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Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:52 am

After reading this whole thread, I ended up going with the Vanco2. I freaking love them. Everything feels so much more stable. Buy the right tires. Its not much more if any, and its worlds different.

Fri Mar 19, 2010 7:19 am

Cool. Let us know what tire pressure(s)make you most comfy even if it varies and how many miles are on them.

Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:07 pm

Kirk wrote:

After reading this whole thread, I ended up going with the Vanco2. I freaking love them. Everything feels so much more stable. Buy the right tires. Its not much more if any, and its worlds different.
Ain't it amazing! Now if we could only convince all bus owners.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:17 am

TomWesty wrote: Kirk wrote:

After reading this whole thread, I ended up going with the Vanco2. I freaking love them. Everything feels so much more stable. Buy the right tires. Its not much more if any, and its worlds different.
Ain't it amazing! Now if we could only convince all bus owners.
I'd settle for people to stop asking if they can use under-rated passenger-car tires on their buses.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:11 am

I'm sure I already know the answer to this one, but thought I would check anyway... :oops:

I have a 1970 Westy and it currently has 2 "C" range rated Uniroyals in front and 2 new Michelin pass car tires in the rear. I WILL be getting new tires later this summer, but I am wondering if I would be better off with the load rated tires in the rear? seemed to me I read in one of the many, many threads that it's best to have them in the back?

thanks! 8)

Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:17 am

detroitjohnny wrote: I'm sure I already know the answer to this one, but thought I would check anyway... :oops:

I have a 1970 Westy and it currently has 2 "C" range rated Uniroyals in front and 2 new Michelin pass car tires in the rear. I WILL be getting new tires later this summer, but I am wondering if I would be better off with the load rated tires in the rear? seemed to me I read in one of the many, many threads that it's best to have them in the back?

thanks! 8)

You want you van to handle acceptably well. Which ever way it balances, front or back, may be the best. If the Michelins are just 185/75R14s they may not do well anywhere, but if they are 205/70R14's or larger they may track as well and likely better than a truck tire.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:24 am

Wildthings wrote: detroitjohnny wrote: I'm sure I already know the answer to this one, but thought I would check anyway... :oops:

I have a 1970 Westy and it currently has 2 "C" range rated Uniroyals in front and 2 new Michelin pass car tires in the rear. I WILL be getting new tires later this summer, but I am wondering if I would be better off with the load rated tires in the rear? seemed to me I read in one of the many, many threads that it's best to have them in the back?

thanks! 8)

You want you van to handle acceptably well. Which ever way it balances, front or back, may be the best. If the Michelins are just 185/75R14s they may not do well anywhere, but if they are 205/70R14's or larger they may track as well and likely better than a truck tire.

They all need to be replaced, as all 4 of them are 195/70/14's. oops. scratch that. I just went out and checked again.

the fronts are 195/75/14 Uniroyals C rated

rears are 195/70/14 Michelins.

IIRC both of these sizes are a smaller overall diameter than the stock 185/14, correct?

The bus does OK right now when it's not windy.... I went through the front end and checked all the ball joints, tie rods, drag link, etc. Adjusted the steering box per the Bently and it's all pretty good.

Wind? Semi's? not so much..... :?

Tue Mar 23, 2010 8:55 am

Put the Uniroyals in the rear. Michelins up front. Most of our weight is in the rear on these things.

It will throw the speedo off a little, but who cares.

Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:40 pm

Randy in Maine wrote: Put the Uniroyals in the rear. Michelins up front. Most of our weight is in the rear on these things.

It will throw the speedo off a little, but who cares.

Whichever set of tires have the stiffer sidewall (usually the lowest profile) should go on the rear. Otherwise your bus will get a bad case of the wanderlust. Every little steering correction will need another correction. I did it wrong just before a road trip and it took me 400 miles to figure out what was up with the handling. Swapped front-to-back and everything settled down.

However, put proper tires (all the same size) on your bus ASAP. You're driving on borrowed time.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 2:21 pm

has anyone had any problems running 27x8.50r14 A/Ts on a bus. ive got a 68 crew cab and i'm wanting a good off road tire. im looking at either the General grabber AT2 or the Cooper Discoverer Radial LT. both tires are 6 ply or C load range.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 3:50 am

mousegrey64 wrote: has anyone had any problems running 27x8.50r14 A/Ts on a bus. ive got a 68 crew cab and i'm wanting a good off road tire. im looking at either the General grabber AT2 or the Cooper Discoverer Radial LT. both tires are 6 ply or C load range.

Both of those are too weak in the knees for me. Load index is 95Q or weight rated for 1521 pounds.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 7:42 am

Randy in Maine wrote: mousegrey64 wrote: has anyone had any problems running 27x8.50r14 A/Ts on a bus. ive got a 68 crew cab and i'm wanting a good off road tire. im looking at either the General grabber AT2 or the Cooper Discoverer Radial LT. both tires are 6 ply or C load range.

Both of those are too weak in the knees for me. Load index is 95Q or weight rated for 1521 pounds.

My Cooper Discoverers are a 105 load index.

Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:11 am

105 is great. You chose wisely.

All of the ones I could find were just 95Q for a load index. You want to be at about 100 or better.

Sat Mar 27, 2010 6:01 pm

regis101 wrote: I'm narrowing it down to the Vredestein Comtrac or the Michelin Agilis in a 205/65R15. Thoughts?

I'm also throwing in the Continental VancoFourSeason into the mix. Geesh.

Sun Mar 28, 2010 5:09 pm

unfreakinbelievable how much better my bus rides now. with new suspension, an adjusted steering box, and ra08s its literally a different vehicle to drive now. way more stable and much more responsive.

i can feel a major difference between the tires. the old tires were spongy and bouncy. these tires make me feel like im driving a truck. much more solid.

Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:41 pm

Kirk wrote:

After reading this whole thread, I ended up going with the Vanco2. I freaking love them. Everything feels so much more stable. Buy the right tires. Its not much more if any, and its worlds different.

i told you how awesome the vanco2 was kirk rides like a billion bucks dont it?

Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:44 pm

regis101 wrote: regis101 wrote: I'm narrowing it down to the Vredestein Comtrac or the Michelin Agilis in a 205/65R15. Thoughts?

I'm also throwing in the Continental VancoFourSeason into the mix. Geesh.

living in livermore ( i used to live in brentwood, across vasco)

i would HIGHLY recommend the vanco2 unless you do alot of winter mountain trips then maybe the 4season otherwise a set of cable chains and the vanco2 will be more than plenty of tire

Sun Mar 28, 2010 6:49 pm

Thanks for the reply. I see that the Vanco2 does have the 205/65R15.

Tirerack lists the Vnaco2 as a summer rib. No big on that. had summer ribs on three other brands.

I was only leaning toward the FourSeason's for only the M&S rating.

Great. Another tire into the blend.

Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:19 am

Interesting tidbit from Tireack about summer rib tires and temperature

*Highway Rib Summer light truck tires are for drivers who want a combination of heavy-duty load capacity, even wear and low noise along with traction on dry and wet roads. Sometimes used as Original Equipment (O.E.) on medium and heavy-duty 2WD trucks, vans and pickups, Highway Rib Summer tires are not intended to be driven in near-freezing temperatures, through snow or on ice.

Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:37 am

well like i said, unless your into lots of mountain driving youll be fine in and around livermore. i drove from dallas to memphis and back in sub freezing temps whilst it was snowing/sleeting and didnt notice any difference in handling or braking ability other than the norm for it being nasty out