14" Tire Options

[IdahoDoug]

Dan,

Agree these seem nothing special, though they're certainly better than anything available 42 years ago when this rig was built! My plan is to see if we like this vehicle when I get it restored (leather dinette, heated mirror in the bathroom, etc). If yes, I'm going to spend more lifting it and putting Toyota 4WD components under it. Which will in turn drive an offroad capable tire. So 7 tires for $500 that are properly load rated fit the bill as I may only but a few thousand miles on them before the further revamp. Heck, maybe they'll appear here on Samba for $200!! Heh.
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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

[oasis]

205/70R14 97R
Load Index: 97
Load Range: XL/RF
Max Load: 1580 lbs.
Max Inflation: 40 psi
VW-recommended inflation: 30 (front); 40 (rear)
Revs/mile: 798
Tire: Michelin MXL
Notes: Reinforced passenger car tire

I bought some Carat wheels for Sinka while she was getting restored. I also got the associated nuts and bolts for the 2WD application.

The wheels came with tires. The tread looks nice, but I am spooked about their age. (I read the thread on finding a tire's date. I will do that tomorrow after I see if they will hold air.)

So far, this is what I found:

1) GENERAL ALTIMAX RT45 Grand Touring All-Season at Tire Rack. They offered five other choices, but none were the correct specs listed above.

2) GT Radial Touring VP Plus at Discount Tire. They also offer the Altimax, but this tire is $53 less per tire ... and on backorder. They are the right specs, though.

3) Forceum Ecosa 205/70R14 97H BSW on eBay. I felt okay with the "97" rating, but I'm far less confident not seeing XL or RF.

4) Summit Ultramax A/S All Season 205/70R14 98T XL Passenger Tire at Walmart. It has over a 1,000 reviews averaging 4.5 out of 5.

5) Lionhart LH-501 205/70R14 98H XL All Season Traction Performance Tires also at Walmart. (One review.)

6) Lexani LXTR-203 All Season 205/70R14 98H XL Passenger Tire also at Walmart. Its rating is 4.5 like the Summit, but only 15 reviewers.

7) Arroyo Eco Pro A/S 205/70R14 98H All Season Touring Tires again at Walmart. Similar to the Forceum above, "98" but no XL or RF. However, Walmart also had Arroyo Eco Pro A/S All Season 205/70R14 98H XL Passenger Tire with a 4.8 customer rating.

8] American Roadstar Pro A/S 205/70R14 98H XL AS Performance again at Walmart. (I will include no more tires unless they are at least "97" and are XL.)

9) BlackHawk Street-H HH01 205/70R14 98T XL Tires via Walmart, actually sold by Simple Tire.

10) Landsail LS388 205/70-14 98 H Tire again at Walmart.

These are not my Top Ten. Walmart has more (I think), but I'm burned out with all of this searching. After not finding anything local to me (Hillen, Mavis (NTB), Pep Boys, Goodyear, Firestone, etc.), Walmart does seem to have a lot. I have to say the only tire company in the list above I recognize is General.

Should I consider anything other than General? Ha, should I consider General? I never had a General tire before as far as I can remember. Should I feel okay about Walmart beyond just the actual purchase? I thought this stock tire size would be easier than what's on the steelies.
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[dhaavers]

^^^ About half of your list is no good. Pretty much you gotta have LT (Light Truck)
rated <or> XL rated passenger car tires and in the ballpark of 98 load rating.

Your #1, 2, 3, 7 & 10 would be a no-go for me. Checked the tire sticky lately?

Granted, I’m in a tiny town with nothing to choose from, but online tire shops have
been the way for me to get what I need for the van.

Don’t feel limited to what you can find locally, there are better options out there!

- Dave

PS…Direct link to Kammy’s tire write up: https://oldbluesblog.com/files/VanagonTireSpecs.pdf
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[oasis]

Thanks, Dave!

I tend to read the first 3-5 pages of a long thread (stickies, too) and the last 3-5 pages. Not counting how long it took to type my post, I spent an easy 90 minutes reading and searching.

The link covers a lot that I already knew from when I owned my '85, or discovered in yesterday's search. I made note of the site since it is nice, neat, and concise. (My '85 had Continental until its last set of new tires; that was my first introduction to Michelin. I would go for the Michelin tires in 205/70r14 if they were still made.)

I'm a little surprised by you saying #1 is a no go. It is by far the priciest choice, but more importantly, it is listed in the link you supplied. They're 97s as were the original stock Michelins. The big thing your link showed was that these Generals are (were?) prone to sidewall blowouts. Is this dated info?

I know others might go with an oversized tire, or all-terrain tire, or something else. I am trying to keep things somewhat stock, and I am not enthralled with the Nexen tires I have on my current steelies.

By the way, the current tires that are mounted are Cooper tires. They are not only listed as discontinued at the link, they're over eight years old. Tread or no tread, they are not an option.
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[Wildthings]

I have run P215/70r14's for at least half of the mileage I have put on my various buses and Vanagons over the last 35 years, they have a #96 load rating and after derating come within 14 pound of the 1433 rear axle rating, so if you aren't running maximum load most all the time they are fine. They also come in a variety of tread patterns.

[dhaavers]

Oasis, If the General Altimax RT45 are LT rated, they’re ok. Missed that in your first post.

No harm, no foul…

- Dave
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86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>

[oasis]

Thanks for the responses.

I'll check other sizes like the 215s if I'm not satisfied with stock sizes. I doubt I will be carrying loads all that often anymore.

The General Altimax RT45 seems to have mixed reviews at different sites. I am getting a quote on a set of four Uniroyal Tiger Paw Touring tires. They have the same rating as the Altimax, a higher treadwear (660 versus 600), but a lower temperature resistance (B versus A). The last part doesn't worry me too much since the only way Sinka will be exceeding 115 MPH will be if it is free falling off of a cliff. The Uniroyals have a better customer rating, so I'm likely to got hat route unless they are uber expensive.

The eight-year old Coopers are holding air. I can't get past their age, though.
_________________
Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI

[oasis]