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srfndoc
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010
Posts: 3275
Location: SoCal
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 Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 8:38 am Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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Good option as a spare since LT tires rarely fit in the spare tire well.
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RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches |
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bobrk
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Beautiful Downtown San Jose
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| Posted: Mon Nov 07, 2022 12:06 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| Lind wrote: |
I absolutely love the look of these tires. I have not yet bought a set to test their handling and longevity, but I plan to. They are a bit more than twice the price of the other radials that fit buses, but they look way better, and they look better than the Firestone bias plys, which have a low load rating and tend to wear pretty fast.
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Love to hear about your testing!
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1959 Single Cab “Otto”
1500 single port | 1963 small nut/big brake transaxle | CSP Disc Brakes | dual circuit m/c | Deutsch Polster seats |
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ProvenGuilty
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 11:41 am Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| bobrk wrote: |
| Lind wrote: |
I absolutely love the look of these tires. I have not yet bought a set to test their handling and longevity, but I plan to. They are a bit more than twice the price of the other radials that fit buses, but they look way better, and they look better than the Firestone bias plys, which have a low load rating and tend to wear pretty fast.
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Love to hear about your testing! |
Those tires have a load index of 86, I Don't believe I would feel safe using these tires. I just bought some Thunderer Ranger R101 Commercial tires with 195/R15 (similar to 195/82/15 size) with load index of 106 or equivalent to an old poly 8-ply. The tire part number was TH0315. I ordered them through Walmart and hope to have them by next week to post pictures. |
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srfndoc
Samba Member
Joined: August 21, 2010
Posts: 3275
Location: SoCal
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| Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2023 11:50 am Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| ProvenGuilty wrote: |
| bobrk wrote: |
| Lind wrote: |
I absolutely love the look of these tires. I have not yet bought a set to test their handling and longevity, but I plan to. They are a bit more than twice the price of the other radials that fit buses, but they look way better, and they look better than the Firestone bias plys, which have a low load rating and tend to wear pretty fast.
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Love to hear about your testing! |
Those tires have a load index of 86, I Don't believe I would feel safe using these tires. I just bought some Thunderer Ranger R101 Commercial tires with 195/R15 (similar to 195/82/15 size) with load index of 106 or equivalent to an old poly 8-ply. The tire part number was TH0315. I ordered them through Walmart and hope to have them by next week to post pictures. |
I've been running these tires since 2016 on my Westy and they have been great. Seem to be long wearing and ride really well. I run the fronts at 38psi and the rears at 42psi since my Westy is heavier than a passenger bus (especially in the rear with all the cabinets/bed/etc.).
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RPM=(MPH*336* (R&P*4th*1.26))/Tire Diameter in inches |
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7050
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 9:28 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| srfndoc wrote: |
I've been running these tires since 2016 on my Westy and they have been great. Seem to be long wearing and ride really well. I run the fronts at 38psi and the rears at 42psi since my Westy is heavier than a passenger bus (especially in the rear with all the cabinets/bed/etc.). |
how does it do on rough roads? 38 and 42 psi is a good bit higher than the stock air pressures for the 6.40-15 bias plies.
I have never run my pressures that high, bias plies or radials. I bet my 66 westy weighed about the same as your westy.
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Uli
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'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: 20282
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2023 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| mandraks wrote: |
| srfndoc wrote: |
I've been running these tires since 2016 on my Westy and they have been great. Seem to be long wearing and ride really well. I run the fronts at 38psi and the rears at 42psi since my Westy is heavier than a passenger bus (especially in the rear with all the cabinets/bed/etc.). |
how does it do on rough roads? 38 and 42 psi is a good bit higher than the stock air pressures for the 6.40-15 bias plies.
I have never run my pressures that high, bias plies or radials. I bet my 66 westy weighed about the same as your westy. |
The recommended pressures for bias ply tires have absolutely nothing to do with modern radial tires. Throw that info out the window.
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7050
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Thu Jan 12, 2023 6:43 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| mandraks wrote: |
| srfndoc wrote: |
I've been running these tires since 2016 on my Westy and they have been great. Seem to be long wearing and ride really well. I run the fronts at 38psi and the rears at 42psi since my Westy is heavier than a passenger bus (especially in the rear with all the cabinets/bed/etc.). |
how does it do on rough roads? 38 and 42 psi is a good bit higher than the stock air pressures for the 6.40-15 bias plies.
I have never run my pressures that high, bias plies or radials. I bet my 66 westy weighed about the same as your westy. |
The recommended pressures for bias ply tires have absolutely nothing to do with modern radial tires. Throw that info out the window. |
yes, i have run my westy with radials. just never like how my buses rode with high air pressures.
I really was just curious how it rides with those tires and those pressures.
I also realize that the later 14 inch buses had higher air pressures, even though they were bias plies 7-14
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regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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ProvenGuilty
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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The thunderer ranger 195R15 did not want to clear the factory front wheel arch at full lock left on the driver's side of my imported brazilian 15 window split front end. I really wanted to run these due to the reviews and the larger size but the 195/65R15 currently on there seem to be all that will fit. They also have an 86 load index and feel unsafe at any speed.
Is it possible that this bus is lowered or the front suspension is not centered correctly in the wheel arch? I wish I had a photo when it was resting on the suspension with the larger tire on it, the only I have is at full droop with the lift off the ground or the current tires on the ground.
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20282
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:46 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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You have beetle wheels with different width and offset from stock bus wheels. That may be at least a part of the clearance problem.
You may also be able to adjust the steering stop so it doesn't turn quite as far when it hits the stop.
You may have broken torsion leaves in the front beam, allowing the front of the bus to sag, as if it were slightly lowered.
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iamdonquixote
Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2003
Posts: 2041
Location: M*ssholia
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| ProvenGuilty wrote: |
| bobrk wrote: |
| Lind wrote: |
I absolutely love the look of these tires. I have not yet bought a set to test their handling and longevity, but I plan to. They are a bit more than twice the price of the other radials that fit buses, but they look way better, and they look better than the Firestone bias plys, which have a low load rating and tend to wear pretty fast.
|
Love to hear about your testing! |
Those tires have a load index of 86, I Don't believe I would feel safe using these tires. I just bought some Thunderer Ranger R101 Commercial tires with 195/R15 (similar to 195/82/15 size) with load index of 106 or equivalent to an old poly 8-ply. The tire part number was TH0315. I ordered them through Walmart and hope to have them by next week to post pictures. |
and 86 load rating is 1168 lbs per tire , with an unladen weight of 2500 + fully loaded ( yeah right ) at one ton is ~4700 lbs / 4 is 1175 lbs per tire
what am i missing?
close enough, its just a bus 
i've had better luck with pass tires for handling . I can't wait to ditch my thunderers , they track worse than the 12yo michelins they replaced. i consider a tire to be more unsafe with regard to handling than load |
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ProvenGuilty
Samba Member
Joined: January 16, 2016
Posts: 4
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
You have beetle wheels with different width and offset from stock bus wheels. That may be at least a part of the clearance problem.
You may also be able to adjust the steering stop so it doesn't turn quite as far when it hits the stop.
You may have broken torsion leaves in the front beam, allowing the front of the bus to sag, as if it were slightly lowered. |
That's why I love this site. I had no idea they were beetle wheels installed. I don't see anything broken or out of place so I'll bet that's the issue. |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20282
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 12:58 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| ProvenGuilty wrote: |
| cdennisg wrote: |
You have beetle wheels with different width and offset from stock bus wheels. That may be at least a part of the clearance problem.
You may also be able to adjust the steering stop so it doesn't turn quite as far when it hits the stop.
You may have broken torsion leaves in the front beam, allowing the front of the bus to sag, as if it were slightly lowered. |
That's why I love this site. I had no idea they were beetle wheels installed. I don't see anything broken or out of place so I'll bet that's the issue. |
Not saying it is exactly the problem, but it is a place to start. If you have a shop or enthusiast nearby with bus experience that can look at this in person, it would be worthy of a basic inspection.
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bobrk
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Beautiful Downtown San Jose
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 1:17 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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Those wheels seem to have a lot of offset. If you check out my truck, which has 15" bus wheels wearing 195/70-15 Continental VanCos, there is no clearance problem.
| ProvenGuilty wrote: |
The thunderer ranger 195R15 did not want to clear the factory front wheel arch at full lock left on the driver's side of my imported brazilian 15 window split front end. I really wanted to run these due to the reviews and the larger size but the 195/65R15 currently on there seem to be all that will fit. They also have an 86 load index and feel unsafe at any speed.
Is it possible that this bus is lowered or the front suspension is not centered correctly in the wheel arch? I wish I had a photo when it was resting on the suspension with the larger tire on it, the only I have is at full droop with the lift off the ground or the current tires on the ground.
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1959 Single Cab “Otto”
1500 single port | 1963 small nut/big brake transaxle | CSP Disc Brakes | dual circuit m/c | Deutsch Polster seats |
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obus 
Samba Member
Joined: March 08, 2001
Posts: 11072
Location: just off Garden State Parkway Exit 81
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bobrk
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Beautiful Downtown San Jose
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:15 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| obus wrote: |
| my Vanco's run rougher and harder than the old passenger tires i had on the mango before. I'll deal with it for now but id love to sell them and use the money toward 15 inch Autobahn black wall bias ply look radials. |
Hmmm. I haven’t turned a wheel on these yet. I guess we’ll see. They have to be better than the Pirelli P3 165-15s I used to have on there lol
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1959 Single Cab “Otto”
1500 single port | 1963 small nut/big brake transaxle | CSP Disc Brakes | dual circuit m/c | Deutsch Polster seats |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20282
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:19 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| bobrk wrote: |
| obus wrote: |
| my Vanco's run rougher and harder than the old passenger tires i had on the mango before. I'll deal with it for now but id love to sell them and use the money toward 15 inch Autobahn black wall bias ply look radials. |
Hmmm. I haven’t turned a wheel on these yet. I guess we’ll see. They have to be better than the Pirelli P3 165-15s I used to have on there lol |
I have to wonder of folks are thinking their bus is supposed to ride like their car. Old buses are a little rough. Passenger tires are not the answer.
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bobrk
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Beautiful Downtown San Jose
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 8:38 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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Back in ‘93 when I put those Pirellis on, I didn’t have the internet to tell me they were a dumb idea. I picked the vancos this time around almost purely on load rating.
_________________
1959 Single Cab “Otto”
1500 single port | 1963 small nut/big brake transaxle | CSP Disc Brakes | dual circuit m/c | Deutsch Polster seats |
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cdennisg
Samba Member
Joined: November 02, 2004
Posts: 20282
Location: Sandpoint, ID
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 9:08 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| bobrk wrote: |
| Back in ‘93 when I put those Pirellis on, I didn’t have the internet to tell me they were a dumb idea. I picked the vancos this time around almost purely on load rating. |
The fact that they are literally beetle tires didn't mean anything to you, even back then?
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mandraks
Samba Member
Joined: November 28, 2004
Posts: 7050
Location: Lawrenceville, Ga
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| bobrk wrote: |
| Back in ‘93 when I put those Pirellis on, I didn’t have the internet to tell me they were a dumb idea. I picked the vancos this time around almost purely on load rating. |
The fact that they are literally beetle tires didn't mean anything to you, even back then? |
i learned a lot working for a tire manufacturer back in the late 80s early 90s. One of my many jobs that never became careers. we made the molds, had the tires made, sold them, delivered them to customers, raced them, drove them, everything.
Not everybody looks at a tire the same way i do. sand speedway tires all the way to farm tractor tires. we made tires with the valve stem in the sidewall to allow for tube tires slipping on the rim for motocross side car racing.
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regards
Uli
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'53 3-Fold Oval, L35 Metallic Blue, looking for a narrow hatch panel |
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bobrk
Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 288
Location: Beautiful Downtown San Jose
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| Posted: Wed Jan 18, 2023 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: 15" Radial Tires - Sizes and Vendors |
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| cdennisg wrote: |
| bobrk wrote: |
| Back in ‘93 when I put those Pirellis on, I didn’t have the internet to tell me they were a dumb idea. I picked the vancos this time around almost purely on load rating. |
The fact that they are literally beetle tires didn't mean anything to you, even back then? |
Lol I was a dumbass
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1959 Single Cab “Otto”
1500 single port | 1963 small nut/big brake transaxle | CSP Disc Brakes | dual circuit m/c | Deutsch Polster seats |
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