Best all terrain tires for 87 Syncro?

[Serendipity87]

I previously purchased Michelin Defender 225/60/16. They were just fine. I drove many miles and many mountain passes in the last 5 years. Until they were bald in fact. (She wasn't very active the last two years, so probably could have replaced by year 3.5)

Do I stick with these, or is there something you like better?

[MsTaboo]

Like a lot of Syncro owners I've gone with BF Goodrich KO2 215/65r/16, good all around traction without being too noisy.

A lot of the decision on tires depends on the type of driving you like to do; if you're spending most of your time on paved roads then a tire like the Defender works fine, but if you want something for more driving off-road or better traction in snow then something aggressive like the KO2s become attractive.
Also, you don't say what kind of Syncro you have, is it a tintop or something heavier like a Westy? Those Defenders only have a 98 load rating which might be ok for a lighter vehicle but a Westy should be riding on stronger tires.
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[Serendipity87]

Thanks Mstaboo! It's not a Westy, but it is a camper with Country Homes Campers poptop. I was just reading about the load - I think that's a good point. Appreciate your input.

[4Gears4Tires]

Another solid option is the General Grabber.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[Phishman068]

I have three sets of tires/rims between my two syncros and here are my thoughts:

27x8.5R14 General Grabber ATX
225/70/16 BFG AT KO2
215/75/15 Off Brand Chinese Mud tires:

By far the quietest: The Chinese mud tires. Also by far the best traction.
General Grabbers/BFG's are the same level of noise, and get stuck in the mud exactly the same when the lugs clog up. All terrain tires are not that good in the mud!

The General grabbers are the smallest of my options, and thus have the most horsepower and drivability. Given the choice between all three- those are the ones I take on road trips. Bigger tires are cooler, and they have their place, but in general- these busses run better with the closest to stock size you can get.
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http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=482402&highlight=sunroof+syncro
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=569774
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=6864936#6864936

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[TomInAlaska]

I'm a fan of Falken Wildpeak ATs. My '86 Syncro has a set of 215/65r16 with a 102H load rating.
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[pbrown]

BF Goodrich KO2 have been discontinued. The KO3 is the new version.
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1986 Westy Syncro EJ25
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[DanHoug]

despite the 3 peak snowflake symbol, i can attest that General Grabber ATx are not great in snow. i like the deep, luggy tread but the design has no open 'snow groove' nor extensive siping and simply do not get much traction on snow or ice. but they are a great summer/gravel/rock tire and one of the few 14" choices left.
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[4Gears4Tires]

Just like All Seasons are just good enough on the pavement in all seasons, All Terrains are just good enough in all terrains. Mud tires will be superior in mud and snow tires will be superior in snow. ATs are there so you don't have to swap tires constantly. Snow tires will melt on pavement in the summer but will absolutely run circles around any other tire in the winter. I would not drive on a snow tire above 60F, just like I would not drive on a high performance summer tire below 45F. I've done both fwiw, and the handling was very slippery.
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'87 Syncro Ferric Oxyhydroxide Superleggera Edition
'85 Westy Sciuridae Domus Edition

[DanHoug]

[WiboBusMan]

K03s in 215/70/16 installed on my Syncro Doka - love the ride on gravel roads - very smooth.

I calculated it out to 35psi front and 42psi rear.

I've run them about 1k kilometres and am very happy with them so far.

While driving on pavement they are not quiet like a summer, passenger car tire, they are not loud. On a woods road they are quieter as the thick, relatively softer rubber cushions better.

W
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[Chris-a]

[Serendipity87]

Thanks Everybody! I decided to go with
FALKEN
WILDPEAK A/T TRAIL
215 /65 R16 102H XL RBL,
I actually do quite a bit of highway/freeway much of the year, but in Winter want something good for the ice/snow/mountain passes. I'm not doing any bouldering etc. These seemed like a good compromise for the right load rating without being too knobby.

[Serendipity87]

RE: Chris-a... I'm on the West Side of the mountains in WA. My trips usually consist of driving the coast to surf or driving to interior BC to ski. Haven't come across the sharp rock issues, but that's good to know!

[jlrftype7]

[SCM]

[joetiger]

Vredestein Pinza, 215/75/15 SL100T, mild AT, and have the mountain snowflake thing.

They're good in snow and ice and I've beaten them up in Moab for two years with no issues and excellent performance.

Best of all, they are quiet on the highway. I got rid of the Grabbers because as they wore, they got louder and louder.

These aren't the most aggressive out there, but they're relatively inexpensive and provide a good mix of what I want in a tire. No complaints.

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'86 NAHT Vanagon GL Syncro/ supercharged ABA 2.0 "Pigpen"
'91 Wolfsburg Carat "Barchetta"
'02 Baja-ish Beetle "Bubbles"

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[chillzombies]

Falken wild peaks 215/65/16 they ride very smooth and quiet, wayyyyyyy better than the BFG A/T that came on the van.