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Stock Steve
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Joined: April 10, 2005
Posts: 1964
Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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Wheeljack
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2020
Posts: 99
Location: Utica, Nebraska
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 Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| dustymojave wrote: |
I'm not going to tell you an "ABSOLUTE".
The widest I go for on the front of a VW-based buggy or Baja is 7.00-15 on a 4" wide rim. And I prefer stock 3-3/4" back space for that 4" wide rim. Like a Centerline "bubble" rim.
In more common sizes in places like Nebraska, try a 215-75 x 15 tire. All-Terrain ("A/T") is good. Local Walmart had a good looking Douglas in that size a while back at a good price. So is a 6.70-15 5-rib DOT Implement tire. (Load Range B or C. NOT Load Range D or E.)
It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
Thanks man! I'll check those out. |
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law.jrthompson
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Joined: May 04, 2021
Posts: 1
Location: Santa Maria, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| Hoping to revive this board for a little help. Building a bug and currently torn on tire size and rim width. Tire height will either be 31" or 33". It will be powered by a Honda motor and supported by a built up bus transaxle, so should be able to push either size. I want to run same size tire and rim all around for ease of a carrying a spare. Looking at either a 5" or 6" wheel and was hoping to get some opinions and or pictures of similar wheels. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5820
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Are you going to beef up your suspension to match? Have you read all the material above before you ask this question? Pretty much answered above. I just stated above an answer to your question.
| Quote: |
dustymojave wrote:
I'm not going to tell you an "ABSOLUTE".
The widest I go for on the front of a VW-based buggy or Baja is 7.00-15 on a 4" wide rim. And I prefer stock 3-3/4" back space for that 4" wide rim. Like a Centerline "bubble" rim.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
In more common sizes in places like Nebraska, try a 215-75 x 15 tire. All-Terrain ("A/T") is good. Local Walmart had a good looking Douglas in that size a while back at a good price. So is a 6.70-15 5-rib DOT Implement tire. (Load Range B or C. NOT Load Range D or E.)
It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
My preference for narrower tires on the front of a Baja is not about looks. It's about experience. There is more weight on the back of a Bug. Wider tires on the back affect the handling in a positive way. They reduce oversteer. Wide tires on the front lead to trouble with scrub radius. Increased steering effort. More damage to front end and steering components. Need for power steering. Need for anti sway bars all around (and nobody makes them for the back of Bugs). Trouble with tires rubbing and fender/body clearance. Vastly increased turning radius. And a number of other issues. I don't recommend it.
My Baja has 7.00-15s on the front and 30x 9.50-15s on the back and the spare is a 7.00-15. It will serve just FINE on the back if needed. Our offroad race team uses 7.00-15 spare tires for the 5/1600 Baja Bugs, 1600 Buggies and Class 9 Buggies. The 30x9.50-15s rub on the inner wheel wells in the back. Bigger tires will limit suspension travel unless you go with bigger trailing arms.
You CAN go with 33s all around. Be prepared to deal with the issues mentioned above.
| Quote: |
| It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Bennym777
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2013
Posts: 223
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| I have 7x15 LT truck tires all round on my buggy. Would I get a smoother ride going with normal off road tires like BF Goodrich all terrain? Just thinking they may be softer rubber and sidewalls? |
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J-Gaz.
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2007
Posts: 743
Location: 253 Then, Now 206.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock.
_________________
1970 Beetle | Basically Stock 1600 SP |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3255
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| J-Gaz. wrote: |
Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely ?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock. |
My take on it is Bias tires are a little more stiff and that’s good on the front to keep you steering more directional. The 7” x 28” that is common on the bajas seemed to be mostly available as a bias ply with like a 6 or 8 ply sides. I have some Yokohama 742 that are similar but are modern radials. I think the radials are better modern choice just make sure they have a stronger side wall . I had some light truck radial tires on he front of mine and they sucked cause the steering was squishy or soft . That said The stiff tall front tires with high air pressure do track and veer making them seem squirrely I run mine as low as 18lbs on the highway |
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J-Gaz.
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2007
Posts: 743
Location: 253 Then, Now 206.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
| J-Gaz. wrote: |
Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely ?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock. |
My take on it is Bias tires are a little more stiff and that’s good on the front to keep you steering more directional. The 7” x 28” that is common on the bajas seemed to be mostly available as a bias ply with like a 6 or 8 ply sides. I have some Yokohama 742 that are similar but are modern radials. I think the radials are better modern choice just make sure they have a stronger side wall . I had some light truck radial tires on he front of mine and they sucked cause the steering was squishy or soft . That said The stiff tall front tires with high air pressure do track and veer making them seem squirrely I run mine as low as 18lbs on the highway |
wow - 18lbs is pretty lean.
Okay, good to know. I'll be mostly highway with some forest service roads here and there.
I always thought Bias plies were softer in general and easier to get sideways - but maybe that's a tall tale.
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1970 Beetle | Basically Stock 1600 SP |
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VTbaja
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2023
Posts: 10
Location: Vermont
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| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| Does anyone have any experience with how loud the Yokohama 720's are on the street? Thanks! |
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PhillipM
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2010
Posts: 633
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| J-Gaz. wrote: |
wow - 18lbs is pretty lean. |
Not that lean, I run 18 rear, 12 front for race use on the rail, and mine is heavier than most.
Sidewalls on most off road tyres are far too hard for lightweight baja's and buggies. |
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riva
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2012
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Speaking of pounds. Does there exist a spreadsheet which shows tire weights?
This is my nightmare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDeNv5XcMo8
But of course the vehicle weight and specifics are pretty much as opposite as one could get versus our vehicles, so there is that.
I went with Goodyear Wrangler 235/75r15 which were about 30.5 pounds each. They seem to run around $100 to $110 each at this time. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5820
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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On my Baja, I've been running Yokohama 720 7.00-15 Xtra Traction. The last set were shaved shoulders. Race car take-offs. The current ones are also race car take-offs, but Highway tread. Should last a lot better in dual purpose driving. I too run 18psi or less on those fronts. They're designed for heavy trucks, not lightweight Baja Bugs.
Actually for most mild Baja Bugs used primarily on pavement, I recommend 215-75 radial fronts with a coarse pavement tread. Possibly All Terrains. For the rears on such cars, I recommend 30x9.50-15 radials. Again Coarse pavement tread tires or All Terrains. For most purposes, Mud Terrains on a Baja Bug are all about the "Look". Some 31x10.50s will rub on the ends of the torsions and on the inner fender panel too. In fact, with stock trailing arms, tires bigger than 30x9.50s become the upper travel limiters.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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JiI
Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2006
Posts: 1856
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2024 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Looking at 235/75/17 all around for a fireroad-runner baja. Roughly 12" suspension travel.
What do you think of the size?
Running 17 x 7 wheels as it's going to be running 5x4.5 custom hubs with big brakes.
Jeff |
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indianpeaksjoe
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Joined: July 27, 2017
Posts: 647
Location: Moab, UT
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ORANGECRUSHer
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006
Posts: 3504
Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
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| Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2024 7:56 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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I'm taking this to the dunes tomorrow and I'm not sure what to do with my fronts. Should I air them down? Air them up? Remove them and put my bald firestone drags back on the front? I will be in deep sand (obviously) and this is rig is on the heavy side (2Klbs). The old drags are on rims that are so thick they push the centerline out about 1.5" from the drum which is why I don't run them any more. However, that's not a big issue in sand. I've been trying to sell them but maybe I should keep them for sand if my power kings are going to suck.
Let me know what you think.
_________________
Brian H.
OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes |
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ORANGECRUSHer
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006
Posts: 3504
Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
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| Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 5:08 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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After the fact, my powerkings were fine, but those rears aired down to 8psi were terrible on my my heavy rig. My engine was way too hot most of the time prompting me to go home after a few hours at the dunes. Granted it was purty hot that day feeling like close to 90 on the dunes which was amazing since it's right next to the cold lake michigan and there was a decent breeze. Orange just isn't built for the thick sand. She didn't have any problems getting up test, but the spinning and drag was too much for my cooling system. If I had paddles I think things could be a lot different. I'm just not sure I like the dunes enough to blow a grand on a paddle/rim set up. I'm just baffled by how much effort I've put into making my cooling system work and I still have problems. All I can think is the iron block of my Quad4 just isn't as efficient at cooling. I saw plenty of ecotecs out there most running the radiator configuration I originally had with it mounted on the side of the engine hugging the intake and they did fine. I should have gone ecotec in the first place. Oh well, she works good in the woods and that's what I was aiming for. So maybe I'm not giving myself enough credit. Party on.
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Brian H.
OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes |
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BFB
Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2014
Posts: 2690
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| Posted: Sat Sep 14, 2024 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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These are 29 x 10 x15 side by side tires on a customer’s rail buggy. Surprisingly they did really well on road and even had it up to 65mph on the highway. Made some howling noise but wasnt bad, no worse than any other mud tire ive run before.
Seems it’s getting easier to find side by side tires in 15’s now than LT truck tires. Nice thing about side by side tires is their half the weight of truck tires and designed for similar weight vehicles to rails but the dont have they width like we used to be able to get.
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"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
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oprn
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Joined: November 13, 2016
Posts: 14808
Location: Western Canada
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| Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2025 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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^^^I was just on line looking for a set of those. ^^^ Seems everyone is out of stock, I wonder if they have been discontinued?
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Our cars get old, we get old but driving an old VW never gets old! |
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BFB
Samba Member
Joined: November 03, 2014
Posts: 2690
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| Posted: Sun May 04, 2025 8:13 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| oprn wrote: |
| ^^^I was just on line looking for a set of those. ^^^ Seems everyone is out of stock, I wonder if they have been discontinued? |
So the guy that owns that buggy put nearly 10k miles on it this past year, with that, some uneven tire wear due to alignment and the fact that those are a soft compound that wears fast on pavement, he wanted some new tires. I dont know if he couldnt find those same ones or not either but he decided to go with the ones in the photo below. Same size, similar tread, and cheap. He just got them this week so they should be available. Well, youd think but things are goofy these days.
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"how am i supposed to torque the rear wheel nut to 250 ft lbs??? " - clonebug
An interesting thing happens in forums where everyone starts parroting the same thing and "common knowledge" takes over.
Most experts aren't. |
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ORANGECRUSHer
Samba Member
Joined: June 09, 2006
Posts: 3504
Location: West Coast (Michigan's)
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 11:57 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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You know, even if they wear out quicker, I don't think Id mind. It's not like I put miles on my rigs anyway. $56 is aweful hard to scoff at. But I have a feeling there's a reason you see these tires come and go. I think some are fly-by-night companies so-to-speak, pushing out a cheap product and then heading for the hills about the time people start complaining.
It would be nice if they made em a little wider tho
_________________
Brian H.
OrangeCrushERBerrien Warrior-2.4L Quad4-2x3 arms-1.5Fox coilovers-094-930CVs
LAZY MARY1970 Baja 2110cc-82mm CB forged crank-AA pistons/cylinders-Grant rings-1.1 vw rockers-CB serpkit-CB chromoly PRs-CB maxiflow filter pump-wix51515 filter-Dual 44IDF-cut/turned front beam-AEM wideband-Auber CHT-Donaldson Dual PowerCore filters-custom AL air boxes |
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