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Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:07 am

Sorry I can't figure out the search function, as I'm sure this has been discussed before, But looking or some pointers.

I have '74 hi-roof that may serve as a coffee vendor at some point about to go to Ct and get the Subaru treatment. It has some "ok" van tires on the original 14" wheels but my understanding is those tires are hard to come by so a 15 or 16" rim upgrade a good idea.

Steelies would be fine with me but open to suggestion for wheel and tire size as well as vendors.

Thanks.

Dave

Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:37 am

The stock size of 185R14c or a little larger size 195R14c tires are not to come by. The Hankook Vantra are readily available in those sizes either on the internet or at your LTS. If you’d like to go bigger you can also go with the 27x8.5 size, also readily available.

There’s a thread called “the fire sticky.” Use the search function to find it as this thread is gonna get locked as soon as the peeps in the left coast wake up.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:49 am

what do folks think of these?
https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/3...ers-?v=Bus

Mon Mar 29, 2021 4:37 am

Powder coat your stock wheels and then get these.

Hankook Vantra LT (RA18) Light Truck Radial Tire-185/R14 102R 8-ply https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C3R5TV8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_03DSEQ4C4NHQW2MNYX1M

Or these

195R14 HANKOOK VANTRA RA18 106/104R https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0851L997Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WNAYY0W1Y2ZZW7KNV7RX

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:13 am

richparker wrote: The stock size of 185R14c or a little larger size 195R14c tires are not to come by. The Hankook Vantra are readily available in those sizes either on the internet or at your LTS. If you’d like to go bigger you can also go with the 27x8.5 size, also readily available.

There’s a thread called “the fire sticky.” Use the search function to find it as this thread is gonna get locked as soon as the peeps in the left coast wake up.

the fire sticky is a different thread than the tire sticky. very good info in both

Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:39 am

If you are going to do a Subaru conversion in CT. I’d reach out to Skills for his opinion. If you stay 14” check out this thread. Page 24 and 24, I have pictures of me driving the Vanagon off road for anything I plan on driving in. I’m using the Hankooks. Dave has a report on the Yokohama’s he just installed. If I had a more powerful engine, I would have gone with a bigger wheel combo.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1256adb283

Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:42 am

Xevin wrote: If you are going to do a Subaru conversion in CT. I’d reach out to Skills for his opinion.

I just assumed he was going to Skills. Where else would you go for a quality Subaru conversion?

Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:47 am

Globespotter wrote: Xevin wrote: If you are going to do a Subaru conversion in CT. I’d reach out to Skills for his opinion.

I just assumed he was going to Skills. Where else would you go for a quality Subaru conversion?

:wink: :lol: Exactly

Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:53 am

When I put my 1973 VW 1600 Type 2 Westfalia Continental motor-caravan back on the road, I shall probably be opting for either 205/65 R16C or 215/65 R16C commercial-van tyres on 7 x 16 inch Mercedes C-Class alloy wheels. These two tyre sizes have been the almost the de facto standard for modern medium-sized commercial vans for about the past ten years in Great Britain.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:15 pm

Shinnlinger wrote: It has some "ok" van tires on the original 14" wheels but my understanding is those tires are hard to come by so a 15 or 16" rim upgrade a good idea.

For most, larger diameter wheels are not called for unless you are getting larger diameter rotors for the front and need the extra clearance.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:38 pm

The Vantras are fantastic tires. Highly recommended. They will make your Bus ride and handle like a car 20 years younger.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:13 pm

there are plenty of 185r14 and 195r14s.
just make sure you have all 5.
you can order them shipped to your door or your tire shop or walmart.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:51 pm

I 2nd Aeromech, I did exactly that:

I powder coated locally and ordered the Hankook Vantra LT (RA18) Light Truck Radial Tire-185/R14 102R 8-ply from Amazon. They were here in no time.

These are meant for vans/commerical vehicles. Certainly feel safer wit the 8-Ply.

Don't make the mistake of riding on tires made for automobiles.

BTW, I even bought an extra full size spare and put it on a 5th powder coated rim.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 9:13 pm

Shinnlinger wrote: what do folks think of these?
https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/3...ers-?v=Bus
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire.

Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:20 pm

Stock wheels and Vantras can’t be beat for looks, ride, simplicity. Simplicity is wonderful! 8)

Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:23 pm

nemobuscaptain wrote: Shinnlinger wrote: what do folks think of these?
https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/3...ers-?v=Bus
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire.

You can get an extra load tire in a 215/65R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well.

Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:59 am

Wildthings wrote: nemobuscaptain wrote: Shinnlinger wrote: what do folks think of these?
https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/3...ers-?v=Bus
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire.

You can get an extra load tire in a 215/16R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well.

I don't think there is a 215/16 R16 tyre, except possibly for a Formula 1 racing car! :roll:

The 215/65 R16C commercial van tyres that I have seen, have a load index of about 108/110. Similar 60-Series commercial-van tyres are also available, but they're not nearly as common or keenly priced as the 65-Series commercial-van tyres.

Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:05 am

Wildthings wrote: nemobuscaptain wrote: Shinnlinger wrote: what do folks think of these?
https://www.gowesty.com/product/bundles-and-kits/3...ers-?v=Bus
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire.

You can get an extra load tire in a 215/16R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well.
There a couple.of.good options, yes.

Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:07 am

plywoodkid wrote: I 2nd Aeromech, I did exactly that:

I powder coated locally and ordered the Hankook Vantra LT (RA18) Light Truck Radial Tire-185/R14 102R 8-ply from Amazon. They were here in no time..

it's the right move. especially if you have passenger tires on it now you're really going to see a difference in the handling.

Tue Mar 30, 2021 11:11 am

NASkeet wrote: Quote:
You can get an extra load tire in a 215/16R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well.

I don't think there is a 215/16 R16 tyre, except possibly for a Formula 1 racing car! :roll:

Sorry, that was a typo. Meant to say 215/65R16, The Tire Rack lists dozens of them and with a 98 load rating they exceed the 97 load rating of the stock 205/70R14 reinforced tires.

I would still be wanting to avoid the short sidewalls of a 65 profile tire if driving off road though. I would think that an ideal tire for these old rigs would be a 225/70R14 or 27/8.5R14 mounted on a 6.5" wide rim with the correct offset. I suspect with the wider rims they would be very stable in the wind without the rim being so wide as to make the bead overly vulnerable to damage for rocks and curbs.

FWIW I was with a friend a couple of weeks ago and he had a 1/4" diameter stick puncture the sidewall on an 8 ply truck tires, so higher ply ratings don't translate into super dependability as is often claimed here. One of the reasons I like the 27/8.5R14 is its 4 ply sidewalls are more heavily built than a typical 8 ply, which is part of the reason why they outweigh a 195r14 by 5 pounds or so.