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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20995
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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 Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 9:21 am Post subject: Re: How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions |
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| iamdonquixote wrote: |
can't believe I'm posting here. thinking about lowering a bus !
I want to :
* use drop spindles in front 2.5 or 3.5 "
* straight axle kit.
I only have one question:
can I use my stock tires and wheels, and if not, what tires ?
the extra price of tires to lower bus might turn me off from the whole shebang |
Up front, you will need shorter and narrower tires. I usually ran 196/60 15's, or maybe 55's with 3 1/2" drop spindles. That was always with later buses with thin lip dog legs. Might not work as well with fat lip dog legs. Never had much issue with turning clearance, but it would rub the top of the wheel well when full loaded and hitting large highway bumps.
Out back, your stock tire might work, depending on what tire brand/model/size you have. I liked 205/60 15's. I had a pair of wheels modded to change the backspacing and ran some meaty 205/65's and they fit perfectly.
Drop spindles, straight axle, 195/60R15 front, 205/65R15 out back on those modded bus wheels I spoke of. This bus went many places it probably shouldn't have considering the mods.
_________________
Confusious say it takes it takes two wipes to know you need three, but it takes three wipes to know it only needed two. |
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iamdonquixote
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2003
Posts: 2087
Location: M*ssholia
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 11:10 am Post subject: Re: How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions |
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thanks !
can you check my assumptions:
* I think a slightly lowered bus will handle better and be better in crosswinds
* I think a straight axle bus will be quieter than reduct boxes
- with low profile and skinnier tires I'm guessing they are the standard load C rating tires correct ? |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20995
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 11:37 am Post subject: Re: How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions |
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| iamdonquixote wrote: |
thanks !
can you check my assumptions:
* I think a slightly lowered bus will handle better and be better in crosswinds
* I think a straight axle bus will be quieter than reduct boxes
- with low profile and skinnier tires I'm guessing they are the standard load C rating tires correct ? |
Yes, simply by the nature of a lower center of gravity, it will handle better and be better in crosswinds. But, making sure your steering is tight is the #1 priority.
Yes, a straight axle setup is much more quiet, simply by removing the straight gut gears of the reduction boxes.
Lower profile, but not necessarily skinny. Yes they will have a lower load rating, but simply by the nature of having shorter sidewalls, they tend to be stiffer. Buying good quality tires with a nod to performance helps with that stiffer sidewall construction too.
I have a theory that using tires with a "proper" load rating on a stock height bus has less to do with the actual load carrying capability than it does with having stiff sidewalls for proper handling of a tall vehicle. Low profile tires generally aren't available with high load ratings, but are stiffer simply through their construction, and the physics of leverage.
_________________
Confusious say it takes it takes two wipes to know you need three, but it takes three wipes to know it only needed two. |
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iamdonquixote
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2003
Posts: 2087
Location: M*ssholia
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 11:44 am Post subject: Re: How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| iamdonquixote wrote: |
thanks !
can you check my assumptions:
* I think a slightly lowered bus will handle better and be better in crosswinds
* I think a straight axle bus will be quieter than reduct boxes
- with low profile and skinnier tires I'm guessing they are the standard load C rating tires correct ? |
Yes, simply by the nature of a lower center of gravity, it will handle better and be better in crosswinds. But, making sure your steering is tight is the #1 priority.
Yes, a straight axle setup is much more quiet, simply by removing the straight gut gears of the reduction boxes.
Lower profile, but not necessarily skinny. Yes they will have a lower load rating, but simply by the nature of having shorter sidewalls, they tend to be stiffer. Buying good quality tires with a nod to performance helps with that stiffer sidewall construction too.
I have a theory that using tires with a "proper" load rating on a stock height bus has less to do with the actual load carrying capability than it does with having stiff sidewalls for proper handling of a tall vehicle. Low profile tires generally aren't available with high load ratings, but are stiffer simply through their construction, and the physics of leverage. |
thanks! you are helping me in to the 'dark' side.
I kinda think the obsession with proper load rated tires matters less than people think it does. |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20995
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Mon May 19, 2025 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: How to lower a Bus and all lowering questions |
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| iamdonquixote wrote: |
| cdennisg wrote: |
| iamdonquixote wrote: |
thanks !
can you check my assumptions:
* I think a slightly lowered bus will handle better and be better in crosswinds
* I think a straight axle bus will be quieter than reduct boxes
- with low profile and skinnier tires I'm guessing they are the standard load C rating tires correct ? |
Yes, simply by the nature of a lower center of gravity, it will handle better and be better in crosswinds. But, making sure your steering is tight is the #1 priority.
Yes, a straight axle setup is much more quiet, simply by removing the straight gut gears of the reduction boxes.
Lower profile, but not necessarily skinny. Yes they will have a lower load rating, but simply by the nature of having shorter sidewalls, they tend to be stiffer. Buying good quality tires with a nod to performance helps with that stiffer sidewall construction too.
I have a theory that using tires with a "proper" load rating on a stock height bus has less to do with the actual load carrying capability than it does with having stiff sidewalls for proper handling of a tall vehicle. Low profile tires generally aren't available with high load ratings, but are stiffer simply through their construction, and the physics of leverage. |
thanks! you are helping me in to the 'dark' side.
I kinda think the obsession with proper load rated tires matters less than people think it does. |
Driving a stock height bus on wobbly passenger car tires is nowhere near as nice as when it has load rated tires, especially at highway speeds in the mountains or in strong winds.
_________________
Confusious say it takes it takes two wipes to know you need three, but it takes three wipes to know it only needed two. |
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