TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun Nov 08, 2009 8:27 am

I have 69 westy that I have been working on. I am ready for tires. wanted to lift bus by cutting and turning beam, but I have been hearing pros/cons. Now thinking of lifting just witth bigger rims/tires, no mods to suspension. I have 15" rims and want to know what is biggest and most aggressive tire I can use without any issues. I am hoping this will still give me the look I am after.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:18 am

195 some use I use 185 maybe 205's at the most. Ask a 100 people and you will get 100 ideas. Good luck.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:25 am

I have read tire sticky, and you are right about 100 different answers. Is you bus on 14's or 15's, and does it have that lifted look, a picture would be awesome if you have one.- any help would be much appreciated

Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:40 am

I have a 71 Westy and running 185 14's. It runs nice and level, but beware of Chinese tires the side walls are a little on the soft side so try and get US made ones. I run a couple of extra pounds in them to help prevent the side sway.

It isn't my every day driver so not to worried about wear. Why do you want to lift it?

Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:48 am

I like the look, really like slowlow's doublecab and sxuxrxf's westy. They both lifted their buses, one with spindles, the other cut/turned beam. I have some 15's and thought maybe I could get look Im looking for with bigger rims/tires without doing suspension work

Sun Nov 08, 2009 11:05 am

http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7365

Sun Nov 08, 2009 7:15 pm

VWDruid wrote: http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=7365
um...that's just about all lowered or stock sized tires.

I've used BFG 27x8.5-14's with no lift or rubbing. (check my gallery for early pre-lift pics) If you go with a taller tire, it may fit, but you will have to be careful of rubbing the front. Also, larger tires just fill the wheel well, rather than looking lifted. The rear will be a close fit. There are several different off-set's available in 15" wheels, so measure carefully.

Just go with the spindles. I did find that even with the spindles, the 29" Swampers rubbed the rear of the front wells. If the lifted spindle could be made to push the tire a bit forward, rather than locating it straight down from stock, that would fix the rubbing. I didn't even think about this with all of the messing around I did with the floor jack under the front. As you lift the bus, the arm drops down and forward, giving the illusion of plenty of room. Put on the lifted spindles and the tire moves rearward and up under compression = rubbing.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 9:53 pm

I know from having these, 215 15's work on the rear via cutting out the wheel wells, on the front they rub bad, This is with a stock setting,,

I will be putting 30 x 29.50 x 15's on a 70, The reas shouldn't be much to fit, fronts well be another story.. The guy in LA. with the 2.8 v6 I think said he runs 27's up front? and those hit the rear of the well, with lifted spindles,

very good point of the spindle moving to the rear as it raises, SO,

what about this, we know how some drop the axle to get a lift, Do that along with spindles, but also move the axle forward

Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:07 pm

Although you like the look, I would advise against doing this, as it raises the bus's center of gravity, making it more prone to roll-over. Safety or looks? It's your choice.

Sun Nov 08, 2009 10:24 pm

actually if you cut and turn the front beam, since you hit the stops sooner when turning, your body roll is greatly deminished. who would have thought lifting it could make it seem stabler? I cut and turned my front beam, its not for the faint of heart but it works. if you are going to off road, use the gas-a-justs, the gr2s are way way too soft, wish I hadn't bought em. I cut and turned, i am an inch off of the stops with a person in the car, just on em w/ the car empty. I am going to drop the beam as its still not high enough for me. as for tires, i am running the BFG 27s and have no issues, also wish I had bought taller tires, but i have no idea what the limit is. you may need to limit upward travel to stop the fronts from rubbing at full bump.