Help with upgrade to 15 inch tires and wheels, PLEASE!

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:37 pm Post subject:

Seriously consider changing out the steering rack bushings to poly once you have the tires figured out. They help greatly on keeping you predictably in control with cross winds or a semi buzzing past you. They are a noticeable and cheap improvement part.
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childofthewind · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:40 pm Post subject:

[quote="Jon_slider"]

childofthewind · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:46 pm Post subject:

syncrodoka · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject:

BFGs will cost you a little MPG due to the tread design. You won't need to deflate them when you hit the dirt depending on how nasty it gets though. That is the trade off.

IdahoDoug · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:58 pm Post subject:

SyncroDoka, good call on the steering rack bushings. I'd forgotten about those and their contribution to instability. Those are a good candidate to change out, and if you have the bushings aboard and pass through Idaho on 1-90 I'll do it for you free since I figured out a way to do them fast.

Regards,
Doug
_________________
1987 2WD Wolfsburg Vanagon Weekender "Mango", two fully locked 80 Series LandCruisers. 2017 Subaru Outback boxer. 1990 Audi 90 Quattro 20V with rear locking differential, 1990 burgundy parts Vanagon. 1984 Porsche 944, 1988 Toyota Supra 5 speed targa, 2002 BMW 325iX, 1982 Toyota Sunrader

WestyBob · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:06 pm Post subject:

syncromike · Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 10:15 pm Post subject:

Brungeman · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 6:54 am Post subject:

I am in the same boat...

I agree to get shocks first though. I just changed out the shocks and although my shocks looked fine (no leaking) and no real boucing of the vehicle, once I took them off I realized how ineffective they were. I was able to push and pull them with no real effort. I just had an inspection and the shop said they were fine. I replaced them with the inexpensive Monroe Magnum HD's and in the few miles I have had them on, I can tell a big difference.

I need new tires now as the present ones are not proper and are cracking. Shopping for tires is a chore. Evaluating the pro's and con's of tires and matching the percentage of different driving conditions with tire options is tough. I think I am leaning toward Nokians. I have a set of benz 15" wheels to put them on and with the endorsements of Nokians it seems like a no-brainer.

good luck!
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PDXWesty · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:07 am Post subject:

I would agree that the 195/14" BFG is the way I would go. I've had great success with them over the years in the 27" size, but they don't make them anymore. Keeping the slightly smaller size tire will not change the way the van drives. You can't beat the BFG for waer and traction in my opinion.
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89 Westy 2.1 Auto

Jon_slider · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 8:17 am Post subject:

Besides Shocks, I agree steering rack bushings helped tighten up my steering a LOT!

fwiw, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS is available in 195/R14 106/104S

Fantastic tire, no need to change rims. FAR superior in snow to any of the others mentioned. Works great on dirt, quieter on highway than BFG, and has stiffer sidewalls.. I doubt you will be doing any wallowing on these, if properly inflated.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

to the OP, what is the max load and max inflation on your tire, and what inflation have you been using?
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climberjohn · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:20 am Post subject:

Heho Luka,

Hmm... 49 replies and a 3 page thread in 24 hours, not bad. Wink

I see why you are still going in circles. Lots of advice here from some solid samba folks, some of it contradictory.

You like it simple. Needless complexity and cost, financial or otherwise, does not suit you. With that in mind...

The main issue smokes to be handing. Address it first.

Look at the shocks. If they are original, change them; they need it.
Steering rack bushings are pretty cheap and easy to install, as well as the steering column gasket thingie mentioned above.

Do this first, then drive some two lane roads with truck traffic and see if you still getting tossed around. If no, you are done. If yes, then look at new tires.

Also... What's the tread wear on your current tires? If they have a lot of life, I say stick with them.

What are they inflated to? Changing the psi, esp between front and rear, may help.

As mentioned above, buying an off road tire for your almost all pavement driving would be a mistake.

And re tires, I really like my Nokian WRC 15" from van cafe.

Good luck with all this, let us know how it turns out.

CJ
_________________
'86 Westy, 2.5 Subaru power
Know your limits. Exceed them often.

vanagonjr · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 9:26 am Post subject:

conchyjoe · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 11:43 am Post subject:

i used to have several 4wd vehicles in the past, and always had good luck with BFG tires. Now that I have a vanagon, I will probably go with them again.

However, I would have to agree with the recommendations to check your steering/suspension before doing tires. I just bought an '82 air cooled tin top and drove it all the way from Oceanside to Santa Cruz, getting passed loads Rolling Eyes

Never had it sway, or do anything freaky in the wind. But, it is also a 2 owner, garaged and fully maintained vehicle. It probably drives better than new, and is very car like in handling, especially on the twisty bits!

I'm using the std steel wheels and 185r14 tires at the moment, but will be changing to 195/75r14s when I can afford it. I'm only doing so to get a little more clearance for remote camping. Otherwise, I'd just air down the current tires and use a little common sense. You can go surprisingly far totally stock, if you're careful, and conscious.

one tire no one has mentioned is the Goodyear AT

My girlfriend runs these on the rear of her van, and takes it all the way to San Carlos, Baja a few times a year( - sometimes alone Shocked

) They seem to be pricey on the website, but she got her latest pair for $100 ea locally...?

anyway, I also like to keep my van simple, and close to stock as possible. I don't really see the need to get a super aggressive tire for simple jaunts down fire roads.

davevickery · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 3:23 pm Post subject:

conchyjoe · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:21 pm Post subject:

conchyjoe · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2012 10:44 pm Post subject:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=F...;tab=Sizes

a friend at work has these on his 4 runner and has been raving about them. He goes fishing in some remote places and says they work well enough in the dirt and light mud. They are indeed quiet on the road, although those things are a little more posh inside than my van...!

anyway, the sizing fall in between the 195s and the 27", load seems ok, so may be worth a look, and the price isn't bad either.

Rodknock · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 6:51 am Post subject:

My 3 cents...

I got the 15" wheels from Van Cafe (nice product, now with center caps) and Vredestien Comtrac....
http://photos.smugmug.com/photos/i-ZNW3jxB/0/S/i-ZNW3jxB-S.jpg

Previously I had the Nokkian Hakka C snow Tire (on the stock 14" steel wheels), and they were great/stable but a bit loud on the highway. Frankly, I realized that I don't drive my Westy in winter in CO (I have a Toyota 4WD beater for that) and did not need anything more than an "all season" tire, and I was going for a smooth/quiet ride. So I upgraded to the 15" wheels, and the 15" Vredestien Comtracs 205/65 offer the same overall height as the stock 14" wheel/tire combo so I don't suffer on the mountain grades here. I really like my wheel/tire combo now, nice quiet and smooth ride and I can still deal with the occasional spring/summer/fall snow storm on CO mountain passes. I even got out of an icy spot going up hill by slightly applying the parking brake.

Earlier than all this wheel tire changing I upgraded my shocks to Bilsteins, and frankly that did not do much at all. I think it was because my stock shocks were still in great shape (only 60k on them then).

In my opinion, the extra 1/2" of width of my Comtrac 15" tires over the Nokian 14" tires is what has made my Westy much better handling, even with wind. 1/2" may not seem like a lot, but it certainly makes a difference.

Final note, with the Van Cafe 15" steel wheels you will need the lug nut kit and a new lug wrench. The center caps are a nice touch. It all adds up but I think Van Cafe offers a great value (no affiliation).

-rog

childofthewind · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:25 am Post subject:

rcook52459 · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 7:42 am Post subject:

i met you at the last GTG at lucky lab(worked at the cadAllic dealership 35 years)anyway i have some brand new monroe sena=trac shaocks i'll give you.if it ever stops rainingg i'll put them on.only takes about 10 minutes a wheel.got them and found out the guy i bought the van from put lifted springs,so i went and got astro shocks for the rear and F-100 shocks for the front.
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WestyBob · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 10:57 am Post subject:


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