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Fri Mar 12, 2010 6:24 am

Is anybody has test 195 R 14 with a 002 5 Ribs transmission and a
2000cc on a Westfalia 1976. (ratio i think: 4.86 ?)

I think this set up will be better than the original tire size (185R14)

Is any other idea to get a better lower ratio and keep the engine running slower and be more happy !!!

Thank!

Fri Mar 12, 2010 10:46 am

skidoo wrote: Is anybody has test 195 R 14 with a 002 5 Ribs transmission and a
2000cc on a Westfalia 1976. (ratio i think: 4.86 ?)

I think this set up will be better than the original tire size (185R14)

Is any other idea to get a better lower ratio and keep the engine running slower and be more happy !!!

Thank!

You are only talking about 2-3% difference between an 195 and a 185R14 so you notice little change in performance. They will run fine if you want to run them though.

Fri Mar 12, 2010 2:24 pm

I'm running 195 r 14 c Hankooks on my '77. Speedo is spot on within 1 mph at all speeds. Verified by both GPS and those roadside radar trailers that tell you how fast you're going. maybe OG tires were an aspect ratio of 82 and Hankooks are 80? I can hold 65 or better on any hill on highways, and accelerate up any secondary road grades I've encountered. Bus is real happy on New Englands rolling hills, don't know what it would be like on the kind of grades you have out west.

Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:11 pm

Well, this is more of a wheel question but I found four wheels and tires that fit an '81-'90 Vanagon the seller says. Will these wheels fit a '71 Bay Window? Thanks :bay_red:

Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:24 pm

wampe wrote: Well, this is more of a wheel question but I found four wheels and tires that fit an '81-'90 Vanagon the seller says. Will these wheels fit a '71 Bay Window? Thanks :bay_red:

Yup. I have seen a few sets of Vanagon wheels on a bay and they look pretty cool.

Fri Mar 12, 2010 11:33 pm

calebmelvin wrote: wampe wrote: Well, this is more of a wheel question but I found four wheels and tires that fit an '81-'90 Vanagon the seller says. Will these wheels fit a '71 Bay Window? Thanks :bay_red:

Yup. I have seen a few sets of Vanagon wheels on a bay and they look pretty cool.
Thanks. Actually, they look like the wheels that are on my bus now. They have the small holes around the perimeter. I think I'll buy em. :bay_red:

Sat Mar 13, 2010 7:46 am

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=437757
Would these wheels fit on a '72 bay, they look somewhat like original and have the same bolt pattern. It would be nice to have a 15'' wheel to put some more readily available off-road tires on my bus.

Sat Mar 13, 2010 2:03 pm

kjbtsi wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=437757
Would these wheels fit on a '72 bay, they look somewhat like original and have the same bolt pattern. It would be nice to have a 15'' wheel to put some more readily available off-road tires on my bus.

Not sure, but since the Eurovan is FWD the offset may be wrong for our buses. You'd need spacers and long studs if this is the case.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:32 am

How would 195/70 R14 tires work on a '71 bus? :?: :bay_red:

Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:38 am

GeorgeL wrote: kjbtsi wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=437757
Would these wheels fit on a '72 bay, they look somewhat like original and have the same bolt pattern. It would be nice to have a 15'' wheel to put some more readily available off-road tires on my bus.

Not sure, but since the Eurovan is FWD the offset may be wrong for our buses. You'd need spacers and long studs if this is the case.

I'll have to look into that then, would be sweet if they do fit.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 11:58 am

wampe wrote: How would 195/70 R14 tires work on a '71 bus? :?: :bay_red:

It will work fine, just a little larger.

busdepot wrote: This tire is about 1/2" taller and 1/3" wider than a stock 185R14 Bus/Vanagon tire, which will cause a 2.5% variation in speedometer reading (61.5 mph will read 60 mph).

Mon Mar 15, 2010 12:06 pm

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=900613
Here we go, will these fit my '72?

Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:35 pm

Quote: Probably gearing it up some is not a big deal wiht ou guys running a 002 transmission as it is for those of us with the 091s as they are geared up even more than you are.

The hot running due to more gearing would be more CHT related than OT related, IMO.

That is a decent price for a set of bus tires. Big improvement over the car tires when it comes to "wind wag".

He said, "wind wag". Foo tunny. This is back on page 58. Yes. I'm reading.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:18 pm

Caleb Melvin wrote: wampe wrote: How would 195/70 R14 tires work on a '71 bus? :?: :bay_red:

It will work fine, just a little larger.

busdepot wrote: This tire is about 1/2" taller and 1/3" wider than a stock 185R14 Bus/Vanagon tire, which will cause a 2.5% variation in speedometer reading (61.5 mph will read 60 mph).

Actually, no. A 195/70R14 will be about 0.8 inches _smaller_ in diameter than the stock 185R14 size.

I think that Busdepot was referring to the 195R14 size in the above quote.

Mon Mar 15, 2010 10:22 pm

kjbtsi wrote: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=900613
Here we go, will these fit my '72?

Vanagon wheels have an offset of ET-35. These have an offset of ET-47, which means you need 12mm spacers (and 12mm longer wheel studs) for these wheels to fit as stock.

I think that these might be Eurovan wheels with this offset.

Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:35 pm

I could use an update from anyone regarding the Vredestein Comtrac 205/65R15's.

It seems that R in M is the only one running these?

I picked up another set, after selling the first set like a dummy, of Audi seven spoke 15 x 7's from a 2000 A4.

The first time around I ran Goodyear Cargo Vector 205's. They were OK. A little hard. Not really a Bus tire. Handled well.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 5:59 am

Randy is still pleased with his Vredesteins. They are a bit shorter that the stock 185R14s but I am over it. They turn over about 815 times per mile as opposed to 811 in the stock 185R14s.

Handle nicely even on really wet roads.

Wed Mar 17, 2010 8:49 pm

I'm narrowing it down to the Vredestein Comtrac or the Michelin Agilis in a 205/65R15. Thoughts?

Thu Mar 18, 2010 3:22 pm

Also some other options....

http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/smartlist_1404/tires.html

Thu Mar 18, 2010 10:50 pm

Interesting reading at VC. Thanks for the link.