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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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 Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: Need advice on good tires for 14" rims. |
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| Turns out my 85 Westy needs new tires. Sadly the current ones are passenger car tires and they have dry rot. I've done my research and decided to stick with the stock rims. I'm looking for advice on a decent pair of all season tires. I'd like to spend less than $100 each if possible. I see a lot of people on the forum get snow tires. They seems to be running them all year. Is that just because they work better off road and true off road tires are hard to find? I'd like to get a set of grabbers but it seems they don't make them in 14s. |
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orangeeyesore
Samba Bammer
Joined: November 23, 2003
Posts: 1264
Location: looking in Hazetguy's windows
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject: |
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You get what you pay for. $100 bucks doesnt buy much quality.
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HBB
As it says, who have you got as a quote in your signature line and why? |
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MrBreeze
Samba Hitman
Joined: October 06, 2002
Posts: 5639
Location: Lawn Guyland, Noo Yawk
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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Might wanna reconsider cheaping out on tires.
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-=Rob
WTB: Bay Shore or Queensboro VW Frames
HBB 1984-2009
RW 1943-2011
ER 1964-2023 |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| I didn't think $100 was cheap. My grabbers were $85 each and they are fantastic. |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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brooklynvan
Samba Member
Joined: February 08, 2006
Posts: 342
Location: Brooklyn NY
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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I second the RA08 Hankook. excellent tire, except in snow, but as long as you know how to drive in snow they're OK.
_________________
1990 Vanagon "Plain Jane" Bostig in the Back
TRADED: 1967 Panel for 1976 BMW 2002
SOLD: 1984 Sunroof Vanagon with EJ22
RIP 1986 Saab turbo
and my daily commuter: a Bicycle |
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:07 pm Post subject: |
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| I hadn't been to that site. I was looking more for advice from other owners who would recommend the tires they are running. What are some of the more popular tires for the Westy here on the forum? How much do I need to spend to get decent tires? |
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Bruce Wayne
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 1210
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Rhinoculips
Samba Member
Joined: August 08, 2005
Posts: 918
Location: Keystone, Colorado
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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RA08's are good 3 season tires. If you drive much in snow, don't get them. IMHO, they suck in snow.
My all time favorite tires are the Nokian Hakka CS's. When I put these on, my 2wd Westy felt almost like a Syncro in the snow. LOVE 'EM! They aren't cheap though and tires are worth the investment.
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2009 9:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hi,
How much were those coopers and what size are they? |
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Texxxxx
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008
Posts: 448
Location: Monterey, CA
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| Rhinoculips wrote: |
| My all time favorite tires are the Nokian Hakka CS's. When I put these on, my 2wd Westy felt almost like a Syncro in the snow. LOVE 'EM! They aren't cheap though and tires are worth the investment. |
I just bought a set of Nokian 195R14 CS's at VanCafe for $120 each. I think they are out, now, but will get more in a month, +/-. I like them, too. They are a bit oversize...26.2" diameter vs stock 25.?". They change the gearing slightly.
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'85 GL w/2.1L "The Tardis"
It's A Vanagon Day |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:50 am Post subject: |
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Why do you want snow tires in flagstaff?
Snow tires wear faster then regular tires. |
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Randy in Maine
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2003
Posts: 34890
Location: The Beach
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:49 am Post subject: |
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| mightyart wrote: |
Why do you want snow tires in flagstaff?
Snow tires wear faster then regular tires. |
Flagstaff gets some serious snow. Snowbowl is a pretty good place to ski also. |
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| mightyart wrote: |
Why do you want snow tires in flagstaff?
Snow tires wear faster then regular tires. |
Depending on which report your read Flagstaff is either the 1st or 3rd snowiest city in America. |
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:30 am Post subject: |
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| I'm not really looking for snow tires but that's all i can seem to find. The only other ones I can find which are the R808s everyone says they are crap in the snow. I'm just after a good 4 season radial. |
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domromer
Samba Member
Joined: August 16, 2009
Posts: 177
Location: Clearwater, Florida
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:21 am Post subject: |
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| orangeeyesore wrote: |
| You get what you pay for. $100 bucks doesnt buy much quality. |
What's you recommendations for over 100$? I haven't been able to find much. Most of the tires I've seen at van cafe are on backorder. |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:25 am Post subject: |
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| Randy in Maine wrote: |
| mightyart wrote: |
Why do you want snow tires in flagstaff?
Snow tires wear faster then regular tires. |
Flagstaff gets some serious snow. Snowbowl is a pretty good place to ski also. |
Shows you how much I ski.  |
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Bruce Wayne
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 1210
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| domromer wrote: |
How much were those coopers and what size are they? |
I paid $522,mounted and balanced,lifetime rotations,flat repair,etc.,etc.,etc. at Les Schwab. 195/75/14C the load index is 93,which is good for 1433 lbs per tire, or a total of 5732 lbs. I read somewhere that Westys should have tires that are load rated at 97 minimum.
I do not have a full on Westy (no stove,fridge and cabinets) so I don't have the weight you do. you may want to get D range tires.
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deprivation
Samba Member
Joined: September 14, 2006
Posts: 1220
Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:34 am Post subject: |
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O love my Hankook RA08's. They're designed for the Vanagon, too. I got mine at Discount tire. Five tires delivered, mounted and balanced for less than 600 bucks. Combine the Hankooks with a set of Bilstein HD shocks and you've hot a surprisingly nice ride.
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1986 Westy 2WD auto a.k.a. "The Old Girl"
www.kittenfart.com |
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