TheSamba.com :: View topic - Split Bus 14" tires

Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:06 pm

Yes, later wheels incorporated a safety feature in the wheel design for radial usage.

I don't really think there is an issue though with today's tires. Or at least I never heard of anyone having problems. I used to corner HARD in my Notchback with radials on the original non-safety-bead wheels and they never came off.

If your wheels are slotted, they are probably Bus. If they are "smoothies" (no presence of Bus 4 slots) they are probably Beetle.

Wheel thread with photos
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=290000

165s are too small for a Bus, unless it's lowered.

If you want 7.00x14 tires, you need 14" wheels. Coker.com sells the tires if you want bias ply tires. Most people do not these days.

A '65 would original have had Bus-style 14" wheels.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:30 pm

Hi Everett,

Thanks for the info. Just went to read my wheels. They are slotted, crowsfoot, dated 12 over 56 (just a 12 printed above a 56, no circle around it nor lines between the two numbers), and have a VW logo stamped in them, a T with a circle around it and another number, 1581, stamped on the wheel. Oh, there is also a 41/2K15 stamp (no x in it).

What do you think? I've read the wheel thread with photos. Oh, and my Bus is not lowered.

Thanks,
Jim

Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:35 pm

They sound like original Bus 15" wheels to me.

165s are Bug size. Bus tires are larger. 15s are typically 205/75/15.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 5:43 pm

Everett, you say that LATER wheels incorporated a safety feature in the wheel design for radial usage. Well, these wheels seem to be from 1956, so I wouldn't consider them LATER wheels, would you?

OEM would be 6.40x15. Funny enough, I just replaced the tires on my Subaru. They are 205-70R15, as you recommend for my Bus. However, it seems that they would be very much too wide for the 4-1/2K15 wheels.

My Workshop Manual says that from December, 1963, all Transporters are fitted with 7.00x14 tubeless tires. I wonder why my 1965 Bus has these 15" wheels. What do you think?

Jim

Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:02 pm

Because someone put them on your bus. Many parts have been added to buses over the past 50 years by previous owners. I have not heard of anyone having problems with new load rated tires blowing out.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:06 pm

Bus Depot has a little writeup on tires about what tires need to be safe on a bus. They recommend Hankook RA08s. I searched around, and they also have a pretty good price. The shipping charge doesn't calculate right (add about $50), but that only puts it on par with Discount Tire (who were assholes anyway). Buying from Bus Depot also supports the industry. 2 cents.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:10 pm

^
Your bus's PO must have preferred the 15in over the 14in bus wheels.

If you don't mind the width and like having 15in wheels then they are fine.

I have a 67 and almost switched over to the 15in bus wheels, but decided to keep my 14in because I prefer the looks of the smoother 14in over the large slots in the 15in wheels. Plus that's what came stock on my bus.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:16 pm

Nope. 14s with 185 tires. Not even 1 cm wider (7.2mm) than the stock 7" tires.

http://www.busdepot.com/details.jsp?partnumber=RA08

Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:28 pm

Thanks, Spectre6000. Your post reinforces the FACT that passenger-car tires are UNSAFE on a Bus. My present 165R15 86S could kill me and others.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:10 pm

so what is teh equivilent size Hankook in 15" rim? (or close to equal to stock)

It seems like for 14" these are the way to go. great. I will need some soon.

But 15"?? would like to keep the same tire across the fleet.

Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:46 pm

jimbabwe wrote: Thanks, Spectre6000. Your post reinforces the FACT that passenger-car tires are UNSAFE on a Bus. My present 165R15 86S could kill me and others.

No one is arguing with you. Use the proper load rated tire for high sidewall driving. Superply :wink: .

Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:04 pm

Might check out www.tires-easy.com... I got my westlake h160's there but it seems like they do not sell them anymore, but there are lots of good priced load c tires..

Wed Jun 30, 2010 11:43 pm

jimbabwe wrote: Everett, you say that LATER wheels incorporated a safety feature in the wheel design for radial usage. Well, these wheels seem to be from 1956, so I wouldn't consider them LATER wheels, would you?
Later meaning Bay Window-era and not 15". (15" Bus that is)

Mon Nov 12, 2012 12:37 pm

So if 7.00 is 178mm in modern scale, why don`t use Hankook Radial RA08 175/80 R 14 for example?
Diameter of those tires is 25" so they are more close to the original than 185/75 R14 Hankook RA08.

What do you think about it?

I`ve found really cool Kormoran LT Tires with 175/80 R14 dimension.

Mon Nov 12, 2012 7:10 pm

Those Kormorans are neat tires. Go for it on the stock size Hankooks. I don't think they will look that teeny.

Wed Nov 05, 2014 4:58 pm

Wow! I can totally see why picking the right tire is so important. It seems everyone has a different oppenion on tire size. I guess it just goes into what you like best. But in all the discussion I did not read any place about rubbing of a tire that was too big. I only ask because I am in the market for you guessed it :shock: TIRES! I have ran 185/75 14. For a long time and found my bus was winding out a bit on the freeway. 1600 top speed 60. And speedo was way off. I went to 195/75 14 and had my Trans changed to a 412 I belive. Now it runs good but speed is still off "but better". Top speed 70 on freeway. Not that I want to go faster but I was told the 205/75 14 is a good tire all the way around front and back. My only concern is will it rub in the front? My bus is stock hight and should this fix my speedo prob?
Thanks for the help!

Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:31 pm

I think 195R14 would fit the bill without going overboard, and is what I plan on to put on my '64 Deluxe. I had a set on my '84 Westy with very good results.

http://www.busdepot.com/RA08195

Wed Nov 05, 2014 5:36 pm

I recently put 205/75's on the stock 14's of our 13 window. It has a great look, good height to fill up the fender and not too wide or bulge-y from the sidewalls. No clearance issues at all.

Wed Nov 05, 2014 6:06 pm

What size tire did you have before you went to the 205? Could you tell the differance in the ride at all? Also how off was your speedo? Thanks for the help! I am about to spend over a G in tires and don't want to mess it up. Don't mean to be pushy.

Wed Nov 05, 2014 7:42 pm

I put these on mine and like them a lot. My speedo is spot on with my GPS as well. No complaints at all. (I've since gone to white rims)