TheSamba.com :: View topic

Wed Mar 09, 2022 10:24 pm

Spitty1974 wrote:

Below are the two tire choices.

https://www.amazon.com/Forceum-Mud-Terrain-Radial-...amp;sr=8-6

https://www.amazon.com/General-Grabber-All-Terrain...amp;sr=8-1

Opinions welcome please.

I'd go with the Grabbers as well. They're a proven tire by many van owners. Not much to choose from in that size range anymore. I ran the BFG in that size until they stopped making them. Then I went up to 15" rims.

Here's one more choice: Kumho Road Venture MT KL71
https://www.amazon.com/27x8-50R14LT-Kumho-Road-Venture-Terrain/dp/B01IVB9W80

Thu Mar 10, 2022 7:18 pm

Thank you for your opinions guys. One probably dumb question, i don’t know jack about tires.

Do these General Grabber A/T’s only come with pinned holes
For studs? If that is the only option, is there any issues with having the holes and never using the studs? This truck will never be in snow unless it begins snowing at sea level elevations. Again, i know nothing about studs because I don’t live in a snow climate, nor have I ever had tires with holes for studs. Thanks for the help.

Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:06 am

danfromsyr wrote: both tires will accomplish your needs and goals. possibly your expectations.

the grabbers have ALOT of use on VW bays & vanagons.
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere. (OEM) 185R14 rolling diameter is 25.7 inches, 27X8.50R14 is 27 inches, 5% larger.

I had heard it really isn't good go go larger on a waterboxer, although OK on a conversion engine that has more torque. In practice has there been an issue with the larger diameter on stock engines?

Fri Mar 11, 2022 10:24 am

tomtom50 wrote: danfromsyr wrote: both tires will accomplish your needs and goals. possibly your expectations.

the grabbers have ALOT of use on VW bays & vanagons.
Sorry if this is covered elsewhere. (OEM) 185R14 rolling diameter is 25.7 inches, 27X8.50R14 is 27 inches, 5% larger.

I had heard it really isn't good go go larger on a waterboxer, although OK on a conversion engine that has more torque. In practice has there been an issue with the larger diameter on stock engines?

I've has 27" tires on my stock 2.1 vanagon for 20 years now. It slows you down 5% but it was something I learned to live with to have the bigger tire look. I haven't experienced any negative affects on my drive train or engine. There's 15 years on my current engine with these tires. Hope that helps.

Fri Mar 11, 2022 11:27 am

It would be great to have that detailed info from the tire sidewall if you get a chance to share it. Actual plies and max pressure.

thanks,
Mark

tomtom50 wrote: crazyvwvanman wrote: If you have the tires at hand, please closely examine the sidewall and look for the tiny print that gives the details of the tire construction.
Numbers and types of plies, max pressure
Thanks, I'll post when I can get to the tires.

Sat Mar 12, 2022 8:51 pm

So, I decided on the General Grabber tires. I had one Kumho mounted on the spare and mounted one of each tire so I could see both on one side of the truck.

Although, I did like the look of the more aggressive Kumho, I decided to heed several folks advice and go with what would I think in the long run will be a better all purpose tire for the street and occasional dirt road.

I made my first run to the landfill and the tires felt great on the dirt at the dump and on the street too. Thanks again for the advice.

Here’s a picture with the new tires and one at the dump. My son was over the moon to go with me in the truck to the landfill. The truck with the fold down gates is awesome. The only thing better would be if it had a tilt dump bed

Sat Jun 04, 2022 9:44 am

Hey all looking to upgrade my tires on my '81 Westy that's got the original engine and rims. What would be the best tire. It's a sort of daily driver (I have a 10 mile commute when I have to go to work) but it's also the campmobile and we do take it off-highway.

Thanks.

Like I LOVE the look of those Grabbers, but is such an aggressive tire going to slow me down even more.

Sat Jun 04, 2022 1:21 pm

^^^ FWIW: The Grabbers won’t slow you down because they’re aggressive,
they’ll slow you down because they’re about 5% larger diameter than stock.

(That being said, I love ‘em with my stock 2.1 WBX…YMMV, literally.) :wink:

I see you also posted in the tire FAQ…have you looked through Kammy’s PDF?
Good stuff there: http://oldbluesblog.com/files/VanagonTireSpecs.pdf

For an AC van I’d be looking for something under 26” diameter, aggressive if
you like but absolutely must be adequately load rated. Homework assigned…

- Dave

Sat Nov 05, 2022 12:34 pm

The below quote was posted March 28 2021.
While the tires performed well I am disappointed in their mileage given.
22,000 miles and they are beyond done!
I ran these at 43 ft 53 rear. Looking at the wear I could probably up the front pressure a few pounds. Maybe drop the reads a tad.

The completely worn tires were off the back. I carry a lot of weight all the time.
I put a new set of the same tire on today because I already had them on hand.
I may shop a bit before goi go with this tire a 3rd time.

Oh well…….

djkeev wrote: Well, yesterday was my maiden voyage.
About 200 miles round trip on Pennsylvania State Highways, mostly two lane roads winding NorthWest through coal country out of Reading up to Bloomsburg.

The ride was secure and vibration free.
The Van handled as a Van does in curves, a bit of body roll but surefooted.

Some of the roads over the various summits did indeed have curves!

I'm running 43psi front and 53 psi rear. It wasn't a soft luxurious ride. I may play with those pressures. Although I'd rather have good wear and stability over luxury car soft mush.

It was Sunny and warm, not a real test of traction.

The only traction test was a bit of muddy pulverized coal at a truck fill depot I saw along the way..... the Yokohamas did great. My shoes however? What a mess after taking the photo!

Took a quick spin in this mornings rain, but the drivers wiper pivot was failing so nothing long.
The little I drove down my steep curvy road, they did well.

Dave

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:21 pm

Clearly, you've been doing "burn outs"...

Anyhoo, since I don't have factory wheels any more, I hafta guess at PSI's, so what I do, is put a coupla strips of painters tape across the treads, then, drive a few revolutions in a straight line,, check the wear on the tape, adjust, repeat straight line revolutions, and on and on until I get a nice even wear across the tapes.

With luck, you can waste a whole afternoon doing this procedure...

Sat Nov 05, 2022 3:50 pm

Thats a clever tip about the tape!

I was running slicks on the rear.
I Made a sharp turn at a Y intersection that was on a steep incline at the same time, with the wet leaves, I was indeed doing "burnouts"!

Dave

Fri Jun 16, 2023 9:43 am

Being a boring person I picked boring tires. Hankook 185R14c (the "c" designates commercial, they're actually load range "D"). These are the designated factory tires. It has the factory steelies. These are imported from Hungary but have US DOT markings. I've put about 500 miles on them already.

Mon dieu, quelle difference.

It had passenger load grade 195/75R14 tires on it before. It was wagging all over the place. In the wind whenever a beetle passed me it would auto steer into the ditch. Quel embarras.

The question is, do skinny tires make me look fat?

Amazon link

Local Mavis shop installed for $26 each (balance, new valve stems) and happily aligned it too.

Now my Vanagon is truly the Porsche of mini-vans.

Fri Jun 16, 2023 10:15 am

steve244 wrote: Being a boring person I picked boring tires. Hankook 185R14c (the "c" designates commercial, they're actually load range "D"). These are the designated factory tires. It has the factory steelies. These are imported from Hungary but have US DOT markings. I've put about 500 miles on them already.

Mon dieu, quelle difference.

It had passenger load grade 195/75R14 tires on it before. It was wagging all over the place. In the wind whenever a beetle passed me it would auto steer into the ditch. Quel embarras.

The question is, do skinny tires make me look fat?

Amazon link

Local Mavis shop installed for $26 each (balance, new valve stems) and happily aligned it too.

Now my Vanagon is truly the Porsche of mini-vans.

Thanks for the Amazon link. I’m considering dumping my 16 GW alloys and going back to steel 14s. Good tire for a good price. Thanks again.

P.S. Van doesn’t look fat at all.

Sun Jun 18, 2023 8:12 pm

Nice sturdy tires, but I’ve spent quality time with Hankooks spinning out
just on wet grass while trying to leave a campsite… :roll: :evil:

- Dave

Mon Jun 19, 2023 6:40 am

my four-wheeling days in a 2WD are over. I'm more concerned about how it handles on the highway.

For those occasions where it's worth the risk I have my come-along, a shovel, and a sacrificial sleeping bag.

Tue Jul 11, 2023 11:11 am

Chompy, VWeGoBeachNow, (other users?)

Any long term use reports on your Ranger 101 tires?

Thanks,

Neil.

chompy wrote: VWeGoBeachNow wrote: Hey everyone. I'm looking at these tires but there's not many reviews. They are the 195r14 Thunderer Ranger R101.....

I just put a set of these on the van today and they seem to be riding really nice. No swaying in turns, or wind so far. .....

VWeGoBeachNow wrote:
Just got all 4 Thunderer Ranger r101 installed. 340 installed. So far i'm happy with them. Smooth ride and my steering is not all over the road compared to my General Altimax.

Tue Jul 11, 2023 12:15 pm

Hi.

How are (did) those tires work out? Did they wear ok?

Thanks,

Neil.

mattlamb wrote: Just installed 4 Farroad D rate tires - 185R14C on a 1982 diesel vanagon.

Westcoast tires on vancouver island $496 all in.

Great price, they have been selling for a few years for vanagons and no complaints from anyone, lots of logging roads up here and they seem to work good.

I will report back on rain, s ow etc later ....

Matt

Tue Jul 11, 2023 7:49 pm

Also being boring, I have the Hankook Vantra 195R14, and they seem to work great.

Sat Jul 15, 2023 3:52 pm

I mounted Hankook 195R14 Vantras 2 weeks ago and very happy so far. Not cheap but I like the larger size and stiff sidewall.

Sat Jul 15, 2023 4:21 pm

Have 5 Hankook Vantra 195R14s on the way. Revolutions per mile match my speedo exactly. Steel rims are back from powder coat. Looking forward to having a matching spare that fits the clamshell and can be rotated in. The GW 16s served us well. They’ll end up in the classifieds. I’ll report my impressions.