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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8469
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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 Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2024 8:48 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| brickster wrote: |
| brickster wrote: |
| Is anyone running the AltiMAX RT45 205/70R14 in Load Index 98? |
I am tempted to try these simply because my Vantras are not useful for loose surfaces (snow, dirt, sand and mud) |
The Altima is an all-season tire. I’d expect them to be <marginally> better than the Vantras, but maybe not.
FWIW: For 14” rims, I’m a big fan of the General Grabbers…snow, loose dirt, sand, mud, rocks…
They just work! 
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52563
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 12:05 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| brickster wrote: |
| Are you saying there's a difference in offset between stock steels and aluminums? |
The alloys are wider by 1/2" and I think there is a slight difference in the offset, IIRC. What works on one may well work fine on the other, but then again, maybe not.
27x8.5R14 work fine on my '83 1/2 Vanagon which rides high and has steel rims, but rubbed on my '91 which rides lower and has factory alloy rims. How much is ride height and how much it the wheels?
Also the 215/75r14's I have on my '91 today don't rub while the 27x8.5R14 which are nearly the same height and overall width did, I suspect the answer here is the tread width and the curvature of the outer edge of the tread, with the 27x8.5R14s having a slightly wider tread with a sharper edge. |
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borninabus 
Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4760
Location: Arizona Highways
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:31 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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i run the altimax on my TDI wagon and they are so good, i bought some for the wife's car. had no idea they were available in 14".
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 93 Multivan 5cyl 5M/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8469
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:55 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| borninabus wrote: |
| i run the altimax on my TDI wagon and they are so good, i bought some for the wife's car... |
Question is: How are they in snow, dirt, sand & mud?
i.e…
| brickster wrote: |
| brickster wrote: |
| Is anyone running the AltiMAX RT45 205/70R14 in Load Index 98? |
I am tempted to try these simply because my Vantras are not useful for loose surfaces (snow, dirt, sand and mud) |
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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wbailey2112
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 557
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:42 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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I have the General Alitmax RT43 installed on my '74 Thing and on my Honda Element. I have a set of the RT45 on our CR-V. They are great tires however I do not believe that the load rating and the sidewall construction would be suitable for installation on my top heavy Westy.
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'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia
Last edited by wbailey2112 on Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:55 am; edited 1 time in total |
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brickster
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004
Posts: 601
Location: CO, USA
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| wbailey2112 wrote: |
| They are great tires however I do believe that the load rating and the sidewall construction would be suitable for installation on my top heavy Westy. |
They are actually well up to the task with a max load rating of 1653lbs.
Thanks all for your input on this tire. I am staying away from the Grabbers because I have a stock 1.9 and live at high altitude. I need as much gearing advantage as I can get, and these are identical diameter to stock.
Back when I was looking, I don't remember seeing this one. If someone picks them up for a Vanagon, please report back.
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wbailey2112
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 557
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 3:25 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| brickster wrote: |
| They are actually well up to the task with a max load rating of 1653lbs. |
Check out this informative article on the Bus Depot website that includes photos of a General Altimax with sidewall failure.
https://www.busdepot.com/details/tires/
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'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52563
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 4:01 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| wbailey2112 wrote: |
| brickster wrote: |
| They are actually well up to the task with a max load rating of 1653lbs. |
Check out this informative article on the Bus Depot website that includes photos of a General Altimax with sidewall failure.
https://www.busdepot.com/details/tires/ |
Yep the failure looks just like what has happened to some of the 185r14C Hankook RA08s that were being pushed so strongly a few years back.
FWIW, I remember the Altimax 205/70R14XL tire did have some problems when it first came out, but I haven't heard of problems in quite a while now so I assume they have been taken care of. |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5849
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 4:44 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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i ran a bunch of General Altimax Arctic snow tires, at least 12 mebbe more, on various vehicles and experienced 2 sidewall blowouts like that photo. it was a totally different tire but had the same explosive blowout and put me off of those tires for the current term. they went out with a shotgun-like report. something ain't right at General in the Altimax line.
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 4760
Location: Arizona Highways
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:32 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| dhaavers wrote: |
| borninabus wrote: |
| i run the altimax on my TDI wagon and they are so good, i bought some for the wife's car... |
Question is: How are they in snow, dirt, sand & mud? |
i've had them up to about 65mph on this road. that's my dust cloud in the background. beyond that, they started feeling a little sketchy. so in direct answer: on my wagon, in the loose dirt, pretty good. they feel as good in the wet as higher tier tires i've had. sand: i stay out. snow? i live in phoenix. what's that?
i can also say from first hand experience that P rated tires wear out pretty quick when used on a van.
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88 Van WBX, A/T - 93 Multivan 5cyl 5M/T - 13 JSW TDI 6M/T - 2012 Touareg TDI Sport |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52563
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 5:50 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| DanHoug wrote: |
i ran a bunch of General Altimax Arctic snow tires, at least 12 mebbe more, on various vehicles and experienced 2 sidewall blowouts like that photo. it was a totally different tire but had the same explosive blowout and put me off of those tires for the current term. they went out with a shotgun-like report. something ain't right at General in the Altimax line. |
How long ago did these failures happen? Where the tires "standard load" or "extra load (XL)" |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5849
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| Wildthings wrote: |
| How long ago did these failures happen? Where the tires "standard load" or "extra load (XL)" |
hmmmm maybe 3 years ago at most. standard load as these were on a Honda Civic, Ford Focus, and Buick Century.
currently bought the Michelin X-Ice Snow for my wife's Prius and Blizzak WS90 for daughter's Subaru. before that was running Cooper Evolution Winter on a variety of cars but doesn't pertain to Vanagons due to load rating. Done with the General Altimax Arctics due to sidewall blow outs. again, not Vanagon load rated but mebbe indicative. dunno. fool me once....
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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Xevin
Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014
Posts: 8829
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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My buddy is running these on his 76 Westfalia. He likes getting muddy and long walks on the beach  He has a couple buses and probably only puts 5000 miles on each bus. These are only 6 months old so time will tell. They are winter tires so not going to last long but he loves them so far. Very quiet and comfortable. Oregon rain and beach sand has not been a problem. He’s had all the usual 14” tires. Just something to look into. They cost him less than the Vantras. Cost wasn’t the reason he bought them. He manages a fleet of trucks similar to UPS trucks. The guy they use for tire replacements recommended them. Again just something to look into, I’ll update in the future. YMMV.
Petlas full grip pt935 185r14c
https://www.petlas.com/pcr-detail/full-grip-pt935
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Keep on Busin'
| 67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo!  |
| Clatter wrote: |
| Damn that Xevin... |
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I respect Xevin and he's a turd  |
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My God! Xevin and I 100% agree  |
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dhaavers
Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 8469
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Thu Jan 11, 2024 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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Damn…that ^^^ looks pretty decent for snow! I’d spring for them if I had the van out in the winter at all.
| brickster wrote: |
| [Altimax] are actually well up to the task with a max load rating of 1653lbs. |
…although, not being XL or LT rated, subject to 9% derating (like any passenger tire used on a 5000# van).
9% is a significant loss of safety margin, although still gets you about 1500# per tire…just sayin.
- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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brickster
Samba Member
Joined: January 05, 2004
Posts: 601
Location: CO, USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 12, 2024 1:55 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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Good point on the derating of the Altimax. Between that and the quality reports, perhaps best to stay away.
The Petlas look exactly like what I was looking for. A quick search didn't show them as being available locally, so perhaps they would be a ship to installer choice? It would be great to have another stock diameter & load range option different from the summer/highway/commercial tires (Vantra & Thunderer).
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1988M5
Samba Member
Joined: January 23, 2016
Posts: 846
Location: Tucson, AZ
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 11:19 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| jimf909 wrote: |
| 1988M5 wrote: |
| crazyvwvanman wrote: |
That 205R14 tire size is listed on the driver door sticker showing the recommended inflation pressures.
Vanagon Syncros 86-91
205R14C
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I wonder if they recommend lower pressure to keep the same gear ratios/ speed? |
A tire has the same circumference and travel per revolution at 10 psi or 40 psi. While the tire diameter appears smaller that doesn't shrink the length of the tread.
Link
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I was struggling with this a bit in an old conversation about airing down a wrong sized tire ( if your clam shell couldn’t fit the same size spare) so not to burden the differential with different spin rates. I retired from the discussion after getting beat up that it doesn’t work like that. But I’m reinspired that is does by remembering that many cars use the wheel speed sensor to detect a low pressured tire. If the pressure didn’t affect the final drive ratio, how could the tpms system detect an issue without the use of an actual pressure sensor inside the wheel?
Ok I’m ready to be beat up again.
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2002 Winnebago Vista. VW VR6 24V Eurovan front clip powered class C 21' RV.
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 52563
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| 1988M5 wrote: |
I was struggling with this a bit in an old conversation about airing down a wrong sized tire ( if your clam shell couldn’t fit the same size spare) so not to burden the differential with different spin rates. I retired from the discussion after getting beat up that it doesn’t work like that. But I’m reinspired that is does by remembering that many cars use the wheel speed sensor to detect a low pressured tire. If the pressure didn’t affect the final drive ratio, how could the tpms system detect an issue without the use of an actual pressure sensor inside the wheel?
Ok I’m ready to be beat up again. |
The diameter of a tire changes very little with tire pressure, but the amount of squirm-slippage against the road changes more markedly. |
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jocoman
Samba Member
Joined: August 11, 2016
Posts: 498
Location: Ottawa, Canada
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2024 9:07 am Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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I just put on Continental vancofourseason in the stock size.
I really like them. I was previously running the gowesty 16" michelin defender combo.
I woulkd not go back. These roll very easily and they come up to speed very nicely. The engine doesn't need to turn those big heavy 16's.
To me, better ride quality. Feels like a great fit for the stock suspension.
Only draw back is that they don't track as nice to the 16's, but that is only a concern on strongwindy days. Anyways, my 2 cents
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'97 Volvo 850 AWD Turbo
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IdahoDoug
Samba Member
Joined: June 12, 2010
Posts: 10357
Location: N. Idaho
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| Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2024 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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Recently bought Thunderer Ranger tires in 185/14C for a remarkable $75 per tire for my Toyota Sunrader project. Like the Vanagon, this is the stock tire size and they are underpowered and do not do well when you increase the diameter (loss of effective torque/power). My Sunrader's rear axle weight on a scale was 3120 completely empty tanks, cabinets, etc.
These are 8 ply rated Light Truck designation and have a load rating of 1870 lbs or so. They are highly regarded on the Sunrader forum but I stayed away as I thought they were made in China. I researched and realized they are from Thailand which has a lot of advanced manufacturing, and a lot of 14" tires on commercial vehicles.
I got them from Priority Tire on a special but I just checked and the everyday price is $85. No review yet as the project is stalled for me to build a deck on the back of the house. Just finished, so will be back at it at month end.
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1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1993 Toyota LandCruiser, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader |
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DanHoug
Samba Member
Joined: December 05, 2016
Posts: 5849
Location: Bemidji, MN
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| Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2024 1:03 pm Post subject: Re: 14" Tire Options |
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| IdahoDoug wrote: |
| Recently bought Thunderer Ranger tires in 185/14C for a remarkable $75 per tire for my Toyota Sunrader project. |
i got excited because there is a Ranger mud/snow tread but the only tire in 185/14 was the Ranger All Season R101. looks very slippery, about like the Hankook. good to have some options tho.
https://www.prioritytire.com/by-brand/thunderer-tires/ranger-r101?var-thunderer=6211
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-dan
60% of what you find on the internet is wrong, including this post.
'87 Westy & '89 Westy both 2.1 4spd
Past projects can be found at--
www.thefixitworkshop.com |
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