What TIRES fit? The ultimate tire thread!

[joetiger]

I picked up my Geolandars from TireRack's warehouse this morning and went to Big O Tires and had them mounted up. $396 for the tires, $112 for mounting, then to the mountains for a hike.

I really do love these tires; they're stable in the wind, quiet, soft over bumps, and they look great.

I had Big O put one of the better old Geo's on this cheesy black-and-chrome Ronal R9 as a spare (got the wheel on Ebay for $60 a while back. )

Now I need to figure out how to mount it in the tray, so I'm looking at the different threads on that topic now.

I'm glad I decided to dance with the date that brung me.
_________________
Joe T.

'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'04 GTI 1.8T
'04 Golf R32

"get metaphysical with it. if it's simply a means to get to and from places, it will let you down. if it becomes your zen, it can't fail you." -dabaron

"Still, it's good to be afield."--VWagabond

Available Now! Vanagon to Louisiana--A Two-Lane Reckoning Through Past and Present

www.josephtrussell.com

[bobbyblack]

JoeTiger: if my calculator says you have a 26.9" diameter. Do you agree?

I have been wondering for a while about a near 27" tire in the spare pan. What is the deal with that pan idea? Why aren't people trying a crank up rig like most trucks use? Like my Suburban has a cranky thing that pulls the spare up with a cable. Put the pan part on top to keep the tire from impacting the steering, etc.
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[joetiger]

[bobbyblack]

Having a heck of a time finding rubber for my C230 / C240 rims (seen in today's Ult Wheels thread)

[geodude]

Check out Nokian tires, they have several 205/65R16 tires that will work and I have yet to meet anyone who didn't like theirs. I have that size on my 90 and they work very well with my Subie 2.2. Mine are Hercules Power C/V, but I'm not sure they are being produced now, but if they are its been a great tire. Load Range D with deep tread.

I'm not sure if the 185/75R16 size can fit on that width rim, but the diameter is about the same as the 205/65R16 and there are several that meet the load requirements we need.
_________________
1988 GL Camper
1991 Multivan — the basket case

[bobbyblack]

geodude,

Thanks!!!! Considering that the original tires on the C230/C240 rims were 195's I can't imagine 1 cm less being a problem.

I will take a look at the 185's
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[levi]

I have the clk 16, same 16" by 7"

If you look on tires-easy.com they have quite a few in the 26" to 26.5" range with 99XL or better.

I picked up some Accellera alpha about a year back ( 26.1" 215-60-16 ) that I'm happy with but there's lots of choices for you.

One thing to keep an eye on with that site is shipping charges, they range anywhere from from free to 100 $
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[crazyvwvanman]

If 99 XL street tires will work for you there are some Nokian closeout deals going on.
Here is a set of 4, no tax, free shipping, $311

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-New-215-60R16-Nokian-Ent...mp;vxp=mtr

Mark

[bobbyblack]

levi, crazyvwvanman,

The 215/60/16's fit in the spare pan? Or are you on a rear carrier? (syncro, etc.)

I still have to find another rim to match for the spare, so I'm not quite there yet, but I do like the look of the C230/240 rims. I do admit tho, the CLKs are better looking. I just happened to find the C230/240 first, and got the hardware for them from Christopher.
_________________
'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch

[levi]

215/60/16 is almost identical to the stock tire diameter, so I would have to aSSume that it it would fit in the clamshell.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[levi]

Wow, 311 delivered, for nokians, that is a deal.

With Treadwell of 700, woof
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[dsdunbar]

Tire pressure question:

Kam provided a guide on how to identify what tire pressure to use for non standard wheel rims on page one of this thread. Some of the links are now dead.

Can anyone assist in pointing me towards an inflation recommendation for my current setup?

1989 full westy
Nokian Entyre 2.0 225/55R17
98XL
Maximum pressure printed on sidewall of tire is 50PSI

thanks.
-dsd
_________________
'89 2WD Westy "Grey Goose" - Manual 4spd
Crozet VA
Vanaru EJ25, Peloquin

[geodude]

There is a very good explanation of the process in this document from Toyo Tires.
http://www.toyotires.ca/sites/default/files/loadinflationtable.pdf

In short, get the load versus inflation pressure chart or numbers for the size tire you are using and look up the pressure that corresponds to the load on that wheel. All tires of the same size and the same standard have essentially the same load capacity for the same inflation pressure. IE a Michelin and a Toyo P225/55/17 will have the same load capacity at 35psi inflation (any difference will be slight).

Find the pressure on the chart that corresponds to the one you need and you got your starting pressure. Even if the chart doesn't reach the loading you need the graph is a straight line up to maximum inflation pressure so you can extend it to reach the pressures you will need for your tire. Just don't go past max inflation.

VW says you need 1580lbs minimum capacity for each rear tire.
_________________
1988 GL Camper
1991 Multivan — the basket case

[davevickery]

[campism]

[Busdepot]

I said a while back in this thread that I'd update when the new Hankook RA18's - the replacements for the venerable RA08 - are in. Well I was remiss, as they came in last week, but they're here. $99 for the 185's $109 for 195's.

185R14: http://www.busdepot.com/RA18
195R14: http://www.busdepot.com/RA18

By the way, the German magazine ProMobil gave them a stellar review, giving them first place in a head-to-head test against Michelin, Continental, etc.
_________________
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[pdm777]

My Michelin HydroEdge tires self destructed-
the sidewall disintegrated and separated from the tread. NOT SAFE!!!

After that, I switched brands found a tire well suited to Westys:

Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread 215/55-16.

97H load rating
(GoWesty sells 215/60-16 with lower load rating.)

[Busdepot]

[davevickery]

[B.O.B.Wanders]

I like my BFG's, thank you. I recently had a rapid deflation at about 65 mph and was able to safely and gracefully exit the travel lanes and get over to the shoulder with no problem (the valve stem got cut - long story). Needless to say, the tire was shot, but I am convinced that having a properly rated LT tire on my Westy prevented a worse outcome. I had about 20K miles on them at the time.

After my last purchase there may be one 14" BFG still in inventory somewhere in Florida. Yes, I know tires age on the shelf, but I plan to run the tread off of them before they get too old. I bought two of the three tires my local Kaufmann Tires found in their search, and put one of the old BFG's as the spare. It just fits in the clamshell after removing the guide rods and adding a spacer on the bolt. (see spare tire carrier mods thread for options).

And FWIW - We were on the road in Arizona and my spare was one of the under-rated passenger tires that came with the van when I bought it. Running on that tire for any real distance was not an option. As luck would have it, there was a tire place right across the street from the hotel we stopped at after the flat. They had exactly one 14" LT tire on the rack out back. So I temporarily (for maybe 4K miles) replaced the BFG with a Nexen SV-820 which is, sadly, also extinct. It which seems like a really good LT tire. The Nexen has very similar specs to the BFG and would probably be a bit quieter. (Thank you, Six D Tire and Auto, Holbrook, AZ!).

Next time, I will probably just go ahead and upgrade to 15 or 16 inch SA steel rims as the options at 14" are pretty limited and getting worse. That has been on the wish list for a while anyway.


Rick
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83.5 WBX 2WD Assuan Brown Westy, B.O.B.

"It feels good to be lost in the right direction” - unknown