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Stock Steve
Samba Member
Joined: April 10, 2005
Posts: 1963
Location: My Left Nutmeg State
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Wheeljack
Samba Member
Joined: January 20, 2020
Posts: 99
Location: Utica, Nebraska
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 Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2021 6:52 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| dustymojave wrote: |
I'm not going to tell you an "ABSOLUTE".
The widest I go for on the front of a VW-based buggy or Baja is 7.00-15 on a 4" wide rim. And I prefer stock 3-3/4" back space for that 4" wide rim. Like a Centerline "bubble" rim.
In more common sizes in places like Nebraska, try a 215-75 x 15 tire. All-Terrain ("A/T") is good. Local Walmart had a good looking Douglas in that size a while back at a good price. So is a 6.70-15 5-rib DOT Implement tire. (Load Range B or C. NOT Load Range D or E.)
It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
Thanks man! I'll check those out. |
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law.jrthompson
Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2021
Posts: 1
Location: Santa Maria, CA
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| Posted: Tue May 04, 2021 4:24 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| Hoping to revive this board for a little help. Building a bug and currently torn on tire size and rim width. Tire height will either be 31" or 33". It will be powered by a Honda motor and supported by a built up bus transaxle, so should be able to push either size. I want to run same size tire and rim all around for ease of a carrying a spare. Looking at either a 5" or 6" wheel and was hoping to get some opinions and or pictures of similar wheels. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5802
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Sun May 09, 2021 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Are you going to beef up your suspension to match? Have you read all the material above before you ask this question? Pretty much answered above. I just stated above an answer to your question.
| Quote: |
dustymojave wrote:
I'm not going to tell you an "ABSOLUTE".
The widest I go for on the front of a VW-based buggy or Baja is 7.00-15 on a 4" wide rim. And I prefer stock 3-3/4" back space for that 4" wide rim. Like a Centerline "bubble" rim.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
In more common sizes in places like Nebraska, try a 215-75 x 15 tire. All-Terrain ("A/T") is good. Local Walmart had a good looking Douglas in that size a while back at a good price. So is a 6.70-15 5-rib DOT Implement tire. (Load Range B or C. NOT Load Range D or E.)
It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
My preference for narrower tires on the front of a Baja is not about looks. It's about experience. There is more weight on the back of a Bug. Wider tires on the back affect the handling in a positive way. They reduce oversteer. Wide tires on the front lead to trouble with scrub radius. Increased steering effort. More damage to front end and steering components. Need for power steering. Need for anti sway bars all around (and nobody makes them for the back of Bugs). Trouble with tires rubbing and fender/body clearance. Vastly increased turning radius. And a number of other issues. I don't recommend it.
My Baja has 7.00-15s on the front and 30x 9.50-15s on the back and the spare is a 7.00-15. It will serve just FINE on the back if needed. Our offroad race team uses 7.00-15 spare tires for the 5/1600 Baja Bugs, 1600 Buggies and Class 9 Buggies. The 30x9.50-15s rub on the inner wheel wells in the back. Bigger tires will limit suspension travel unless you go with bigger trailing arms.
You CAN go with 33s all around. Be prepared to deal with the issues mentioned above.
| Quote: |
| It's a buggy. NOT a lifted Chevy 4X. |
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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Bennym777
Samba Member
Joined: April 07, 2013
Posts: 223
Location: Mexico
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| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2022 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| I have 7x15 LT truck tires all round on my buggy. Would I get a smoother ride going with normal off road tires like BF Goodrich all terrain? Just thinking they may be softer rubber and sidewalls? |
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J-Gaz.
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2007
Posts: 613
Location: 253 Then, Now 206.
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| Posted: Sat Jun 03, 2023 10:00 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock.
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1970 Beetle | Basically Stock 1600 SP |
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dirtkeeper
Samba Member
Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 3200
Location: Left of everywhere
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| Posted: Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:14 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| J-Gaz. wrote: |
Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely ?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock. |
My take on it is Bias tires are a little more stiff and that’s good on the front to keep you steering more directional. The 7” x 28” that is common on the bajas seemed to be mostly available as a bias ply with like a 6 or 8 ply sides. I have some Yokohama 742 that are similar but are modern radials. I think the radials are better modern choice just make sure they have a stronger side wall . I had some light truck radial tires on he front of mine and they sucked cause the steering was squishy or soft . That said The stiff tall front tires with high air pressure do track and veer making them seem squirrely I run mine as low as 18lbs on the highway |
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J-Gaz.
Samba Member
Joined: November 19, 2007
Posts: 613
Location: 253 Then, Now 206.
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| Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2023 5:44 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| dirtkeeper wrote: |
| J-Gaz. wrote: |
Considering turning my 70 into a Highwheel class 11 "Style"
Been reading through, and it sounds like Bias Ply is great for the dirt, but too squirrely on the Highways.
But great for making turns in the sand/ mud.
Is that basically the difference? Bias ply are squirrely ?
I'll be mostly street driving, maybe 5% forest service roads to trailheads, and once or twice a year on ocean beaches.
Seems like everything I've read a good 235 / 75- 15's radial would be my best option running stock fenders and just thing spindles with a couple of notches in the rear - all else being stock. |
My take on it is Bias tires are a little more stiff and that’s good on the front to keep you steering more directional. The 7” x 28” that is common on the bajas seemed to be mostly available as a bias ply with like a 6 or 8 ply sides. I have some Yokohama 742 that are similar but are modern radials. I think the radials are better modern choice just make sure they have a stronger side wall . I had some light truck radial tires on he front of mine and they sucked cause the steering was squishy or soft . That said The stiff tall front tires with high air pressure do track and veer making them seem squirrely I run mine as low as 18lbs on the highway |
wow - 18lbs is pretty lean.
Okay, good to know. I'll be mostly highway with some forest service roads here and there.
I always thought Bias plies were softer in general and easier to get sideways - but maybe that's a tall tale.
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1970 Beetle | Basically Stock 1600 SP |
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VTbaja
Samba Member
Joined: March 20, 2023
Posts: 4
Location: Vermont
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| Posted: Fri Sep 29, 2023 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| Does anyone have any experience with how loud the Yokohama 720's are on the street? Thanks! |
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PhillipM
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2010
Posts: 595
Location: UK
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| Posted: Sat Sep 30, 2023 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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| J-Gaz. wrote: |
wow - 18lbs is pretty lean. |
Not that lean, I run 18 rear, 12 front for race use on the rail, and mine is heavier than most.
Sidewalls on most off road tyres are far too hard for lightweight baja's and buggies. |
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riva
Samba Member
Joined: November 09, 2012
Posts: 53
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| Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2023 12:14 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Speaking of pounds. Does there exist a spreadsheet which shows tire weights?
This is my nightmare: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDeNv5XcMo8
But of course the vehicle weight and specifics are pretty much as opposite as one could get versus our vehicles, so there is that.
I went with Goodyear Wrangler 235/75r15 which were about 30.5 pounds each. They seem to run around $100 to $110 each at this time. |
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dustymojave
Samba Member
Joined: January 07, 2007
Posts: 5802
Location: Lake LA, Mojave Desert, SoCal
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| Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2024 6:07 pm Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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On my Baja, I've been running Yokohama 720 7.00-15 Xtra Traction. The last set were shaved shoulders. Race car take-offs. The current ones are also race car take-offs, but Highway tread. Should last a lot better in dual purpose driving. I too run 18psi or less on those fronts. They're designed for heavy trucks, not lightweight Baja Bugs.
Actually for most mild Baja Bugs used primarily on pavement, I recommend 215-75 radial fronts with a coarse pavement tread. Possibly All Terrains. For the rears on such cars, I recommend 30x9.50-15 radials. Again Coarse pavement tread tires or All Terrains. For most purposes, Mud Terrains on a Baja Bug are all about the "Look". Some 31x10.50s will rub on the ends of the torsions and on the inner fender panel too. In fact, with stock trailing arms, tires bigger than 30x9.50s become the upper travel limiters.
_________________
Richard
Offroading VW based cars since 1965
Tech Inspection 1963 - 2012 SCCA/SCORE/HDRA/MORE/MDR +
Retired from building Bajas, Fiberglass Buggies and Rails in the Mojave Desert. Also Sprints & Midgets, Dry Lakes, Road Race cars. All types New and Vintage
SoCalBajas Member
Kicked Cancer's A$$...1st and 2nd round...Fight ain't over yet. |
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JiI
Samba Member
Joined: February 18, 2006
Posts: 1845
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Yesterday 9:48 am Post subject: Re: Tires Tires Tires |
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Looking at 235/75/17 all around for a fireroad-runner baja. Roughly 12" suspension travel.
What do you think of the size?
Running 17 x 7 wheels as it's going to be running 5x4.5 custom hubs with big brakes.
Jeff |
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