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Thu Apr 16, 2009 11:23 pm

This is a great board.

Fri Apr 17, 2009 9:47 am

amishman wrote:
Please post pics when you get these tires on your Thing. They look like a great replacement tire that even looks similar to the stock tire.

tj

You might be waiting awhile for me. While I probably will buy a set before they get discontinued, I have no need to put them on my car right away. I have very few miles on the ones I bought 6 yrs ago and would like to get my other set of wheels redone before mounting these tires. However, my son is interested in buying his own Thing and if he does I will give him the ones on mine right now and get these mounted up and then I can take some pics.

Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:28 pm

thinghunter wrote: amishman wrote:
Please post pics when you get these tires on your Thing. They look like a great replacement tire that even looks similar to the stock tire.

tj

You might be waiting awhile for me. While I probably will buy a set before they get discontinued, I have no need to put them on my car right away. I have very few miles on the ones I bought 6 yrs ago and would like to get my other set of wheels redone before mounting these tires. However, my son is interested in buying his own Thing and if he does I will give him the ones on mine right now and get these mounted up and then I can take some pics.

NO, you need to buy them now. :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

hehehe

My tires are like new also. Maybe 100 miles if that on them since getting them new 3 years ago. Now that I am starting to drive the Thing in summer, maybe I can use my old tires for future studs for snow up here and get me some new ones for everyday. Or maybe I should spend my money on my buses. hehehe

tj

Sat Apr 18, 2009 9:43 pm

Here's the spare in my '74. I always thought it was original, and I hope I never have a flat that I have to use it for. It looks like it's never been used. I'd love to have a set of 4. I never heard of Euzkadi before this post.

Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:31 am

Here is a photo of the spare that came with my THING, it's old and pretty much worn down to the wear bars.
I somehow remember this being a popular tire back in the 80's, on Vw's.
anyway, anyone ever seen this type before?
Tire sidewall says made in brazil.
They probably were a "stock" aftermarket replacement.

Sun Apr 19, 2009 7:49 am

These photos of old spares remind me of "A Christmas Story," where the kid describes his father's spare tires: "They were round and had once been made of rubber."

Mine's no better -- I have new rims and tires on my car, but a fossilized antique in my trunk, which would probably be dangerous to use if I had a flat. I'll have to take a look and see if it's an interesting specimen...

Fri May 01, 2009 11:54 am

Just thought I would add this about the STA SuperTraxion tires since I have been looking at them again.

Comparing the two on the website the E78X14 is load range D, has deeper tread, is almost an inch wider and over an inch taller so as klokard mentioned do not fit under the hood, and weighs 28 pounds. While the P185/75D14 is load range B, still has the same look but not as deep tread, is narrower and shorter so it will fit where the spare goes and shouldn't have any rubbing issues, and weighs only 18 pounds so the shipping may be cheaper and it will be easier to handle.

Also on a side note, the swing out tire carrier has a reputation for cracking the sheetmetal, perhaps this is because most oversize/replacement tires people are using are way too heavy for what it was engineered for.

Fri May 01, 2009 12:03 pm

thinghunter wrote: Just thought I would add this about the STA SuperTraxion tires since I have been looking at them again. Comparing the two on the website the E78X14 is load range D, has deeper tread, is almost an inch wider and over an inch taller so as klokard mentioned do not fit under the hood.

I have a smaller spare. I don't see it as an issue. I also have one of these, so in most circumstances I won't have to ride on the spare for long:

Safety Seal Puncture Repair Kit

Fri May 01, 2009 12:09 pm

thinghunter wrote: Just thought I would add this about the STA SuperTraxion tires since I have been looking at them again.

Comparing the two on the website the E78X14 is load range D, has deeper tread, is almost an inch wider and over an inch taller so as klokard mentioned do not fit under the hood, and weighs 28 pounds. While the P185/75D14 is load range B, still has the same look but not as deep tread, is narrower and shorter so it will fit where the spare goes and shouldn't have any rubbing issues, and weighs only 18 pounds so the shipping may be cheaper and it will be easier to handle.

Also on a side note, the swing out tire carrier has a reputation for cracking the sheetmetal, perhaps this is because most oversize/replacement tires people are using are way too heavy for what it was engineered for.

I see what your saying about the tires being close to the same, but 10lbs difference in weight is big difference. I would think the smaller tire is not big enough? Any thoughts.

Fri May 01, 2009 1:38 pm

What I was saying is that while close the bigger ones are just that, bigger and therefore there are still problems with using them. As far as the smaller ones being too small, that is pretty much the size they were originally so no they are just right, the other ones are too big. This only applies if you are looking for a stock size tire, if you don't buy these I eventually will and will take pictures of them so everyone can see them on a Thing and see if they like them.

I vote get the smaller ones :D

If you can't tell I've been obsessed with Thing tires for 7 years and these are the most promising ones I have come across.

Fri May 01, 2009 4:15 pm

OK, I think I will order the larger ones for rolling (I like the look), and a postal size for a spare. This way they will all look the same and only be 1inch ride hight difference if I get a flat. I just hope that it will fit under the hood.
I'm going to place my order Monday morning with universal vintage tire

http://www.universaltire.com/cart.php?target=product&product_id=25342&category_id=343

Thu May 07, 2009 2:29 pm

caseydenise sent me a PM letting me know the STA SuperTraxion P185/75D14 has been discontinued :(

Will this ever end :x

I'm going to call around and see if anyone has these in stock as they told me one guy usually keeps some of the tires in stock.

Thu May 07, 2009 3:51 pm

Just got the four tires in the driveway today. Can't wait to get them on my rims. I'll get a shot of the tires. They are sick! :twisted:
If you find any postal size I need one for a spare.

Thu May 07, 2009 11:11 pm

Quote: caseydenise sent me a PM letting me know the STA SuperTraxion P185/75D14 has been discontinued

I'm really bummed now. Back to the search for tires again...

Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:10 am

caseydenise wrote: Just got the four tires in the driveway today. Can't wait to get them on my rims. I'll get a shot of the tires. They are sick! :twisted:
If you find any postal size I need one for a spare.

Caseydenise, have you mounted the tires on the Thing yet? I remember at the Spring fling you were still trying to get the car on the road. Post some pics when you get a chance. I'm interested in getting these tires but in the 15" size. Thanks.

Wed Jul 01, 2009 9:54 am

I did get the tires mounted. I really like these tires. They are big and loud, real aggressive looking. Non-VW people ask me if it's a 4X4. the speedo is 5mph off because of the difference from 185 to 205. No rubbing. I would say they slow the thing down a tad on take off. I love them regardless. I just did a 160 miles round trip with the car and it was fine. I would still like to find old new stock of the postal size for a spare. I got them for just under $500 shipped from PA to NJ.

my rides

Wed Jul 01, 2009 10:14 am

Vredestein still makes a couple of passenger-car 185R14s... nothing sexy or offroad-y, but they're out there. In fact, I have three lightly-used ones that I might get rid of. :wink:

- Scott

Wed Jul 01, 2009 6:11 pm

caseydenise wrote: I did get the tires mounted. I really like these tires. They are big and loud, real aggressive looking. Non-VW people ask me if it's a 4X4. the speedo is 5mph off because of the difference from 185 to 205. No rubbing. I would say they slow the thing down a tad on take off. I love them regardless. I just did a 160 miles round trip with the car and it was fine. I would still like to find old new stock of the postal size for a spare. I got them for just under $500 shipped from PA to NJ.

Damn, those are badass!

Wed Apr 26, 2017 3:42 pm

Hello.

Now I'm finishing the restoration of my 1978 ex-NATO thing, I'm looking for a set of 4 original look tires...

The spare one is a Dunlop 185 SR14... with a NATO reference 2610 - 12 - 155 - 9009. Searching the net and nothing... Any ideas?

Wed Apr 26, 2017 9:10 pm

HUGO bOSS wrote: Hello.

Now I'm finishing the restoration of my 1978 ex-NATO thing, I'm looking for a set of 4 original look tires...

The spare one is a Dunlop 185 SR14... with a NATO reference 2610 - 12 - 155 - 9009. Searching the net and nothing... Any ideas?

If it's the size you are looking for, in addition to searching for 185SR14, you may want to search for 185/80rR4 and 185/82R14.

Maybe look at the Bridgestone Blizzak w800. They are for the north and east European market, but they are the right size and they have the look. You'd have to ship them across the world.