Return of the 14" BFG TA KO | LT195/75R14/D

[wahday]

That's all very good to know about factory siping vs. adding it before install. Thanks for that insight - I had no idea and I will inquire about that this evening! Better traction is certainly the end goal here with ice, snow and mud on unimproved roads (though graded) being the "worst case scenario" we would encounter.

Not sure of the difference between A/T versus T/A for BFG's. The tires I am getting are the newer "T/A KO" 195/75/R14 which was confirmed by the shop.

Here is a link to tire rack listing the same tire: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=B...R4ARAKORWL

They make a point of saying it is "not rated for severe snow" but I think we will be ok. As I said earlier, there are only two potentially tricky areas and in a pinch, I can use chains. But I hope what I am getting will do what I want the rest of the time. I did a lot of research before making the decision, but as with so many things Vanagon, the more you read, the more confusing it can become...

[Matt J]

just pulled the trigger on these

must say it makes me sick to my stomach to spend $570 on tires w/out install

I ran these on a pick-up for a few years and must say they are pretty schweet

only one pair left at tire rack after I bought mine

to sipe, or not to sipe? how thinks ye? I've read a lot in favor and opposed

these tires seem to be aggressive enough not to sipe them

[Matt J]

wow, these tires killed it for my road trip

tahoe with 7 feet of fresh

driving snow, sleet, and hail on the flank of crater lake

I would say, not overkill on a 2 wheel drive

the sickness in my stomach went away after 1300 worry free miles in terrible weather

and I never had to get out and put on chains

[Ibuprofen]

I'm intentionally bringing this back because this seems like the be-all thread for this tire.

I'm looking at discountedwheelwarehouse.com which has them for $122.05 a tire and the shipping to me is $60 for 5 tires.

http://www.discountedwheelwarehouse.com/BF_Goodric...mp;pID=188

Anyone know of a cheaper place to buy?

I've found a handful of sites with that price (though higher shipping) but nothing lower as of yet.
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85 Westy. 1.9 w/ 2.1 long block.

[airkooledchris]

for some reason I thought they made them also in 185R14, but this is close enough.

I haven't found them anywhere for less money than this, but thanks for sharing the link you did find.

did you buy them from discountedwheel?
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[Ibuprofen]

I ended up buying them from TireCrawler.com and the tires should arrive today! woohoo!

http://tirecrawler.com/shop/detail_tire.php?product_id=8939

It's a long story but I put in an order and was charged at discountedwheelwarehouse.com and then I canceled the order because the tires were on backorder and wouldn't ship for another week. I was on the phone with them for quite a while trying to get the 10% cancellation fee back.
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85 Westy. 1.9 w/ 2.1 long block.

[thirdman]

I just ordered a set! I'm excited.
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1983 Rustfalia
1984 Wolftsturd
1985 Vanagon GL

[devesvws]

i'm thinking i should order two for the winter rear tires for my 91 a/t my new hankooks already spin at the drop of a hat,and i can see the kooks will be useless in any sort of slick conditions
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER i have been looking for a 91 vanagon owners set like this> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/3853163.jpg https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922

[Phishman068]

Your Hankooks will infact be completely useless come winter time.
I had a set of newer RA08s get me stuck in a level parking lot once because it was covered with some white stuff.

The BFG's aren't meant to be snow tires either though, and running mixed sets front and rear doesn't do you much good. You will find that not only can't the Hankooks grip to get traction, they can't grip to steer or brake.
I've always been of the mindset that those functions are more important than "going" and when I was first given only two snow tires, I ran them on the FRONT.

If you're looking for snow tires, go with the Nokians. They do rock and are worth the pennies. Good snow tires can transform a vanagon from hopeless in the snow, to a mountain goat.
I used to park my bus for most of the winter and be very worried about trying to get anywhere, now it's my best winter driver. It sticks to the road like glue!

[devesvws]

i do like them for now, but once nov comes around thru march i might just need to do that. the hills here are plenty, and i was sold on the set of nokian hakkapeliitta i bought back in 1990, for a 86 golf diesel i had at the time.
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THE FEW THE PROUD THE ORIGINAL VW WATERBOXER i have been looking for a 91 vanagon owners set like this> http://images.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/pix/3853163.jpg https://picasaweb.google.com/101290228103300323836/BostonBobFlywheelVideo#5543000332201103922

[matt_j]

Really contemplating getting some 14" BFG's but can't make my mind up... Do I go 15" with nokians or 14" BFG's. Having a really tough time deciding which I value more.

[MacFhearguis]

I went with the BFGs after much hemming and hawing about it all.

With online price matching, a "We pay the sales tax" event, and road hazard certs, I was able to get 4 of the BFGs for slightly more than $400 out the door at Discount.

The difference in ride during the first drive was amazing! Now, with airbags in the rear, an EJ22 and the BFGs, the Vanagon is even more fun to drive.

[chazz79]

post the reciept! I need to get these but most of the locals won't match without proof. My sears quote is 875.00 installed :/
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The green monster in bits and peices: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=332556&highlight=green+monster

[Robw_z]

[airkooledchris]

The Sears website quotes $670.68



Per Tire For 4 Tires
Tire Cost $148.94 $595.76
Discount Applied - 14.1% $21.02 $84.08
Environmental Fee* $1.75 $7.00
Shipping/Handling Charge $0.00 $0.00

Pickup Sub Total†
(excluding sales tax) $602.76

Installation

Tire Disposal Fee $2.00 $8.00
90 Day Tire Balancing(option) $11.99 $47.96
Rubber Valve Stems(option) $2.99 $11.96
Mounting Cost $0.00
Installation Total†
(excluding sales tax) $670.68
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[Rhinoculips]

Just curious to hear from those that have the new 195/75-14 BFG's and how they are holding up. Some reviews I have read via several sites, say that they don't hold up like they use to. Some say they are getting 50% less mileage out of them now compared to previous sets of years past.

Also, I just ordered a set of four via Tirecrawler.com for $501 + $55 shipping. Mounting/balancing will cost me $10/per tire. Thus, $596 for grand total. Not to bad, that is if they hold up like the previous versions.
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“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Edward Abbey

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[tristessa]

Been running mine daily since fall/winter 2010 and they're holding up fine. I've done a couple of with-the-spare rotations (I bought five) to even out the wear.

That said, I mostly drive on pavement with occasional dirt/gravel road use .. nothing gonzo because how crazy can you get with a 2WD Bay Bus?

[Robw_z]

I just set everything up with Sears to have 5 installed for $733 out the door which I'm happy with. That's $146.60 a tire installed with a hazard warranty and including 6% Idaho sales tax, equal to the Tire Rack price for just the tire alone. I notice on the Tire Rack site that all the BFG's are made in the USA, except the 14" which says "MX/US". So one might think that the better deal you find on a new 14" BFG AT tire, the more likely it was made in Mexico but who knows.

I've been running the 27" x 8.5" BFGs, which is roughly equal to 215/75/14, for over a year(bought used) and they were great. But I can't wait to regain the power my van lost with the 27" tires! Over time it's gotten annoying, I developed a bad habit of roll through stops to avoid starting from standstill, kills the fuel mileage in town. The 195/75/14's are about 25.5" x 7.7" tires.

-Rob

[Rhinoculips]

Just a note.

I just got back from a trip to New Mexico, Arizona and Utah taking mostly back dirt roads and some serious forest service roads. These tires worked great for the most part. Only down fall is that they suck in the mud. They turned into slicks.
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“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds.” - Edward Abbey

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[beckirk]

Do these tires fit in the stock spare tire carrier?