TheSamba.com :: View topic - Large tire/big meats

Fri Feb 16, 2018 7:49 pm

man, the ride on those tractor tires must be rough on the kidneys! :) nice bus!

Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:41 am

Can someone please confirm that an LT 215/75/15 will fit on an early bus with flat rear wheelwells? I want to be able to get the wheels on and off with out acrobatics or other stunts. So... I like the look of large tires for my next project and want to make sure a 215/75/15 will fit on early wheelwells? I see them working on late buses with lipped wheelwells, what about early pre-63? I do not want to roll or cut the wheelwell lip either.

also I think if you have a late big nut tranny installed in an early flat wheel well bus that it makes a difference on getting the rear wheel on and off with big tires. Can anyone confirm this as well?

Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:32 am

buseric wrote: Can someone please confirm that an LT 215/75/15 will fit on an early bus with flat rear wheelwells? I want to be able to get the wheels on and off with out acrobatics or other stunts. So... I like the look of large tires for my next project and want to make sure a 215/75/15 will fit on early wheelwells? I see them working on late buses with lipped wheelwells, what about early pre-63? I do not want to roll or cut the wheelwell lip either.

also I think if you have a late big nut tranny installed in an early flat wheel well bus that it makes a difference on getting the rear wheel on and off with big tires. Can anyone confirm this as well?

You will need to deflate the rear tires to get them on and off.

I had BFG 215-75r-15 MT on a '60 Single Cab with big nut reduction boxes.

Sat Feb 17, 2018 10:34 am

buseric wrote: also I think if you have a late big nut tranny installed in an early flat wheel well bus that it makes a difference on getting the rear wheel on and off with big tires. Can anyone confirm this as well?
I've don't know from experience but I've never heard or read that a bignut/smallnut disparity exists regarding stub axle length or track width. Brake drum diameter is less so that might allow rim removal easier. Brake drum width might be narrower but someone else will have to answer that.

Sat Feb 17, 2018 11:19 am

buseric wrote: Can someone please confirm that an LT 215/75/15 will fit on an early bus with flat rear wheelwells? I want to be able to get the wheels on and off with out acrobatics or other stunts. So... I like the look of large tires for my next project and want to make sure a 215/75/15 will fit on early wheelwells? I see them working on late buses with lipped wheelwells, what about early pre-63? I do not want to roll or cut the wheelwell lip either.

also I think if you have a late big nut tranny installed in an early flat wheel well bus that it makes a difference on getting the rear wheel on and off with big tires. Can anyone confirm this as well?

No problem getting these on and off this bus, did not need to deflate either. LT 215/75 15 BFG All Terrain. Original splitcase trans so I'm not sure about a later trans.

Sat Feb 17, 2018 6:46 pm

I bet other brands would fit too.
The MTs had an aggressive shoulder tread.
I have ATs on my '63 with no issues, but that wasn't answering the question.

Sat Feb 17, 2018 7:01 pm

oakman wrote: Original splitcase trans so I'm not sure about a later trans.
Just looked in specs and Big and Little Nut track is the same at 1360mm or 53.5". Small Nut drum might be the only difference in diameter clearance to rim inner.

Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:44 am

Hey Mike there was a kid at the St Augustine VW Turkey Run Show in November who had those tires on a bug. The bug was flat black and styled after an 82e.We got to talking about it and he said the military tires have so little contact area on pavement that it is really squirrelly to steer and drive.Also they're kinda hard rubber.Maybe someone who has run them would dissuade you?Just a caveat.

Sun Feb 18, 2018 5:50 am

Yeah I know I'm late but who has really had any success with those real military treads? I would be curious to see anyone actually run the Ww2 treads on a bus! LP

Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:49 am

dlicious wrote: buseric wrote: Can someone please confirm that an LT 215/75/15 will fit on an early bus with flat rear wheelwells? I want to be able to get the wheels on and off with out acrobatics or other stunts. So... I like the look of large tires for my next project and want to make sure a 215/75/15 will fit on early wheelwells? I see them working on late buses with lipped wheelwells, what about early pre-63? I do not want to roll or cut the wheelwell lip either.

also I think if you have a late big nut tranny installed in an early flat wheel well bus that it makes a difference on getting the rear wheel on and off with big tires. Can anyone confirm this as well?

You will need to deflate the rear tires to get them on and off.

I had BFG 215-75r-15 MT on a '60 Single Cab with big nut reduction boxes.

Thanks for the info. I wonder if the difference is MTs vs ATs ? Either way very helpful. Thanks to others as well.

Sun Feb 18, 2018 6:52 am

BarryL wrote: oakman wrote: Original splitcase trans so I'm not sure about a later trans.
Just looked in specs and Big and Little Nut track is the same at 1360mm or 53.5". Small Nut drum might be the only difference in diameter clearance to rim inner.

Yes, this is what I am wondering exactly.

Mon Mar 26, 2018 9:31 am

Back on page 87 williamblanda posted pics of his panel and I thought it was the best wheel/tire combo I'd seen, so I decided to follow his lead. These are Power King Super Traction 7.00-15 on the rear, and Power King Super Highway II 6.70-15 on the front.

Mon Mar 26, 2018 2:31 pm

I remember SwervyJoe had that same setup on his Double Cab, said they rubbed like a MOFO

Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:18 pm

So far I can't get them to rub. They are close at the rear lip on the dog leg, but haven't rubbed it yet. I'll bet they would on an older bus with thick dog legs.

Wed Mar 28, 2018 7:29 am

Tire shopping right now, currently have RA08s (185s). Looking for something a bit beefier and found the Kenda Klever
https://www.tires-easy.com/27-8.50-14/kenda-tires/klever-a-t-kr28/tirecode/280015

I also really like the Cooper Starfires
https://www.tires-easy.com/27-8.50-14/starfire-tires/sf-510-lt/tirecode/90000007537

Anyone running the Kendas? I really wanted the Vredestein Comtrac but it’s NLA...

Wed Mar 28, 2018 8:25 am

epayne611 wrote: Tire shopping right now, currently have RA08s (185s). Looking for something a bit beefier and found the Kenda Klever
https://www.tires-easy.com/27-8.50-14/kenda-tires/klever-a-t-kr28/tirecode/280015

I also really like the Cooper Starfires
https://www.tires-easy.com/27-8.50-14/starfire-tires/sf-510-lt/tirecode/90000007537

Anyone running the Kendas? I really wanted the Vredestein Comtrac but it’s NLA...

If you don't mind buying a tire with a date code from 2014 these Hankook RA18's in 195R14 are a good buy:

https://www.ebay.com/i/122967200548?chn=ps&dispItem=1

Wed Mar 28, 2018 11:41 am

...except for that shipping charge... :shock:

Wed Mar 28, 2018 12:45 pm

epayne611 wrote: ...except for that shipping charge... :shock:

Ouch.... didn't notice that.

Wed Mar 28, 2018 3:20 pm

Not a splitty but after spending too much time reading & admiring the remaining pics in this thread, I tossed a pair of Yokohama 7.00-15's I had on the rear of the Crusty Pig. They fit the rear with no issues but won't clear the front doglegs & makes the Bus drive horribly due to the skewed caster angle.

Thu Mar 29, 2018 6:56 am

TDCTDI wrote: Not a splitty but after spending too much time reading & admiring the remaining pics in this thread, I tossed a pair of Yokohama 7.00-15's I had on the rear of the Crusty Pig. They fit the rear with no issues but won't clear the front doglegs & makes the Bus drive horribly due to the skewed caster angle.

Looks awesome with the rake! Do they make caster shims for bay window busses, like the Cal Look bug people use?