TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Mar 02, 2010 3:10 pm

thegoodfight7211 wrote: I must not be searching this thread right...I'm trying to figure out where people order the RA08s.
Yes, you are not searching right. Probably a lot of us have told where we order RQ08's from. I know that I've told about getting mine from tires-easy.com. And even with shipping it was $100 less than the local Discounts.

Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:29 pm

Have a 79 westy with With michelins P185/70 r14. Does the p stand for passanger? it sucks in the wind and i already put the hd sway bar up front. need different tires?

Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:54 am

Yes, thats correct(p=passenger) Side wall plies on a bus/van should be in the light truck(LT),6 or more ply rating...

Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:07 am

iratehippie wrote: Yes, thats correct(p=passenger) Side wall plies on a bus/van should be in the light truck(LT),6 or more ply rating...

Look for a load index number of about 100 or a even little more.

By the way, an aspect ratio of "70" tire is kind of short for a VW bus. We like to see a number like 185R14 with no middle aspect ratio (which is about a 80-82 aspect ratio commercial tire).

Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:24 am

I had the "previous owner passenger tire sway problem"(P195/70/14R mud/snow touring...), and got these tires( http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=C...mpare1=yes ) and am very happy with them... good road handling.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:56 am

Hi All,

During a discussion on the Vanco2 185R14's elsewhere, I've been told that they are not correct as they are not "commercial" rated, and if they aren't commerical rated/ labeled "reinforced", then they aren't correct.

Now, understanding the Vancos I have are 8-ply Ds, but being unsure how to confirm/ deny whether they are commercial (and what exactly that means for a tire) I'm wondering if anyone out there can explain the difference, and if it is a necessary one for late Bays?

Thanks, Mike

Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:06 pm

They are indeed correct. Load index of 102, maximum air pressure of 55 psi all work for a bus. They are even the correct diameter of 25.65".

That poster choose wisely.

Of course those are out of production now.

Yours are fine also if they meet that load index, max air pressure =44 psi, and are indeed 185R14. No one uses the "C" for commercial anymore.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:30 pm

Hey Randy,

I'm not clear on what you're saying... but maybe I wasn't clear previously.

The person I am in discussion with claims the Vanco2s are incorrect tires for my Buses, as they are not "commercial" rated, or "reinforced." He kindly states I should "catch a clue" (which may be true) as Bus tires "must meet both Commercial rated and Load Range specs."

Are you suggesting that the Vanco2s are indeed a commercial tire and fine, or - not a commercial tire and fine (as I've seen suggested throughout this thread, and as such have put 10K miles on 4 of them)?

----

185R14's are discontinued? Tire Rack still shows them in stock, but the site could indeed be out of date, or dwindling down their #s. Might have to switch to Hankooks in a couple years!

----

Still not clear on what exactly makes a tire "commercial" to begin with, or if it actually matters for Buses/ Campers...?"

Wed Mar 03, 2010 12:40 pm

The previous guy was using the Vanco2 Snow tires. I think those are not available right now. Perhaps they will come back?

If yours are like these

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=C...num=8QR4V2

They are indeed correct. Load index of 102 = 1864 pounds. Max pressure of 65 psi far exceeds the max pressure you would run in a bus ~ 44 psi. Correct size with 811 revs per mile. The Hankooks are pretty similar with respect to those numbers.

I am not aware of anyone that makes a commercial tire anymore. There are a few re-inforced tires out there, but they are not nearly as rugged as what you have now.

Your friend is incorrect.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:21 pm

Oops - apologies, didn't mean to step on anyone's toes!

Randy,

Thanks for the thoughts. Yeah, those are the tires I have.

Quote:
I am not aware of anyone that makes a commercial tire anymore. There are a few re-inforced tires out there, but they are not nearly as rugged as what you have now.

Would a "true" commercial tire be more well-structured than D-rated, Load Index= 1700+lbs tire?

Any idea what constitutes a reinforced tire, and why it is less rugged? Sorry for all the Q's, but I can't find clarification on this online elsewhere.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:51 pm

Additional reading here which may very well address your questions....

http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/guideline.html

And no I do not think a reinforced passenger tire or commercial tire would be better constructed that what you have now.

Wed Mar 03, 2010 7:13 pm

Thanks for the tire question responses. i did a lot of digging and everyone seems to really like RA08s the tires that the previous own put on are passenger tires and have a load rating of 1201lbs yikes no wonder my 79 westy is all over the road in the wind.

Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:36 pm

Hankook RA08's of the correct size and LT rating are the daddy

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?details=Orde...0Range%20D

Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:42 pm

pkrboo wrote: Hankook RA08's of the correct size and LT rating are the daddy

They are certainly dandy if you like a tire that can't be driven in minimal snow and wears out like there is no tomorrow.

Sun Mar 07, 2010 7:21 am

Avoid the urge to pump them up to 65 psi or yes they will wear out quickly.

You will end up pretty close to what VW suggested for your bus. Maybe a few pounds either way, but close.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:05 pm

I was on tireseasy and I found these 195R14 tires, just wondering if they where any good. I want a bit more of an off road tire for my '72 deluxe.
Nexen SV820 195R14 106/104R 8PR. They also have them in the 185R14 size. Just looking for some advice.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 7:28 pm

I don't know anything about them, but they meet the spec.

Let us know what you think of them.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 8:06 pm

I guess you dont know till you try.

Tue Mar 09, 2010 9:09 pm

kjbtsi wrote: I was on tireseasy and I found these 195R14 tires, just wondering if they where any good. I want a bit more of an off road tire for my '72 deluxe.
Nexen SV820 195R14 106/104R 8PR. They also have them in the 185R14 size. Just looking for some advice.
Go to the top of this page where it says "search this topic" and type in Nexen. Also search the whole Bay Window forum. Seems like they were discussed in one of the other topics also. I love the Nexen's on my bug. Obviously that is a totally different application. But I got them from Tires-Easy/Delticom, along with the Hankooks for the bus.

Thu Mar 11, 2010 6:43 pm

I will restate that I have the Nexen's and that they are great in the wind and not so great in the snow. Might be okay for offroad though.