Nokian WRC3

[Sherrinonie]

Wondering if anyone has switched to these newly released Nokians? WRC3 215/65/15? We mainly drive throughout California so far and wondering how these tires would hold up in occasional Desert heat conditions? My Michelin Hydroedge still look almost new since 2008 but side walls are very cracked. Time for new shoes and want to pick the best Thanks for any input!!

[vw4life]

I am running Nokian Hakka C 205/65/15 and love them. 10k miles on them and no issue. Quiet, good traction probably not the best for wet/snow conditons but I lived in West LA when I bought them.

I almost got stuck on a pile of wet leaves on a decline but that was more my fault and we got out with no issue.

The WRC is supposed to be more of an all weather tire. I think you might want the Hakka C for your climate.

[vw4life]

From Van Cafe site http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1326

Nokian Tires for your 16" steel or alloy wheels. We put all of our 16" options on this page - you have options for different sizes and different treads. (since some are in stock and some are not at the current time, we have set these not available to order on site but you need to ask about availability). We offer both the Hakka C which is designed for driving in less extreme weather (i.e. not a snow tire and chains will be required) and the WRC which is intended to be used in all four seasons. Here follows a chart for how the tire sizes translate into diameters to help you decide which tire best matches your intentions.

[ThankYouJerry]

Wondering if anyone has Nokian WRC3 (not the older model WRG3) tires on a Westy and can review them for us here?

Specs look really good for these 15" sizes:

205/70/15
Load Index - 106/104
Speed Rating - S
Ply Rating - D/8PR
Max Single Load - 2090 lbs
Overall Diameter - 26.3"


215/65/15
Load Index - 104/102
Speed Rating - T
Ply Rating - C/6PR
Max Single Load - 2000 lbs
Overall Diameter - 26.0"


I'm tempted to go with the 205/70/15s over the 215/65/15s because of the 8 ply sidewalls, higher load rating, and slightly larger diameter (for reduced RPM's coupled with my 1.8T).

1. Will an 8 ply sidewall with a 70 aspect ratio be stiffer than a 6 ply sidewall with a 65 aspect ratio?

2. Is there any loss of traction/safety between a 205 width and 215?

3. Which tire will help mitigate crosswinds better (assuming all other suspension components are in top condition)?
_________________
1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[jackbombay]

[jberger]

[70coupyel]

Buy the 8 ply sidewall tires. The stiffer sidewall really does make any steering input much more responsive. Controlling the van's weight during firm or hard evasive actions is where the 8 ply's earn their money. I won't go back to 6 ply's.
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[E1]

^ +1 ^
_________________
‘84 Westy, 2.1L with Digijet, 5.43 R+P, GT Gears
"Adding power makes you faster on the straights.
Subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere."
— Colin Chapman

[jberger]

[70coupyel]

[Jon_slider]

[70coupyel]

The Hakka's have been replaced by the Entyre.
edit: Nokian cLine Van is the replacement tire.
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[Jon_slider]

[Corwyn]

I've been running Yokohama Geolandar ATs (205/70 15s) my Westy for five years. Though load rated at 96, I've taken them from Washington State, to Baja California and the East Coast. No issues, but I'm sure they're a little mushier than an 8-ply.
_________________
'90 White Westy ("Knarr")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[70coupyel]

[danfromsyr]

Jon the Entyre in 205/65/15 are 98 rated.
the Entyre in 205/70/15 are XL 100 rated.
and they wear very well and have good winter traction, but I wouldn't count on them in deep snow regularly.

we run 3 different Nokian tires on our family vans over many miles.
https://www.nokiantires.com/winter-tires/nokian-entyre-20/

[Jon_slider]

[ThankYouJerry]

Nokian lists all of their "tyres", which sizes each one is available in, and all corresponding data for each tire on their website. Here is a link to the WRC3 in the title of this thread: https://www.nokiantyres.com/winter-tyres/nokian-wr-c3/
_________________
1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[Steve M.]

There used to be a guy on here a while back who was actually quite knowledgeable and he was very happy with the Nokian C-Line tires for vans in regards to the load rating and handling.
He ran them in snow and summer too I think back East in Massachusetts where he loved to encapsulate the entire bottom of the Vanagon to keep the salt out.
_________________
This free advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.

There are seven days in a week. Someday is not one of them.

[IdahoDoug]

For cross wind stability, and the nice feeling of cornering on curvy country roads, I'd lean toward the 8 ply. Most of my adult life, I've owned and driven SUVs and vans, where a stouter carcass and sidewall pay dividends. And I've made bad choices of getting P metrics and being surprised even with my vehicle background that the deterioration was so evident. The most remarkable example was a new full size 1999 Mitsubishi Montero. On the way home from the dealership I couldn't believe how unstable the factory rubber was. I bit the bullet and the next day dropped 800 bucks on 8 ply Michelin LTX's (one of my all time favorite tires) and believe me, I'm a tightwad so that was no easy call. The truck lost 90% of its high speed ills instantly with only a minimal increase in ride harshness - and that only here and there.

Here's a paragraph that may help you decide - coming from a vehicle development and testing background. You can get stability from a tread like the Hakka C above exhibits - lots of circumferential ribs that are solid. That will give you long life as well. However, you give up an incredible amount of traction in those 2X a year situations such as straying down a dirt road and finding the van struggling on uneven terrain, or wet leaves or a patch of snow at your friend's cabin. But you can also get driving stability from the stronger carcass of an uplevel load capacity. So, to me the best choice is to go with an uplevel load tire like an 8 ply in this case, but choose one with a more traction oriented tread to retain the traction in those "whoopsie" conditions we all see as van owners who often seek the quiet or novel corners of life. As a lifelong tire fanatic, that new tire you are looking at seems to be right in the bullseye for what I try to find for my vehicles.
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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