15'' tire options

[Vanagon Nut]

General Grabber HD Van 195/70R15C Load D?

https://www.tires-easy-truck.com/195-70-15C/genera...4MFGXjuupF

General Tire link:

https://generaltire.com/tires/light-trucksuv/grabber-hd-van/specs
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Vanagon Nut]

My Michelin Defender 205/65/15 still have ok tread but are getting old. Have yet to find them on Canadian Tire, Kal Tire web sites. Kai Tire shows these: 205/65R15 99H B.F.GOODRICH ADVANTAGE CONTROL

https://www.kaltire.com/en/tires/advantage-control/354510.html?cgid=tires

Anyone using these? Input welcome. Pics are from BF Goodrich .ca

Speed Rating: H
Load Index: 99
Load Range: XL
UTQG: 700B A
Tread Depth: 11/32"
Weight: 22.53lbs
Section Width: 8.10"
Overall Diameter: 25.47"
Product Code: 71973

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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[danfromsyr]

tires are like sneakers
they are either 'what do you want to do with them'
or
'how do you want to look in them'


some are both.. but... tires are really just sneakers/booots/slippers
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[breakfastofvanagons]

Thanks to everyone for your positive input on the 25.5” tire diameter and for confirming what the Rancho Transaxles builder insisted on. I still feel like I’m being left out of the cool club of 215 75 15 all terrain tires but I guess I’ll find out the limits of the shorter tires that get me through 95% of presentable terrain. I keep noticing how small the tires on US Postal Delivery trucks are and how they’re always going in and out of gutters and ruts and deep potholes and puddles on the side of the road - situations that my 1wd Vanagon would have gotten totally stuck in before getting a Peloquins limitedslip differential. Those US Postal tires remind me of modern freestyle skateboard wheels, really small yet continuously capable. We’ll see how it goes. Thanks again to each of you for sharing your experience.
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1983.5 Westy named Vivian the Vanagon

[Crooked Designer]

Just seeing this thread again. I put Michelin Agilis CrossClimate 205/65-R15 on in 2020 and have nothing but positive things to say about them 4 years later. Most miles are on the road, but have spent some time on dirt / mud / gravel and have no complaints. Always felt good grip in hard rain at interstate speeds.

I've never had them in snow / ice, so can't comment on that. Just wanted to give my "no regrets" follow up.
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'85 Westy full camper, Subaru 2.5L, 5 speed SubiGears + 5speedbus shifter kit

[syncrodoka]

They gave you the right advise. I changed the gear ratios on a few vanagons and the gears are fairly pricey. If you want to leave town over the hill or climb elevation to go camping they did you a favor, especially if you have a stock motor.

205/65/15 tires are noticeably wider than the stock 185/r14 tires. The additional width along with the lower profile will make your van drive better.

[jlrftype7]

I run 205/65/15” tires in both All Season and Snow Tires. You’ll be fine with a stock engine . I have seen those Cross Climate tires in person on other vehicles, and if our Michelins Defenders wear out and these tires are still available , I’d try them as well.
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'68 Westy- my first VW and vehicle/Bus- long gone.- sold it to a traveling Swiss couple....
'67 Type 3 Fastback, my 2nd car- gone
'69 Semi-Auto Stick Shift Beetle-gone
2017 MINI Coopers, our current DDs
‘84 Tin Top - Hilga....Auto

[jimf909]

[breakfastofvanagons]

I had my transaxle rebuilt by Rancho Transaxles in Fullerton CA and I asked the builder there many questions about tires. His answers were based on physics and I did not like what he had to say because I wanted to run all terrain 215 75 15 tires (a little over 27” in diameter). He insisted and repeated himself multiple times that I should not get any tire with a diameter taller than 26” and should stick as close as possible to the stock diameter of 25.5”. His reasoning was that a tire diameter too far out of stock range does not match stock gear sizes and causes sluggish acceleration especially when loaded and especially uphill. He also pointed out how taller tires have more unsprung weight which bog down an engine that is already not that powerful. I didn’t like his answers but am going with his advice and am sticking with a very un-cool size of 205 65 15. I’m getting directional Michelin Agilis Crossclimate which have a load rating of 102 and for the spare I am getting the symetrical Yokohama BlueEarth RY61 also 102 load. Both of those tires have a 3PMSF symbol in Europe, but not in the USA. The agilis crossclimate has exceptional ratings in wet and dry weather which is the majority of what I will encounter. It’s not the best in snow but has enough snow capabilities to maintain its 3PMSF in Europe and enough space between the tread to grip a little bit of gravel. Trying to be practical and getting the most of out of my little engine is my primary goal.

I have heard multiple fellow Vanagon owners breathe a sigh of relief when they got rid of their original “bike tires” which were the pretty narrow ones mounted on 14” rims. I am going from a 215 width down to a 205 which won’t look very cool but the narrower width does provide increased traction in inclement weather. It’s not going to look very tough at all but I plan on enjoying maximum acceleration and will hopefully get more use all round out this van, and I’ll take comfort in knowing that the original Land Rovers that went on Safari all over Africa did not have super wide mud tires and instead had tires that looked more on the side of bike tires. Will post photos soon
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1983.5 Westy named Vivian the Vanagon

[Vanagon Nut]

^^

Thanks for that WRC3 info.

Yeah years ago, I ran some Nokians all year. They did seem to wear quicker than other tires.

"No free lunch".

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA
(VW Gas I4)

1988 Westy DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[Corwyn]

Nokia s are great tires, but their focus in on winter tires which are a softer material. I had some WRC3s which lasted a year.
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'90 White Westy ("White Lightning")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Vanagon Nut]

[Corwyn]

[kenjav]

I've been running the Continental Vanco 4seasons (205/65 R15) for the past 3 years on my 2.2 WBX Westy and they have been great both on and off road. I am also running the Gowesty 1.5" lift springs with Koni 82 2100 shocks on the front and 2101 on the rear. Over all a super smooth ride and eats the washboard roads like nothing!

[crazyvwvanman]

A quick look on SimpleTire shows 6 or so aggressive tires Load D 106 at 215/75/15.
After the search results sort on LOAD to remove weaker tires from the larger list.

https://simpletire.com/tire-sizes/215-75r15

Mark

[Sodo]

Regarding: BFGOODRICH® ALL-TERRAIN T/A® KO2 215/75R15

[VWagabond]

Just put a 2nd set of Nokian Nordman 7 SUV 205/70R15 tires on the camper. Had the 1st set on for 8 years and though they still had good tread, they were starting to look old and dry. They are rated XL with a load range of 1764 lbs, max speed 118 and max inflation 51 psi with a winter tread design. I wanted to stay with the 205/70 XL tires in that size and my search yielded few results. Did not want to go with 215's or larger as I thought they would cause clearance issues with the frt suspension.

Tom
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The Road Goes Ever On & On……...
VWagabond
87 Camper GL
87 Syncro GL

[Californio]

They get noisy after 15K miles or so. Best when fresh.
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1987 Syncro Westy/2.0L Tiico

[Icebox500]

[dobryan]

I have them on my '87 Westy. Love them.

But I can get rubbing from the front right if turning and compressing the suspension like going onto a steep driveway ramp. But this only happens rarely and overall I am very happy.
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Dave O
'87 Westy w/ 2010 Subaru EJ25 (Vanaru) and Peloquin TBD

"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive." Robert Louis Stevenson

MD>Canada>AK>WA>OR>CA>AZ>UT>WY>SD
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794