Nokian WRC3

[danfromsyr]

nearly ALL Audi rims should have a spacer at least in the front.

do you have a 2wd or a Syncro van?

remove the wheel and tell us the sizes cast/stamped into the rim

there is an ET##
and an 6J or 7H or sumsuch too.

but plan on 8mm spacers and longer front lug bolts (if 2wd)
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[jimf909]

[Gus1973]

Thanks, Dan and Jim.

I'll have the tire shop inspect the Audi wheel information, Dan, and I'll post the outcome. I'll ask to see if the previous owner knows the wheel information; they may.

Many thanks for your feedback on the anti-sway bar, Jim. Yes, it's the front. The mechanic had it on the hoist and pointed it out, and in the same breath said that many folks remove this bar for ground clearance offroad and that it should have no affect being removed (I'm switching mechanic by the way!). I live in Vancouver, BC, and I'm not familiar with the T3 reference? But I will investigate this and have it reinstalled. My apologies for posting a topic that is not related to this tire thread.
Cheers,

Angus

[shagginwagon83]

Chris @ T3 is the man.

http://t3technique.com/suspension-and-drivetrain/vanagon-suspension/anti-roll-bar-(front)/
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Brandon
"Jo Ann" - '83.5 Westfalia EJ22e w/Peloquin
Instagram @joannthevan

[Gus1973]

Thanks, Chris!

[Slimvest]

For those that went to the WRC3 8ply from a 6ply tire, did you notice any performance changes? Assuming you maintained the same diameter. The 8ply tire weight increase seems significant, but I don't know if that changes performance as much as diameter does.

For my situation, it would equate to a 3.5lb/tire increase in weight. (but will also lose 0.8" in diameter)

Moving from General Grabber AT2 205/75/15 to Nokian WRC3 205/70/15
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'87 GL w/ Reimo top

[Jon_slider]

[atomatom]

some feedback after some long drives on my set of wrcs (195/60R16)

overall; pretty darn good. only downside is they are somewhat noisy. price of the treads i spose. very solid on corners. and maybe it is just the balancing, but van never felt so solid when going 120kmh (down hills, with wind behind, etc)

i'll update when the snow is here.
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84 Vanagon Westy, 1.9L, California raised but defected to Canada.

[jimf909]

The increased noise of the WRC3 compared to the WRG3 is becoming obvious after 10K with them. It hasn't made me write them off yet even though I'm sensitive to noise. I still like them.
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- Jim

[ThankYouJerry]

Hmmm... Several thousand miles into my set of WRC3 205-70-15, I find them delightfully quiet compared to my old set of WRG2 215-65-15 tires. Do you have 205/70/15s Jim? If so, what tire pressure are you running? I'm running 42 in the front and 48 in back.
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1990 Multivan - "Ohana"
1.8T, Auto w/3.27 R&P + Peloquin TBD

[jimf909]

My WRC3s are 215/65 R16. I won't say the noise is intrusive but it is an added sound under certain confitions that I didn't get with the WRG3s (60 aspect ratio). It's most notable when changing direction and when decelerating and the engine noise subsides.

40 psi front/46 psi rear has been working out well.
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- Jim

[Slimvest]

Joined the WRC3 club today with a set 205/70R15. Definitely more crisp than my old General Grabber AT2, but time will tell. It's just money...
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'87 GL w/ Reimo top

[Corwyn]

I had a set of WRC3s installed before a trip to Baja California. Great ride, great sidewall confidence, but by the time I got back to Washington, 1/3 of the tread was gone. As an "all-weather" tire, the rubber is softer and wears faster. I am running Yokohama Geolandars (all-terrain) three years old and still have plenty of tread.
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'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 ~

[Slimvest]

[Schuylersister]

I just ordered Nokian WRC3 205/70r15 tires to replace the Nokains WRG3s I've had for four years. So far I have the origional 14" alloy wheel with the origional Michelin 205/70r14 tire for a spare. It's old now. Wondering what people are using for a spare with the WRC3s since they are directional? Would still love to store the spare in the clamshell. Thank you!

[termuehlen]

I have a 205/65-15 WRC3 on a steel wheel in an original clam shell. I also have a 205/65-16 WRC3 on an alloy wheel in a modified clam shell (retaining bars removed and replaced with bolts). Since they are directional, there is a 50/50 chance they will be running in the wrong direction when installed in an emergency. I don't intend to drive more than a few hundred miles with the tire running in the wrong direction, if the spare is needed.
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1988 Westfalia automatic Subaru OBD1
1986 syncro tintop wbx

[Slimvest]

[jimf909]

I run 215/65 R16 tires and keep an original size spare (replaced it two years ago so it's fresh) in the clamshell. I basically treat it as a doughnut and only expect to use it until I repair or replace the flat tire.
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- Jim

[SeacoastRed]

It looks the size availability of these tires in a D/8 ply has increased since the thread was created. Tires-easy currently appears to be carrying 205/65R16 (26.5 inch diameter) and 215/60R16 (26.1 diameter). For a stock 2.1 westy (no lift), is there a downside to going with the wider tires? As I see it, the wider tires might be assumed to corner and accelerate a bit better at the cost of less cushion on rough terrain and aesthetically would not fill the wheel well as well.

For reference on my stock 2.1/MT Westy I'm currently rolling with the Hankook RA18 195R14 (D ply, diameter 26.2). I'm content with the acceleration of these tires around town and I feel reasonably safe on the slow lane of the highways around here. However, I am looking for better traction for gravel roads and would also like to take the van out in the winter months from time to time, hence my interest in the WRC3.

Thanks for the knowledge.

[Slimvest]