive through the Rocky mountains a lot in high winds, but I don't drive the Westy that much and don't overload it. The Pirellis are hardening on their rims and will not be worth anything in a few years anyway and would make the Westy drive so much better. Anybody have any experience with auto tires or see any problem? Thanks.

Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:49 pm

I say, "don't do it."

The fact that they are too short is not as big of a deal as the fact that they are only good to about 1200 pounds in a car tire. Too lame even for a grocery getter.

Here is the only good deal out there.....

http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp

Sun Dec 11, 2005 12:58 pm

When I got my Westy it had car tires on it. I just replaced them with properly rated tires. The difference is night and day. With car tires, it was almost undriveable in cross winds and it would bounce like a pogo stick over bumps. I ended up getting Continental Vanco 8's for just over $50 ea. at Tire Rack. Best money I've spent so far :P .

Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:15 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: I say, "don't do it."

The fact that they are too short is not as big of a deal as the fact that they are only good to about 1200 pounds in a car tire. Too lame even for a grocery getter.

Here is the only good deal out there.....

http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp

I would definitely listen to Randy . His is advice is always good and this time it is just plain common sense . You are a long time dead , why push it ?

Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:15 am

Thanks for the tips. I guess it's not a good idea. I'll find another use for my tires.

Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:57 am

I totally agree – don’t put car tires on any Vanagon.

When I bought Thunder he had car tires and not having anything to compare it to I thought his wallowing was just the way Vanagons drove. Then I read about their tire requirements on www.vanagon.com and was appalled at what I found on my then week-old (to me) van. The tires were car rated one ply sidewall cruise’n down the highway in a Lincoln tires that should never have been put on a van. Both front tires showed evidence of scuffing more than half way up the sidewall where they’d rolled under during cornering. I always take it easy anyway, but the wallowy feeling I got on those tires made me drive like I was walking on eggshells! It was actually dangerous to have those tires on this vehicle both from a handling standpoint and from a likelihood of having a blowout from riding on the sidewall. Also, the pressure rating on those tires was nowhere near what the van requires. Just plain bad all around.

I have since replaced them with the last set of Michelin’s that work on the stock 14” rims to be had at Sears anywhere in New England. Sadly they’ve discontinued this tire in this size. With the new tires it’s like driving a whole different van! No more wallowing, and actually quite good handling, considering were talking about a tall 5000 pound plus 4-cylinder camper-van. While he may not get many hole-shots off the line, with the new tires I wouldn’t hesitate to take him through a slalom. At a reasonable speed, of course… :wink:

For your own safety as well as comfort stick with tires rated for a Vanagon.

Edit: Thunder's heavier than I thought...

Mon Dec 12, 2005 7:39 pm

I was recently thinking of getting new tires for my 84 Westy. Currently I have Uniroyal 195/75 R14's with a C load range. Tires seem to handle okay, but are very noisy on the road. We do mostly freeway driving so the noise can drive you crazy. I was originally thinking of the Michelin's but had read somewhere about the sidewall issue with them. So I also was wondering if I should get a C or D rated tire?? I know that theres no shortage of opinions out there. What have you got on your Westy?

Mon Dec 12, 2005 9:33 pm

..of tires, with ratings, on one of the Mail lists or Yahoo groups... Worth looking for and seeing if we can get them to post it here and perhaps maintain it. If I remember, I'll do what I can. I remember that they rated Winston's 'Big O's' as 'ehhh,' but I have no standard of comparison. I'd like to stick 15" rims and tires on him.

Best!

Tue Dec 13, 2005 7:48 am

The side walls on my new Michelin’s are 5 or 6 ply (senior moment and I can’t recall which just now) and they’re nice and stiff C-rated LT tires with a mud and snow tread design. So far the side walls are fine, though I’ve only had them for about a month.

Road noise is caused more by the tread pattern in contact with the road than the rest of the design of the tire. Excluding of course the loud bang you might get from tires like Thunder’s previous set blowing out because they were the wrong tires for the van… :shock: For example, I just switched Galileo (’98 new beetle) over from his summer rain/highway tires to his winter studded snows this past weekend. The noise level goes up considerably every year when I do that. It can be a little annoying at first, but I’d much rather have the grip that the purpose-built snows provide when the weather gets nasty. If they’ve avoided one slip that might have caused an accident then they’ve more than made up for any additional noise.

I don’t know how much snow you get in Seattle, but I hear it rains rather a lot. If you can find good light truck tires with a fairly stiff 5 or 6 ply side wall and a minimum load rating of C and inflation pressure of at least 55lbs. and a quiet(ish) highway/rain tread design you should be fine. There should be many more choices in 15s than there are these days in 14s. Over at www.vanagon.com they have a fairly lengthy section on tires. That’s where much of my information here came from. That and personal experience having the wrong tires on the van when I first bought it.

I can’t recall right at the moment what model Michelin’s I bought. I’ll have to go out at lunch and look. I’ll post again later and let you know.

Edit: spelling :roll:

Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:01 am

I think the Michelins you are referring to are the Agrillis 61/81 series.

Great tires for a bus!

Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:42 am

I 'ditto' yellow rabbit's story.
My Westy came with car tires on it, it was all over the road and swayed dangerously in the wind, i put the D load tires rated at 1700 lbs per tire, on after one week. Wow, what a difference!
Your Westy weighs alot, i believe it's 5100 lbs dry weight, at only 1200 lbs per tire on a passenger tire, well you get it. Not good.
Nice thing about this forum, is it's really helpful.
Welcome home :D

Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:05 am

The link below will take to the best Vanagon tire out period!

http://www.tirefactory.net/Hakkapeliitta%20CS.htm

http://www.tirefactory.net/HakCSSpecs.htm

Cheers,

Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:15 am

Here’s Michelin’s detail page for the tires I have. Mine I believe are 195/75/R14C (or the metric equivalent) but Sears said they’ve been discontinued in this size and I don’t find it in Michelin's info either.

http://www.michelinman.com/catalog/tires/MichelinXCLT4.html?tiretype=6&tire=8

http://www.michelinman.com/assets/pdfs/doc_xclt4.pdf

Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:34 am

Are you referring to the LTX M/S? A nice 6 ply tire available in the 195/75/14" size that I happen to use as the spare for my bus. Nice tire for a bus. Pretty close to the correct diameter and with adequate load ability.

You chose wisely.

Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:49 am

I’ll get the full info off the sidewall when it’s not -15f. Too cold out to breath much less take notes while crawling around next to the van. (Do we have a smiley for shivering with frostbite?)

Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:25 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: Are you referring to the LTX M/S? A nice 6 ply tire available in the 195/75/14" size that I happen to use as the spare for my bus. Nice tire for a bus. Pretty close to the correct diameter and with adequate load ability.

You chose wisely.
Long lasting too......my set lasted 9+ years and about 70,000 miles, and still had enough tread left that I could have easily gone at least another year, but I figured that 9 years was enough :lol:

Thu Dec 15, 2005 2:51 pm

HerrBGone wrote: I’ll get the full info off the sidewall when it’s not -15f. Too cold out to breath much less take notes while crawling around next to the van. (Do we have a smiley for shivering with frostbite?)

Wow, where are you at down there in the "dark state"? I have to go to Worcester this weekend for an "in-law" thing.

Thu Dec 15, 2005 4:09 pm

I purchased the LTX M/Ss two months ago for our 85 Westy,and they seem to perform well. The previous owner has passenger car tires on it and I immediately replaced them. I have a kid to protect. Not that loud at freeway speeds, compared to my Yokos on my Toyota truck. Got them at Discount Tire Co. with free road hazzard protection etc.

art

Thu Dec 15, 2005 7:26 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: Wow, where are you at down there in the "dark state"? I have to go to Worcester this weekend for an "in-law" thing.
Hmm, haven’t heard it called that before. Taxachusetts I’m familiar with. (Bought the tires in New Hampshire, BTW. No sales tax! Hehe! :D ) We’re in the Fitchburg/Leominster area. That’s near the intersection of Routs 2 and 190.

The weather report is saying that we may get a nasty snow and ice storm tomorrow. Saturday and Sunday, they say, are looking good right at the moment. If you are traveling on Saturday be very careful. They may not have it all cleaned up by then.

OK, since it’s above 0°f I went out and got the particulars of my new tires right off the sidewall:

Michelin XC LT4
LT195/75/R14 93/90R
Load range C M+S
50psi cold
Made in Canada

I’m told that the 14s are discontinued, but they should still be available in 15s or 16s. I’ve got 14” rims so I went with these. I’ll probably have to get new rims next time I need tires, unless something comparable becomes available.

While we’re on the subject of rims, I have the flat plastic hubcaps/wheel covers on my 85 Westy. I’ve been thinking of switching to something like the chrome nipple hubcaps I have on my ’71 super beetle and adding chrome trim rings with my stock steel wheels after they’re painted up in a nice contrasting gloss black. Would that look out of place on an ’85? The plastic OG wheel covers I have are a bit scuffed up and look a kind-of ratty.

Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:32 am

Yes I have about 3" here (on top of the previuous 16") here in OOB, but I am right on the ocean. Turning to sleet/slush/freezing rain. At least there are no mosquitoes.

Quote: Michelin XC LT4
LT195/75/R14 93/90R
Load range C M+S
50psi cold

Those are a decent tire made for Sears and made by Michelin.
You want this number, 93/90R, to be 100 or better to deal with the total weight of the van. I would drive these until they are dead, but make sure the next set is 100+. You will feel the difference.