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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 11:51 am Post subject: Largest 14" Tires for 2WD Vanagon |
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I've been wading through the archives for some time now and can't seem to find this tidbit. What is the largest size tire that fits the stock 14" rims and doesn't rub front or rear? Does anyone have any tire recommendations in that size that meet the load rating for vanagons? |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Largest 14" Tires for 2WD Vanagon |
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The largest is LT27x8.5/14 and these are Load C, 6PR, 50 psi max. The load rating should be fine for Vanagons of all versions IMHO. Not many brands still make this once common light truck size. Stock alloy 14s are 6" wide and that is what tires of this size have as minimum width spec. Lots of people have run them on steel 14s at 5.5" but the tread isn't quite flat, at least not at first. There are some rare 6"x14" steel Vanagon wheels but more like hen's teeth. Stock 6"x14" alloys are cheap enough now. Come by and I might almost give you a set.
Mark
Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
I've been wading through the archives for some time now and can't seem to find this tidbit. What is the largest size tire that fits the stock 14" rims and doesn't rub front or rear? Does anyone have any tire recommendations in that size that meet the load rating for vanagons? |
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insyncro Banned
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 15086 Location: New York
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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I have BFGs in that 27" size....awesome tires on a Vanagon with stock alloys. |
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SSWesty Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2008 Posts: 732 Location: Bellevue
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:25 pm Post subject: |
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Of the 27x8.50s the General Grabber AT is the tallest(26.8") of what I've seen currently available. I am currently running Maxxis 751 and they are 26.3". I don't believe there are any issues with clearance on the grabbers. I am using one as a spare and had to modify the clamshell to get it to fit in there and it's only inflated to about 10psi. I plan to switch to the grabbers when my 751s wear out. |
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denwood Samba Member
Joined: July 29, 2012 Posts: 1047 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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27.5x8 have zero issues on stock alloys. On my second set now..Firestone LT previous, now the Grabbers. The extra diameter on these tires is good for reduced revs on the highway with the converted auto. It's not a big reduction but 1.8% is a pretty accurate mileage correction based on GPS. The speedo in stock form reads under, with these tires is pretty much dead on. _________________ Cheers,
Dennis Wood
The Grape |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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I have the BFG A/T 27x8.5x14 on the stock alloys on one of my vans. What is the limiting factor to going larger? Do they rub in the front? It looks like the trailing arm lip is the limiting factor in the rear and there's oodles of room for larger. |
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tkgeorge_99 Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2010 Posts: 149 Location: Sacramento
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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I have the general grabbers at2 ( 27 x 8.50) on my van and love them. They have a burly off road look, perform great on and off road, and were pretty reasonably priced. I haven't had a rubbing problems. |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5375 Location: PNW
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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Andrew, obviously you have alloys, but just in case someone is reading this who may want to run these tires on steel wheels, be aware that they can sometimes rub on the upper control arm. The fit is tight enough that some vans have enough clearance and others don't. Combined tolerance differences in the upper control arms, upper balljoints and rotors can all add up to reduced clearances.
Just to be clear, I'm not saying that they won't ever work on the stock 14" steel wheels, I'm simply saying that a certain percentage will have rubbing issues at the upper control arm. I have had to sell a number of customers thin spacers to gain enough clearance on the front with this wheel/tire combination. _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:30 pm Post subject: |
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Actually Chris I have the BFG a/t 27x8.5x14s on two different vans. One has the stock steelies, one has the alloys. Neither van has had any issues with any rubbing anywhere.
So just to be clear, the upper control arm is the limiting factor/where it would rub first? |
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crazyvwvanman Samba Member
Joined: January 28, 2008 Posts: 9895 Location: Orbiting San Diego
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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The limiting factor in your case is the 14" rims.
Mark
Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
I have the BFG A/T 27x8.5x14 on the stock alloys on one of my vans. What is the limiting factor to going larger? Do they rub in the front? It looks like the trailing arm lip is the limiting factor in the rear and there's oodles of room for larger. |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5375 Location: PNW
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
Actually Chris I have the BFG a/t 27x8.5x14s on two different vans. One has the stock steelies, one has the alloys. Neither van has had any issues with any rubbing anywhere.
So just to be clear, the upper control arm is the limiting factor/where it would rub first? |
Ah, sorry, I missed that fact.
Yes, they can cause rubbing issues between the tire and the upper control arm. Again, not all vans do, but some. _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at [email protected] |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:36 pm Post subject: |
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But is that the limiting factor WRT diameter or is it just something to watch out for with those tires? It looks like if the control arm were to rub the tire it would do so very close to the rim and not be a diameter limiting factor.
As far as the rear goes, it looks like the trailing arm lip is the limiting factor and the 27" BFGs are 1-3/8" away from the lip. That would lead me to believe that a 29" diameter tire would fit on the rear with 3/8" of clearance. Am I mistaken? |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:59 pm Post subject: |
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I got 195 -14 on my vanagon, little bigger than stock, about 8% change in size over the 185 tires. speedo error is at 65 mphindicated, gps says 70 mph,
Nicer for highway cruising gets the revs down a bit, however i do notice I need to down shift on the steep hills in the mountains a bit more. it is a trade off, i do more highway than mountains, hence my choice, would i do it again, maybe,
these are on a 1986 tin top, stock steel rims |
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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185 and 195 describe the width NOT diameter. The middle number (e.g. 75), which you have left absent, describes the sidewall height in relation to the width (aspect ratio). In order to match a 27" diameter tire with a 195 width, the aspect ratio would need to be 85. Tire Rack doesn't show any tires that are 195-85-R14 and don't show any aspect ratio greater than 85.
In looking at the actual tire sizes available I see why Mark said that 27x8.5 are the largest for 14" rims. |
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davevickery Samba Member
Joined: July 16, 2005 Posts: 2887 Location: Fort Collins, CO
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 8:20 pm Post subject: |
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That's true but you won't find many 27x8.5 maybe just a couple still available actually. A 225/70-14 is very close in size and has lot more choices. Just get one that is rated for 44 psi. I have some Firestone Destination AT that I like. |
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dixoncj Samba Member
Joined: June 17, 2004 Posts: 1083 Location: Charleston, SC
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Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 8:27 pm Post subject: |
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davevickery wrote: |
That's true but you won't find many 27x8.5 maybe just a couple still available actually. A 225/70-14 is very close in size and has lot more choices. Just get one that is rated for 44 psi. I have some Firestone Destination AT that I like. |
I loooove the 225/70/r14 Destination A/T's on my 91 Westy.
Remarkably quiet. Fat footprint. Good in wind. Aggressive tread. Long wearing. No bulges or problems after 10K miles.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Destination+A%2FT |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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jackbombay Samba Member
Joined: October 19, 2007 Posts: 2723 Location: Eastern Idaho
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 7:29 am Post subject: |
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Andrew A. Libby wrote: |
That would lead me to believe that a 29" diameter tire would fit on the rear with 3/8" of clearance. Am I mistaken? |
That is about right, with a hakka CS 195 75r 16 (27.5" diameter) I had 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" of clearance. _________________
Gas struts to pop your top easily!
Pop Top strut kits now available for late Bay window Westies
Samba ad here.
DIY artificial rain gutters (ARGs) |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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?Waldo? Samba Member
Joined: February 22, 2006 Posts: 9752 Location: Where?
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Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 8:04 am Post subject: |
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That shows tires that are smaller than 27" diameter. |
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