TheSamba.com :: View topic

Fri Dec 16, 2005 10:19 am

Randy's right: the load rating really should be over 100 for proper safety, especially on the heavier Westy.

Prior to learning that, I bought these tires and have been very happy with them for 25k+ miles. In addition to their rail-like highway performance, they handle well on unpaved dirt and gravel forest roads. And they have kept us out out of a few sticky wickets on unmaintained remote backcountry roads.
http://www.vanthology.com/1Layout/Journeys/Glacier/Glacier14.html

Larry Chase keeps an owner-maintained Vanagon tire list on his site, with comments and suggestions by other Vanagon drivers:
http://www.roadhaus.com/tires.html

Good luck!

Jeffrey Earl
1983 diesel Westfalia "Vanasazi"
http://www.vanthology.com/

Fri Dec 16, 2005 6:59 pm

Jeffery
Great site. This is one that every Westy owner should reveiw. Thanks to everyone for their .02 on tires.
http://www.roadhaus.com/tires.html

Fri Dec 30, 2005 11:45 pm

What do you guys think of the Michellin Hydroedge 16" wheels that certain vendors sell?

Sat Dec 31, 2005 12:09 am

I stuck them on Winston--the chrome against his black rims with the cooling holes in the background looks much better than the later plastic covers. In fact, I'm hoping that when I go to 15" rims on him, I can find a style where these will still fit. I've no interest in the trim rings you can get, but the hubacps look just lovely. He's an '84.

I do need to get that 'whisker' tool that you use to remove those suckers without scratching them.

Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:24 pm

I thought I'd use this old thread to let you have a look at him with these caps installed. You can also see the new 'Westfalia' decals and the fiberglass top I cleaned up with 3M Fiberglass Cleaner and Restorer, then waxed. Note the compounded paint, too. THERE was an improvement.

He's well on his way up from 'Beater.'

Sun Feb 19, 2006 2:50 pm

66dalydrvr wrote: I was recently thinking of getting new tires for my 84 Westy. Currently I have Uniroyal 195/75 R14's with a C load range. So I also was wondering if I should get a C or D rated tire??

A load range C passenger tire is NOT the same as a 185R14 C or a 195/75R14 C tire. Totally different tire. The C after the rim size means Commercial for LT applications.

If you are using a passenger tire with a C or D rating, the max tire weight is multiplied by 91% to give you a true load weight rating.
i.e. if your sidewall load weight rating on a P195/75R14 is 1400 lbs, that is 1400 lbs on a CAR. On a van, bus, truck etc that 1400 figure is 1274 lbs.

Read all about it here:

S4.2.2.2 below.

http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/05dec20031...71.110.htm

S4.2.1 Tire load limits for passenger cars.
S4.2.1.1 The vehicle maximum load on the tire shall not be greater
than the applicable maximum load rating as marked on the sidewall of the
tire.
S4.2.1.2 The vehicle normal load on the tire shall not be greater
than 94 percent of the load rating at the vehicle manufacturer's
recommended cold inflation pressure for that tire.
S4.2.2 Tire load limits for multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks,
buses, and trailers.
S4.2.2.1 Except as provided in S4.2.2.2, the sum of the maximum load
ratings of the tires fitted to an axle shall not be less than the GAWR
of the axle system as specified on the vehicle's certification label
required by 49 CFR part 567. If the certification label shows more than
one GAWR for the axle system, the sum shall be not less than the GAWR
corresponding to the size designation of the tires fitted to the axle.
S4.2.2.2 When passenger car (P-metric) tires are installed on an
MPV, truck, bus, or trailer, each tire's load rating is reduced by
dividing it by 1.10 before determining, under S4.2.2.1, the sum of the
maximum load ratings of the tires fitted to an axle.
S4.2.2.3 (a) For vehicles equipped with P-metric tires, the vehicle
normal load on the tire shall be no greater than the value of 94 percent
of the derated load rating at the vehicle manufacturer's recommended
cold inflation pressure for that tire.
(b) For vehicles equipped with LT tires, the vehicle normal load on
the tire shall be no greater than 94 percent of the load rating at the
vehicle manufacturer's recommended cold inflation pressure for that
tire.