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Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:10 pm

I see a lot about 15" and 16" wheels and tires on here, but nothing much about 14" tires -- even after a search...

Tue Feb 14, 2012 2:51 pm

winter / all-weather or a 'fair / wet' (no snow, ice or off road) weather set?

Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:35 pm

I'm personally interested in summer tires, not much wet pavement use even.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 3:54 pm

We had a threads about this topic, 14" tires, a month ago.

My own conclusion : if i was living in the USA, my choice would be the Hankook 195 70 R 14, available at BusDepot and others places.

But i'm living in Québec and the shipping cost are very high and this Hankook model is not available here. Then, i bought my second choice : Continental Vanco2 185 70 R14. This model may have another name in USA, i'm not sure.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:11 pm

This summer I'm going for the 225/70/14 either Firestone Destination A/T or the Cooper Discover M+S. Probably the Coopers.

Currently I have the RA08s 195R14(195/82/14) which have been great so far.
Long, even wearing tread, decent in wet, piss poor on muddy roads but manageable, pretty worthless in the snow.

I just need something that can handle varied terrain better, otherwise, the RA08 is a great tire.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:14 pm

randywebb wrote: I'm personally interested in summer tires, not much wet pavement use even.
Think Hankook RA08.

185/R14 or 195/R14.

I have 195/R14 on my 1990 Multivan with a Subaru engine and they work fine in sunny San Diego.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:34 pm

randywebb wrote: I see a lot about 15" and 16" wheels and tires on here, but nothing much about 14" tires -- even after a search...

Try this link:

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481798&highlight=stock+tires+choices

Hankook RA08's in either 185 or 195R14 size - available from multiple vendors, including Van Cafe, Discount/America's Tire, Tire Rack, Tires-Easy, 1010, etc.

Load rating is 102 for 185R14C, 106 for 195R14C.

Personally - I wouldn't put any P (Passenger) tire on a Vanagon (PO's have BTDT)...and certainly not on a Westy...let alone a Syncro Westy. Load Rating 98 or higher.

Hankook RA08 is somewhat of a hybrid between a Summer tire and All Season. IMHO - perfect for the great PNW. Good, quiet road tire - fine in dry and wet conditions...OK in the snow (I have a Syncro Westy and carry cable chains)

For knarlier tires (mud and off road and some snow) - BFG All Terrain T/A KO's come in 195 75 14D size...but you gotta ask for 'em.

Some have recommended General Grabber AT2's - but load rating too low for my Syncro Westy.

Dedicated Winter Tires - Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS (understand these are NLA in USA), Nokian Hakka C or WR C. CS's were the best tire I ever had on my 87 Syncro Westy.

Vredestein Comtracs?
Yokohama Y356 (Summer)
Kumho 857 (Summer)
Nexen SV820 (Summer)
Continental Vanco 2 (Summer)

Tue Feb 14, 2012 4:57 pm

Bus Depot, Tire Easy.com, even Sears have the Hankook RA08 ... van Cafe does not sell them

Van-Cafe has the (only my opinion as I have had both) superior riding / handling Nokian HakkaC .... http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1086_1404/nokian_tire_185r14c_hakka_c.html

Either will be vastly superior to any under rated LT or P tire.

Happy Hunting

John

1982 1.9TD Westy
1987 Westy Syncro

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:04 pm

I've used these for a few years, first on my '82 westy, then on my '86 syncro as a summer tire. Good stiff tire, good on dry roads and in the rain. Poor on mud and snow.

alistair

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:04 pm

I just installed this Hankook, I like them so far, and is hard to beat the price.
They are taller and wider than the stock, which helps when you are running a EJ 2.5
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresBySize...amp;cs=225

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:12 pm

How about a photo just to the right a little, showing the full PLIES data?

thanks,
Mark

Racerrojo wrote: I just installed this Hankook, I like them so far, and is hard to beat the price....................................

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:22 pm

ragnarhairybreeks wrote: I've used these for a few years, first on my '82 westy, then on my '86 syncro as a summer tire. Good stiff tire, good on dry roads and in the rain. Poor on mud and snow.

alistair

Alas Alistair - Michelin Agilis' have been discontinued for some time. I have a set of on 14" steelies 'for emergencies only' - waiting for $$$ and Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS's to come back....

Tue Feb 14, 2012 5:48 pm

Racerrojo wrote: I just installed this Hankook, I like them so far, and is hard to beat the price.
They are taller and wider than the stock, which helps when you are running a EJ 2.5
http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/searchTiresBySize...amp;cs=225

98 Load Rating...so meets Roadhaus "minimum". All Season tread - and price looks good. 80K mileage?! A Traction, B Temp.

Not sure if a 225/70/14 will fit an OEM 14" Alloy (it should if it fits an OEM Steel wheel?) - inside clearance/rubbing problems?

Extra 30mm width (vs my Hankook RA08 195) might 'float' on the snow and hydroplane in the rain more than I'd like....and wider/taller/heavier will likely put a strain and speedo error on a 2.1 WBX.

That said - may not have to air down much in the sand...

Racerrojo - keep us posted on your experience(s) with this tire. Probably not 'beefy' enough for my fully loaded Syncro Westy - but should be good for a tin top, Carat, Weekender or Wolfsburg, especially with your EJ 2.5.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:22 pm

tomkat73 wrote: ragnarhairybreeks wrote: I've used these for a few years, first on my '82 westy, then on my '86 syncro as a summer tire. Good stiff tire, good on dry roads and in the rain. Poor on mud and snow.

alistair

Alas Alistair - Michelin Agilis' have been discontinued for some time. I have a set of on 14" steelies 'for emergencies only' - waiting for $$$ and Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS's to come back....

ah, ok. I really like the construction of the 81s, very strong tire. If only Bib had made the tread better for mud and snow then it would have been a strong competitor to the old hakkas.

alistair

Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:22 pm

Anyone running the BFG AT in the 195/75/14??

Tue Feb 14, 2012 6:43 pm

tomkat73 wrote: 98 Load Rating...so meets Roadhaus "minimum".
Keep in mind, that those appear to be a standard sidewall passenger tire, if that matters to you.

tomkat73 wrote:
Not sure if a 225/70/14 will fit an OEM 14" Alloy
Yes, it fits. I am running this size on stock alloys.

Tue Feb 14, 2012 7:38 pm

I'm running BFG's 195/75/14. I have no complaints, no problems in the snow, mud and rain. Some have commented about the noise but I haven't really noticed it.

Matt

Wed Feb 15, 2012 6:04 am

msewalson wrote: I'm running BFG's 195/75/14. I have no complaints, no problems in the snow, mud and rain. Some have commented about the noise but I haven't really noticed it.

Matt

cool thanks matt

Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:10 pm

Changing the tires is a good thing for safety right? I am trying to justify my purchases ... :)

And i'm thrifty, but dont want to be too cheap when it comes to important stuff.
With that said, i live in Long Beach, CA.. . typical beach weather, obviously never any snow, dont really plan on driving anywhere in the snow, no mud, might come across some in the future, some rain, probably rain on the road later on when i can venture out more (when Vanny is more ready..).
SO. I have these tires and i want to get new ones. I dont want to have to change anything else BECAUSE of a tire change. So that means I should be getting 14", correct?

I HAVE been reading, and doing a little bit of research, but i just really want a straightforward answer with what is best. And also, what is the price range i would expect for a full set? I cant go with THE BEST right now...

And on another note, what would be the typical price range i could expect to pay if i had someone else change all my fuel lines in the engine section, opposed to doing it myself? Anyone had any quotes on that? I just got quoted $285 at one place.

Thank you thank you thank you

dawna
82 westy

Thu Apr 05, 2012 3:30 pm

I have the Coopers. got them at Les Schwab here in Oregon.