Tires on a Westy?

[beetleman217]

The time has come for new tires for my 1977 Westy.

So I understand there's the reinforced sidewall issue - it is not recommended to use passenger car tires but rather tires that adhere to VW's spec for the bus.

Busdepot mentions that on their site and offers these:
http://www.busdepot.com/ra18

Or the bigger version:
http://www.busdepot.com/ra18195

However, I just saw these BFGoodrich ones on a bus and think they're really neat (see photo).

What do you guys think? Is there a reason I should stay away from the off road tires? And would you choose the 195 size over the 185?

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If all else fails, stop using all else

1977 Westfalia
1961 Beetle

[tjrm63]

I have the exact same tires on my bus for the past 5 years, love them, quiet, handling is great especially with a lot of camping gear. Excellent in the snow . Check out my Instagram Mahady Surfboards and you'll see all my camping trips as well as my conversion of my 71 bus to a late model westfalia

[airkooledchris]

I also have those same BFG's and love them. Check around though, they may have stopped making them in this size.

[a1steaksauce]

Car tires are fine so long as they are in the properly rated load range. Tire technology has greatly improved since these vehicles were first produced. now there’s many size options open to us that will more than safely support the weight of a bus. Heck my GLK weighs more than my 69’ bus and uses low profile car tires.

A 94XL rated tire will more than cover a bus. Tire sites like tirerack actually have filters for weight ratings so you can see what all is available to you.

Also this site: https://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Is a handy tool for comparing stock sizes against what you’re thinking of going with.

[Randy in Maine]

And the 195/65/14 size is a little weak in the knees (load index of 91).

[jtauxe]

I see no reason not to stick with the 185s
_________________
John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD

[beetleman217]

[Busdepot]

[beetleman217]

Ron,

Can you advise on the difference between the 185's and 195's that you offer on your site? While I usually prefer stock setup, I'm thinking in this case the bigger the better.
_________________
If all else fails, stop using all else

1977 Westfalia
1961 Beetle

[a1steaksauce]

[beetleman217]

The more I dive into this the more I want meaty off road tires. While the BFGoodriches seem to have been discontinued, I found the 27” General Grabbers to be very similar.

I could not find that sticky thread about tires, instead I found threads on offroad buses.

Any more info would be appreciated. The bus is in the shop now for wobbling - they reported that the rear tires have become egg shaped! So I have to find a set fast.
_________________
If all else fails, stop using all else

1977 Westfalia
1961 Beetle

[Busdepot]

"New technology" does not change the laws of physics. Load ratings are load ratings and a pound is still a pound. A tire from 20 years ago with a 94 load rating and one from today with a 94 load rating handles exactly the same weight.

Yes, the specs and details on our tire safety page are copied/pasted ... from specifications provided by Volkswagen/Germany and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. If you know of a more qualified expert than Volkswagen themselves on what tires are safe on their own vehicles, then please tell me. (Also I've never seen any expert recommend a load-index 94 tire for a Bus or Vanagon. I'm curious where you found that data.) Those retailers that recommend underrated tires usually sell underrated tires, so they have a profit motive. We choose not to sell tires that do not meet Volkswagen and DOT minimums. But many people will, so if you feel comfortable with it, it's your decision.

Lastly, we never ignore a customer with a problem. If you didn't get a reply to your email then it must mean we didn't receive it. If you could email your details to [email protected] I'd really appreciate it.
_________________
- Ron Salmon
The Bus Depot
www.busdepot.com

[Busdepot]

[ImAddicted]

[jtauxe]

[Busdepot]

[SGKent]

fwiw very few buses in the 1970's had commercial tires. Almost any tire shop would sell you a passenger car tire, maybe even a whitewall. That said, it is a good idea, especially with a camper interior or hauling weight to have LT tires. They help in the wind quite a bit - at least there is a difference in the wind on my 1977 with Hankook tires vs the 1971 that had whatever the tire shop had in stock at a good price.

Not that it is a bad thing but everyone went nuts on you have to have the right tire and pressure after all the Ford Explorer roll overs.
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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[a1steaksauce]

[a1steaksauce]

[SGKent]