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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli

Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 13286 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 1:06 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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The Bus beam is bolted in differently (from the sides instead of front to back.) but I guess someone could elongate a few of the holes but that would cause issues with the steering arm (ain't going to be me though.). _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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chrome Samba Member

Joined: March 21, 2003 Posts: 746 Location: back in NorCal
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 2:45 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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I ran 215/75/15 on my old 70 westy & the same on my 68 double cab without any problems had 73-79 disk brakes & ran the Wolfgang 3/4" 5x112 to 2x205 wheel adapters up front tires were mounted on bus 15" rims not bug rims that I see in your photo _________________ 65 21 window
57 T1 ragtop
58 ghia vert
68 fastback
73 Thing
74 Thing
54 chevy 210
63 mercury meteor wagon |
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epayne611 Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2011 Posts: 316 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2018 2:54 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Just received my Starfire (Cooper) sf510s. 27x8.5x14.
Date code is December 2014, what do you guys think is an acceptable date for new tires?
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rusbus Samba Member

Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 790 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 12:37 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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I just installed these E78-14 STA Super Traxion Tires on my 1965 Danish army highroof. Most of the military-style tires on the vintage vehicle market are only available for larger wheel diameters. But the STA Super Traxions have the appropriate look and are available for 14" rims. According to my measurements they looked like they would fit, but it still felt like a bit of a gamble investing in a setup that hadn't been very well proven. I did find pics of one person running this setup, however, so thanks to Samba member dropgatedrinkery for posting pics of your single cab. These tires fit perfectly for me; no issues at all. Even the spare fits great behind the driver's seat.
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BarryL  Samba Member

Joined: November 01, 2004 Posts: 15164 Location: Casa de Oro, California
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Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2018 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Baaad to the bone. How do they sound? |
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Peter_N Samba Member

Joined: February 19, 2014 Posts: 332 Location: The Netherlands
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Posted: Tue May 01, 2018 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Killer combo of those tires on such a mean looking bus! _________________ My 1958 PGSG project topic |
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rusbus Samba Member

Joined: August 27, 2003 Posts: 790 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Thu May 10, 2018 12:16 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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BarryL wrote: |
Baaad to the bone. How do they sound? |
Thanks man! There's a bit of tire noise I'm still getting used to around town, but it's not noticeable at highway speeds.
Peter_N wrote: |
Killer combo of those tires on such a mean looking bus! |
Thanks! I'm still loving the tires after a week, and I find that my speedometer is suddenly spot on, after being slightly off when I was running 195s. |
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&Dan Samba Member

Joined: January 29, 2008 Posts: 1787
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Posted: Sat May 12, 2018 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Superexcellent Grampa Grips! Good look. I remember when a set of these at the Fleet Farm cost about a hunnerd bucks, mounted and balanced. |
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swharris Samba Member

Joined: September 10, 2010 Posts: 630 Location: N. Orange County
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d-rick Samba Member

Joined: May 14, 2006 Posts: 891 Location: Columbia,MO
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2018 4:00 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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I have had two sets of these...one on a s.c. ...then another set I purchased for my '59 mango..which I have yet to drive.
I did take the ones from the '59 and put them on my '66 13window for campout trip this winter..put about 200 miles on them.Not much to say other than they were loud on the hwy ..look pretty boss but will prob go a different route for the longhaul on the '59
_________________ 1959 mango-trailerbus
1962 single cab *1/2
1966 13 window
1967 panel/camper
1968 cig-panel *1/2
1968 passenger bus *1/2
1969 beetle
1969 dormobile
1978 sage green Westy
1990 DoKa
2002 Golf TDI |
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mandraks Samba Member

Joined: November 28, 2004 Posts: 7111 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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235/75/15 was the stock size on my little mazda b3000 (ford ranger). upgraded that to 265/75/15, a 30 inch tire. _________________ regards
Uli
----------------------------------------
'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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cdennisg Samba Member

Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20797 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2018 10:18 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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epayne611 wrote: |
Just received my Starfire (Cooper) sf510s. 27x8.5x14.
Date code is December 2014, what do you guys think is an acceptable date for new tires? |
Missed this somehow, and nobody else answered your query. I would not accept a tire that old if I had paid full price for a new set. Tire shops will shy away from a tire over six years old, and you are starting with less than half that time left on a brand new set.
Time to make some phone calls. Remember that old honey/vinegar adage, too. _________________ You can't spell sausage without "USA"! |
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RWK Samba Member
Joined: June 24, 2009 Posts: 1604 Location: S.W. MI
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Also on tire age, you won't be able to get repairs on them when they reach 10 years old,shops wont touch them. I normally don't wear out tire's before they get too old, just replaced my bug tires 27 years old!
One of the 5 I just bought was almost 2 years old, made them get a new one. _________________ 73 Type 181
63 Type 113
63 Type 261- 428 071
62 Type 241-378 025 178 530 |
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epayne611 Samba Member
Joined: February 09, 2011 Posts: 316 Location: Orange County, CA
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 8:10 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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The 4 year old starfires I purchased were off eBay. These came from a large tire dealer who assured me in an email beforehand that all their tires were fresh ( I had asked for date codes...they wouldn’t give them). It was a bit of a battle getting them to take them back, I copied them on their own email and they finally agreed. I had also called up a bunch of tire mounting places and none would mount tires that were 4 years old.
I then called up simpletire, lady said she couldn’t check date codes either. I told her what I went through with the eBay seller. She then called warehouses and found fresh tires. She manually put the order in so that it would pull the tires from the farther warehouse with the newer tires.
I really like the look of the starfires, plus they are much taller than what I was running so the bus looks much better proportioned. |
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cdennisg Samba Member

Joined: November 02, 2004 Posts: 20797 Location: Sandpoint, ID
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2018 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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epayne611 wrote: |
The 4 year old starfires I purchased were off eBay. These came from a large tire dealer who assured me in an email beforehand that all their tires were fresh ( I had asked for date codes...they wouldn’t give them). It was a bit of a battle getting them to take them back, I copied them on their own email and they finally agreed. I had also called up a bunch of tire mounting places and none would mount tires that were 4 years old.
I then called up simpletire, lady said she couldn’t check date codes either. I told her what I went through with the eBay seller. She then called warehouses and found fresh tires. She manually put the order in so that it would pull the tires from the farther warehouse with the newer tires.
I really like the look of the starfires, plus they are much taller than what I was running so the bus looks much better proportioned. |
Glad to hear you got it worked out. They are great tires. _________________ You can't spell sausage without "USA"! |
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High Octane Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Southwest Missouri
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Posted: Thu Jun 28, 2018 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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225/75/15 was the biggest I could get on the stock height Westy. |
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PDX db Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2013 Posts: 206
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 6:45 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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Those look nice! Look smaller than the 215 I've seen posted |
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Alan Brase Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2004 Posts: 4570 Location: Cedar Falls, Iowa
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Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2018 11:21 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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rusbus wrote: |
I just installed these E78-14 STA Super Traxion Tires on my 1965 Danish army highroof. Most of the military-style tires on the vintage vehicle market are only available for larger wheel diameters. But the STA Super Traxions have the appropriate look and are available for 14" rims. According to my measurements they looked like they would fit, but it still felt like a bit of a gamble investing in a setup that hadn't been very well proven. I did find pics of one person running this setup, however, so thanks to Samba member dropgatedrinkery for posting pics of your single cab. These tires fit perfectly for me; no issues at all. Even the spare fits great behind the driver's seat.
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I kinda think those are tires original to the USPS LLV's. Not too expensive. gotta be strong carcasses. _________________ Al Brase
Projects: 67 sunroof bug, 67 Porsche 912 Targa, 70 Westy
Dec 1955 Single Cab pickup WANT 15" BUS RIMS dated 8/55, thru 12/55
To New owners: 1969 doublecab, 1971 Dormobile
Vanagons:
80 P27 Westy JUL 1979, 3rd oldest known US
83 1.6TD Vanagon, 87 Wolfie Westy daily driver, swap meet home |
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PDX db Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2013 Posts: 206
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Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2018 6:58 am Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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I really wanted to run 15" on my 65, but those click so many boxes! And fit in the spare tire well.... |
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PDX db Samba Member
Joined: March 14, 2013 Posts: 206
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2018 10:49 pm Post subject: Re: Large tire/big meats - Stock suspension Bus thread |
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After going thru all these, and other pages, and chatting with several peeps, I picked my tires. 205 75 15 Firestone Destination A/T. Pictured is the front tire that came on the bus.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=704860
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