What TIRES fit? The ultimate tire thread!

[Jake de Villiers]

[kybishop]

[davevickery]

This is a useful thread because it lists tires. Brands and sizes get updated on the first page when mentioned in the thread. Turning this into another rambling tire thread takes away from someone wanting to find tires. It is easy enough to do a google search on a particular tire to get reviews of it. And there is a thread for the peloquin limited slip.

Again, tires mentioned in this thread are added to the first page by Kam. Good job.

[junichi]

Kumho Road Venture AT KL78 27x8.5R14
http://www.kumhotire.ca/en/tire/category/truck-suv/8CE40218-BC5C-47D0-AC9C-3207A8C1C3A3
I think it may be Canada only. 8 ply, sidewalls are nice and stiff, aggressive tread works well on the road..quiter than my old LTX and LT4's.
_________________
1964 Kombi- http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=640048
Sold: 1985 Transporter Doka,1978 Westfalia, 1975 bay x 2, 1986 syncro vanagon, 1965 beetle, 1980 vanagon, 1967 deluxe bus, 1988 golf

[jdbs3]

According to Continental USA, the following tire is discontinued:

Continental Vanco 2
185/75R14
Load range: C
Load index: 102/100Q

Email from Continental ([email protected]) stated "Thank you for contacting Customer Relations at Continental Tire the Americas, LLC. The only tire we carry in the USA in a 185R14 C, is the Vanco 8."

But, Continental USA states this only comes in the D load (8 ply).

So it appears there are no Continental 185/75R14 in the C load.

[jdbs3]

Thanks to kamzcab86 for compiling this information.

I've used Continental to date (18575R14 C load) and plan to stay with this size.
But Continental no longer makes a 6 ply for the van. Oh well!

So I'm leaning toward the Nokian Hakka C 185 R14 - finally found a place about 50 miles away that has 4.

Anyone ever use this tire on your van and have any comments on them? How do they ride?

The van only gets about 2-3K miles/year on it, and only in the summer. However, I am considering going cross country in about 2-3 years so want good tires for that trip.

thanks

[kamzcab86]

Thanks... Will get the info updated when I get a chance.

[mediaguy99]

hey, can anyone recommend a 17" tire? I'm looking at some 17x7" steel wheels and wonder what my options are.

Thanks!
Rob

[jdbs3]

Spare is a Vanco 8 C load and in excellent condition. I'd like to avoid buying 5 tires just to assure the load level matches in case I ever need to use the spare for any length of time.

also, just the base model - not a Westfalia.

[jdbs3]

An update - After speaking with the distributor, this is a D load rating (8 ply), not a C load rating.

So neither Continental nor Nokian make a 185R14 in a C load.

D load it is.

[pinetreeporsche]

I recently got my '87 2.1 (2-wheel drive) motor re-done as a 2.2, so it has maybe 15% more hp- runs very strong. For several years I've used random different 185 14 rubber-- and for just as long my speedo has been almost 10% over the actual-- checked several ways, incl. roadside light-up warnings with speed posted. I doubt that VW sent them out that way; rather I suspect that the less-wide tires of the '80s had a higher profile-- traveled a few inches farther each revolution. So I'm interested-- anyone know what modern tires have the largest circumference? Currently, on my stock alloy Vanagon wheels, I have Michelin 185 R 14c tires, with a circumference of about 79 inches. Does anyone know if i can get taller 184- 14 tires rated for the van's weight? 3 more inches would be about a 4% increase, 5 or six might get the speedo close to accurate-- and likely increase my gas mileage by almost 2mpg-- nearly 10%, by dropping my RPMs. I could live with that!
If there's nothing very much bigger, is there a different wheel (that fits our bolt pattern) that will allow the mounting of a tire with, maybe, a 85 or 86 inch circumference? This solution would be more costly with the purchase of the new rims, but might be worth in, amortized over, say, 50,000 miles. Thanks, Chris H

[Randy in Maine]

How about 195R14C or 205R14C?

(where if there was a middle aspect ratio it would be about 80-83% and where C= commerical tire). Michelin no longer makes a tire that fits though.

[pinetreeporsche]

[Randy in Maine]

In a commercial tire, there is no middle aspect ratio. If the information is omitted, it is assumed to be 82% (if written, it should be like xxx/82). The "aspect ratio" of the sidewall height is expressed as a percentage of the total width of the tire.

Therefore, the wider the tire, the taller it is if the aspect ratio is the same. In our case that aspect ratio would be about 82%.

The tire caluclator from Miata.net allows me to use "80" for the aspect ratio which is little a bit low, but that is what I am using here.

185R14 C tire has a cicrcumfernce of about 80.6" and 786 revs per mile.

195R 14 C tire has a circumference of about 82.6" and 767 revs per mile.

205R 14 C tire (sort of hard to come by) has a circumference of about 84.6" and 749 revs per mile.

All fit on the stock 14" rims. I run 195R14 C on one of my buses they are a pretty "meaty tire" (load index of about 102 IIRC). Now my speedo is right on.

You really have to call the tire shop as they normally don't carry them often. Many tires in that size are listed as "ST" which indicates that it is a trailer tire and should not be used on our cars. If they DON'T say "ST", it is likely OK for us. Examples would be a Hankook RA08 or a Kumho 857 or a lot of Nokian tires.

[tam_shops]

With any luck, I'll be getting my tires installed tomorrow! I asked for the:
Nokian WRG2 SUV
215/65R16
Load range: XL
Load index: 102H
Max load: 1874 lbs.
Revs/mile: 770

But, they no longer make the WRG2 and now make the WRG3. So, I've asked for the T428751 215/60R16 NOK WRG3 99V XL, but the guy *only* wants to sell me a light truck tire. Guess there is another Nokian tire that has a better side wall rating that he thinks I should have. He said it'd be noisier on the highway. It's not the Hakka, but I forget which it was. Not that much more money $20-30, I think. Thought I'd see if anyone here had tried the WR3? Since it's only been out for 6 months.

Oh, I also noticed a lot of the tires were 65R rather than 60R. The 60R means there is less tire or sidewall than the 65R, right? So it means there will be a bumpier ride, right? Not sure I like that, but think it may have something to do with fit too, right?

I *hate* buying tires, b/c you don't know if you like them until you drive with them, THEN, it's too late. But, at KalTire in BC, they give a 30 day exchange if you are not happy with them, cool! It ALSO means, I could swap my 16" wheels for 15" ones if I don't like them, COOL! I'll be shopping there again!

tam
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic

Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885

[tam_shops]

I take it back, not sure I'll shop there again. I explained to them what I wanted them to do. I told them the parts involved. I asked if they could do it. I asked if they had someone that had done it before (14" stock steels to 16" mercedes) and they said they had. I gave them the instructions from T3 (they are bright flippen orange). I asked them if they had read them. I asked them if they could still do it. Yes and yes.

I hand them my keys...

An hour later they come back and tell me I have the wrong T3 parts. Hhhmmm, I think, either you are stupid or Chris made a mistake. Though, now i have to take some accountability for stupidity as I (personally) did not read the instructions, though wasn't it someone here that said if I'm paying money $1,000 for tires installed onto Vanagon, that I shouldn't HAVE to know what's going on? At any rate, I email Chris he answers right away (isn't he great?) and sure enough, they have not read the instructions. REALLY!? So, now I have tires on my wheels (they are all so pretty) IN my Vanagon.

On the plus side, they will still take them back for a full money back guarantee, that's rather nice of the dingbats!

The end result is, as most of you already knew, don't try and pay a dingbat to put wheels w/ spacers onto a Vanagon as they can't (or won't) do it. As, now that I've explained to them what they need to do...They still won't do it!

tam
_________________
1987 Vanagon Westfalia GL Automatic

Making it special:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=545885

[pbourci]

This post just shot down my Michelin Defender pick. Does anyone have a good recommendation for a high mileage touring tire that is relatively quite for on road summer use?

Thank you,

AP

[davevickery]

Assuming you are talking about a 15" tire. I would consider the Nokian Entyre in a 205/65-15 or 205/70-15 or 215/65-15. Van-cafe carries just one of those sizes but I think they can order any of them if you call.

Did you look on page 1 of this thread about half way down where the tires are listed. If you don't like any of the ones listed, and happen to find another one that fits the bill, post it here so it can be added to the list.

[pbourci]

I have a Weekender and my max load is 5 people and bike rack w 4 bikes.

Thank you,

AP

[Krautwagen]

Nokian eNTYRE
205/65R15 (Euro-metric)
Load range: XL
Load index: 99H
Max load: 1709 lbs. -9% > 1555 lbs.
Max psi: 51

Don't forget the eNTYRE is available in 225/60r16 for Eurovan owners. I upgraded my wheels to 16x7" Audi wheels and these tires on my 1999 Eurovan MV and love them.

Nokian eNTYRE
Specs:
225/60R16 (Euro-metric)
Load range: XL
Load index: 102H
Max load: 1874 lbs. -9% > 1705 lbs.
Max psi: 51

www.tires-easy.com has them at a great price.
_________________
Andy
Lakewood, CO
1973 Type 1 Bug
1974 Type 1 Bug
1999 Eurovan MV