15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors

Edgar64 · Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 12:07 pm Post subject:

Good point about the revs. and getting pushed around. I'll go back to the shop and see what else they suggest.

Thanks,

Don66bus · Samba Member Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 402

I have a 66 Deluxe that I use for daily driving spring, summer, and fall here in Canada. I load it up sometimes. I have driven it across the country several times.

I have been running Toyo Spectrum 205/70-15 tires for the last 25,000 miles and they are approaching the wear bars on the front tires. Time for new tires. I have read all the conversation on this thread and most of the "large meat" thread, and there is a diversity of opinions. My choices locally seem to be:

1) A good passenger car tire (good for 1500+ pounds) such as a Nokian eNTYRE or Cooper CS4, available here for about $500 for 4 mounted and balanced.
2) An 8-ply tire for about twice that
3) Doing it the American way from a retailer like Tire Rack, drop shipping to a US border town, and then dealing with transportation, customs, and local installation.

I am leaning toward a 205/75-15 because that tire diameter is closest to the stock 7.00 - 14 that came on the bus. Considerably wider though. I wouldn't mind dropping the revs 3 or 4% over the 205/70-15 tires on now. Based on the experience of others on the Samba, the 75 series tires should not cause a problem with clearances.

The cost is not the prime issue. These tires will likely outlast my use of the bus, given my current annual mileage. However, if I am going to pay much more for light truck tires, I would like it to be for a discernible advantage.

Some of you have made these choices recently. Any advice?

Don66bus · Samba Member Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 402

In the end I bought 205/75 - 15 Cooper Discoverers. I could not get my local distributors to find me a 6 ply tire without additional shipping costs added to their already high prices. I like the Coopers. They ride quietly and have a more aggressive tread than the Toyos I had on previously. I am getting some scraping when I turn hard right in parking lots on the right front, but never on the left, curiously. I have not tried them out yet with a good load on.

Given this experience, I would probably buy 205/70 - 15 for the front. or maybe for both front and back, if I were to do it again.

DavidKvapil · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 10:47 am Post subject:

You shouldn't have any issues with a 205/75-15. I would check all the leaves in your beam for any broken ones and replace them. You should be able to fit at least a 215/75-15 on it and not rub, as that's what I'm running on my '62, and I have never even come close to rubbing on some pretty intense dirt roads.
_________________
'62 Turkis Kombi FOR SALE. Please see my ad.

Don66bus · Samba Member Joined: January 11, 2006 Posts: 402

The tire doesn't contact the sheet metal above (which would be spring-related) but touches the back of the fender well on the edge of the turned tire. A previous owner had done some welding on the cross member there years ago. It may be that it is pushed forward from its stock position by 1/4" and that is the reason for the sporadic contact.

DavidKvapil · Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2012 12:23 pm Post subject:

Yeah, that is the typical point of contact for larger tires. I would still check out the leaves in your beam. I have put tires as large as 7.00-15 on all four corners of my stock height bus and was able to drive it around moderately without any rubbing, and that's a 29.8" tire. With 205/75's you should have at least an inch and a half of clearance at rest with the wheel turned in any direction.
_________________
'62 Turkis Kombi FOR SALE. Please see my ad.

EverettB · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 12:50 pm Post subject:

Anyone buy 205/75/15s or 195R15s recently?

I was going to order some Cooper Discoverers in 205/75/15 but it looks like they don't make a Load Range C tire anymore.

The ones available are Cooper Discoverer HT.
Load range is "97S" which appears to be less than C and is a passenger car rating, not a light truck (LT) rating?
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

erlawson · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 1:21 pm Post subject:

Tire Easy has several 195R15 still listed that are load range D (this is what I have on my bus), but nothing with the aggressive tread of the Cooper.

Eddie
_________________
57 ragtop bug, 59 Country Buggy repop., 61 ranch buggy/bus, 62 baja, 63 dune buggy/baja, '66 dune buggy, '66 & '67 fastbacks, 70 "Mule", 73 Thing, 09 dune/street buggy

TOOB Member #13

tev · Samba Member Joined: October 04, 2006 Posts: 100

Everett,

I bought the Nexen SV820s for my 60 westy a few months ago and I'm pretty happy with them. I was looking for something similar to my old Cooper Discoverer 195/75R15 (load range C) and this is actually pretty close. If you compare the Discoverer tread to the Nexen, you can see a very basic similarity in the pattern. I kinda think Nexen ripped off the Coopers. I'm very happy with em so far.

EverettB · Posted: Tue Oct 30, 2012 6:05 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the tire-easy.com link.

I am looking at those Nexen's too, they look good and I do like the idea of a straight 195R15.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

Big Bill · Posted: Wed Oct 31, 2012 6:25 am Post subject:

I ran a set of the Cooper Trendsetters (205-75-15/ 1598lbs rating) on my 61 when I had it. A prety nice tire, but IMO it really didnt have the side wall support that I wanted. At freeeway speed and in heavy cross winds you could feel the sidewalls flexing it seems to me. The SV820s are the tire Iam looking at for my next set, I have seen them on a early SC and they didnt seem to have any clearnce issues and the owner raved about them.(HA HA went back and read thru this thread, I gave sorta the same review back in 2005)

Stocknazi · Samba Member Joined: June 18, 2004 Posts: 5150

EverettB · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 9:31 am Post subject:

jpstine · Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 12:23 pm Post subject:

islandveedub · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 5:54 pm Post subject:

I have a 60 doublecab with a big nut trans and Cooper Discoverer 205/75/15 tires on stock 15" wheels. I have a problem getting the tire off the rear and ended up dropping the axle off the spring plate to get it off. Even letting the air out of the tires didn't help. Is it the combination of earlier bus with big nut trans that give this problem, or is this common with all 205 tires even on a small nut trans?

I would really like to have a tire that I could take off and put back on without the extra hassle. I can't imagine getting a flat and having to drop the axle on the side of the road. Anyone have a good tire recommendation, or should I look for a small nut trans? Switch to bias ply?
_________________
Alex

60 Doublecab
62 23 Window Walkthrough Bus

cdennisg · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 8:22 pm Post subject:

EverettB · Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2012 10:30 pm Post subject:

Yes, it must be the big nut because the 205s on my small-nut '61 go on/off fully inflated.
_________________
How to Post Photos
Everett Barnes - [email protected] | My wanted ads
"Water is the only drink for a wise man" | "Communication prevents complaints"
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

islandveedub · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 12:52 am Post subject:

Thanks for confirming that cdennisg and Everett. I was searching all over the site and couldn't find anything on it, although I know there must be a bunch of people faced with the same problem.

I was a little concerned about buying a new set of tires because it might not fit, but I'm glad to hear that 195R15's should do the trick. I'll search for a set with the proper load range and post up here whether or not I'm successful.
_________________
Alex

60 Doublecab
62 23 Window Walkthrough Bus

earlywesty · Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2012 5:39 am Post subject:

VWcollector1 · Samba Member Joined: May 20, 2004 Posts: 65

Hi, I'm lowering my '61 crewcab 3 inches. I want to use original whitewall tires and not inserts. The selection that's out there isn't too extensive, but have been doing my research.

I was told by a friend who is in the business of modifying spring plates and drop spindles that 195/60R15 are probably the biggest tire I can put in my 3" lowered bus without rubbing.

I've read this thread, and it sounds like what I want in aesthetics I'll have to sacrifice in stability. I plan to pretty much just use to drive around town and to local shows only and not any long distance driving.

I'm running a bug swing axle in the rear and a 4" narrowed beam in the front. I know I may need to run a spacer in the front.

I was thinking of 195/65 R15's in the rear and 185/60 R15's in the front. Any comments or thoughts would be appreciative.


Hello! Log in or Register \| Help \| Donate \| Buy Shirts	See all banner ads \| Advertise on TheSamba.com

15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors
Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 29, 30, 31 Next Jump to:

	Forum Index -> Split Bus	All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time Page: Previous 1, 2, 3, 4 ... 29, 30, 31 Next Jump to:
Page 3 of 31