TheSamba.com :: View topic - Wheel/Tire FAQs-Wheel/Tire questions/answers? Start here!

Sun Feb 09, 2014 11:01 am

ente_kaefer wrote: OK, so, I have reviewed this sticky as well as items that have been posted pertaining to tires for stock 14 inch rims.

I have narrowed possible choices for my 1973 Thing to the items below.

BF Goodrich All Terrain 195 / 75 R 14
General Tire Grabber AT-2 27 x 8.5 R 14 LT
Kelly Explorer Plus 195 / 75 R 14

I'm leaning towards the Grabber AT-2. Anyone running these on stock rims?

I am running the AT-2s on stock rims and have for the last few years. I like them a lot.

Thu Mar 20, 2014 7:21 am

I'm looking at some options for my stock rims.

Option 1: the Kumho Solus tire 185 75 14 tire at $76 each.
Option 2: Firestone "Winterforce" 185 75 14 at $68.99 each

I like the more aggressive tread on the "winterfocre" - although I don't really go off road much.

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireDetail.do...amp;cs=185
http://www.firestonetire.com/tires/results?width=185&aspectRatio=750&rimSize=140

Any feedback on these? Thanks[/list]

Sat Mar 22, 2014 7:19 am

I went with the STA Super Traxions - E78-14LT on stock powdercoated wheels. Love the look!

appologize for my finger!

Mon Apr 21, 2014 2:57 pm

Nice! That looks a lot my Thing. White with a little bit of a bruised nose.

Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:01 pm

rizzag wrote: I went with the STA Super Traxions - E78-14LT on stock powdercoated wheels. Love the look!

:::swoon!!:::

Dude, please tell me this fits under the hood for your spare... PLEASE!!!

Thu Apr 24, 2014 7:46 pm

stl_stadtroller wrote: rizzag wrote: I went with the STA Super Traxions - E78-14LT on stock powdercoated wheels. Love the look!

:::swoon!!:::

Dude, please tell me this fits under the hood for your spare... PLEASE!!!

I'd be interested as well. If I had to place a bet I'd say no.

My spare is 195/75R14, and it measures 25" tall by 7.7" wide. It barely fits—and by barely I mean that the the gap between the hood and the body is slightly wider on the passenger side than the driver's side because the hood rests on the tire.

The E78-14LT measures 26.6" tall and 7.6" wide.

But who knows? It's close enough that the profile of the tire might make a difference. rizzag? What say ye?

Fri Apr 25, 2014 5:29 am

I actually haven't tried as I only have 4. I will pull one off and give it a try this weekend for you guys.

Fri Apr 25, 2014 6:34 pm

Captain Spalding wrote: stl_stadtroller wrote: rizzag wrote: I went with the STA Super Traxions - E78-14LT on stock powdercoated wheels. Love the look!

:::swoon!!:::

Dude, please tell me this fits under the hood for your spare... PLEASE!!!

I'd be interested as well. If I had to place a bet I'd say no.

My spare is 195/75R14, and it measures 25" tall by 7.7" wide. It barely fits—and by barely I mean that the the gap between the hood and the body is slightly wider on the passenger side than the driver's side because the hood rests on the tire.

The E78-14LT measures 26.6" tall and 7.6" wide.

But who knows? It's close enough that the profile of the tire might make a difference. rizzag? What say ye?

Well guys... as suprised as I was, IT FITS! It just fits between the hump on the gas tank and the head of the gas heater. When you shut the hood, the cross brace under the hood just kisses the tire but the hood didnt bow and it didn't hold the hood up.

Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:05 pm

rizzag wrote: Well guys... as suprised as I was, IT FITS! It just fits between the hump on the gas tank and the head of the gas heater. When you shut the hood, the cross brace under the hood just kisses the tire but the hood didnt bow and it didn't hold the hood up.
Awesome! Thanks for going out of your way to check. :D

Fri Apr 25, 2014 9:20 pm

Whilst I am still enjoying my Maxxis...those bias plys look fantastic.

Sat Apr 26, 2014 10:48 pm

Nice look! I love it! 8)

Mon Apr 28, 2014 3:42 pm

rizzag wrote:
Well guys... as suprised as I was, IT FITS! It just fits between the hump on the gas tank and the head of the gas heater. When you shut the hood, the cross brace under the hood just kisses the tire but the hood didnt bow and it didn't hold the hood up.

And with every high, comes a low...

Where did you get these things? The only place I've found to order them online would cost me over $1,000 for a set after shipping and then home-turf mounting and balancing. :cry:

Mon Apr 28, 2014 9:09 pm

This is where I bought them, https://www.universaltire.com/truck-and-military/truck/e78-14-sta-super-traxion.html

Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:23 am

rizzag wrote: This is where I bought them, https://www.universaltire.com/truck-and-military/truck/e78-14-sta-super-traxion.html

yep, that's the one place I found. Way out of my budget. :cry:

back to the drawing board I guess. I guess I will just have to settle for some lame touring tires, since it appears there are no A/T's that will fit as a spare that don't cost $150/ea or more....

Tue Apr 29, 2014 10:33 am

I looked at those and I am glad to hear that they fit. Did you notice any performance issues in driving on those vs. a "normal" tire?

I think it would look way better than my little puny 14"ers at this point. I hate them!

Wed Jul 30, 2014 10:39 am

So after reading the thread multiple times I am still unsure what size tires to get. I was wondering if anyone had a list of the different tire sizes that will work with stock 14" wheels, no lift, no rubbing. I would like a more aggressive look. But for those who dont want that look a list would be extremely helpful. Maybe a list for 14" and 15". Thanks.

Wed Jul 30, 2014 2:53 pm

STLCAR wrote: So after reading the thread multiple times I am still unsure what size tires to get. I was wondering if anyone had a list of the different tire sizes that will work with stock 14" wheels, no lift, no rubbing. I would like a more aggressive look. But for those who dont want that look a list would be extremely helpful. Maybe a list for 14" and 15". Thanks.
Stock 14 inch wheels? No lift or rubbing? Well, you don't need a list. You only need the largest size that will fit without rubbing. Naturally anything smaller than that will fit without rubbing too, no? 27x8.5x14 in light truck or 215/75R14 in P-metric are the largest that will reliably fit.

15 inch or non-stock 14 inch wheels? You're asking for the moon, brother. Without the backspace/offset information of the particular non-stock wheel being considered, no one can even guess whether a particular size tire will fit.

Fri Oct 31, 2014 9:11 am

Ok... I've replaced my trailing arm and it's time for new tires... I have been running B.F.Goodrich All Terrain T/A 27x8.5x14 in light truck tires for the last 10 years. I remember when I got them I was really impressed with how much they improved the way my Thing drove and handled.

Sadly I cannot get the same tires... The closest I've found are B.F. Goodrich All Terrain T/A 195 75R14. These tires are nearly an inch smaller all the way around and are not light truck tires.

My question before I spend $600 on a set of tires... How different do you all think the ride will be going to these smaller (and likely softer) tires?

Is it better to go with the General Grabber LT tires to more closely match the former ride?

Thanks!
-Rob

Wed Mar 18, 2015 6:20 pm

Went with the Maxxis

Thu Apr 23, 2015 9:00 pm

Douglas Xtra Trac II, 205/75 R 14 tires, on stock rims, with brake drums.

Could not beat the price, $ 55 each before mounting and balancing at a local Walmart !!

I purchased a wheel adapter so that the 'wide 5' rims could be mounted on their equipment.

'Special Mention In Dispatches' to Kenny, the service manager at the Arnold, Missouri, WalMart, as no one else I called in St. Louis would mount tires using the wheel adapter that I purchased.

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