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Shinnlinger Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2017 Posts: 122 Location: New Hampshire
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:07 am Post subject: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Sorry I can't figure out the search function, as I'm sure this has been discussed before, But looking or some pointers.
I have '74 hi-roof that may serve as a coffee vendor at some point about to go to Ct and get the Subaru treatment. It has some "ok" van tires on the original 14" wheels but my understanding is those tires are hard to come by so a 15 or 16" rim upgrade a good idea.
Steelies would be fine with me but open to suggestion for wheel and tire size as well as vendors.
Thanks.
Dave |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6982 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 2:37 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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The stock size of 185R14c or a little larger size 195R14c tires are not to come by. The Hankook Vantra are readily available in those sizes either on the internet or at your LTS. If you’d like to go bigger you can also go with the 27x8.5 size, also readily available.
There’s a thread called “the fire sticky.” Use the search function to find it as this thread is gonna get locked as soon as the peeps in the left coast wake up. _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build |
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Shinnlinger Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2017 Posts: 122 Location: New Hampshire
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aeromech Samba Member
Joined: January 24, 2006 Posts: 16971 Location: San Diego, California
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 4:37 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Powder coat your stock wheels and then get these.
Hankook Vantra LT (RA18) Light Truck Radial Tire-185/R14 102R 8-ply https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07C3R5TV8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_03DSEQ4C4NHQW2MNYX1M
Or these
195R14 HANKOOK VANTRA RA18 106/104R https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0851L997Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_WNAYY0W1Y2ZZW7KNV7RX _________________ Lead Mechanic: San Diego Air and Space Museum
Licensed Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic
Licensed Pilot (Single engine Land)
Boeing 727,737-200-300-400,757,767
Airbus A319,320,321
DC9/MD80
BAe146
Fokker F28/F100
VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
VW Passat
Capable of leaping tall buildings in a single bound |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:13 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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richparker wrote: |
The stock size of 185R14c or a little larger size 195R14c tires are not to come by. The Hankook Vantra are readily available in those sizes either on the internet or at your LTS. If you’d like to go bigger you can also go with the 27x8.5 size, also readily available.
There’s a thread called “the fire sticky.” Use the search function to find it as this thread is gonna get locked as soon as the peeps in the left coast wake up. |
the fire sticky is a different thread than the tire sticky. very good info in both |
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Xevin Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 7632
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:39 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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If you are going to do a Subaru conversion in CT. I’d reach out to Skills for his opinion. If you stay 14” check out this thread. Page 24 and 24, I have pictures of me driving the Vanagon off road for anything I plan on driving in. I’m using the Hankooks. Dave has a report on the Yokohama’s he just installed. If I had a more powerful engine, I would have gone with a bigger wheel combo.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...1256adb283 _________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin... |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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Globespotter Samba Member
Joined: February 16, 2012 Posts: 1770 Location: Newmarket, ON
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Xevin Samba Member
Joined: January 08, 2014 Posts: 7632
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:47 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Globespotter wrote: |
Xevin wrote: |
If you are going to do a Subaru conversion in CT. I’d reach out to Skills for his opinion. |
I just assumed he was going to Skills. Where else would you go for a quality Subaru conversion? |
Exactly _________________ Keep on Busin'
67rustavenger wrote: |
GFY's Xevin and VW_Jimbo! |
Clatter wrote: |
Damn that Xevin... |
skills@eurocarsplus wrote: |
I respect Xevin and he's a turd |
SGKent wrote: |
My God! Xevin and I 100% agree |
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NASkeet Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 2958 Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 11:53 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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When I put my 1973 VW 1600 Type 2 Westfalia Continental motor-caravan back on the road, I shall probably be opting for either 205/65 R16C or 215/65 R16C commercial-van tyres on 7 x 16 inch Mercedes C-Class alloy wheels. These two tyre sizes have been the almost the de facto standard for modern medium-sized commercial vans for about the past ten years in Great Britain. _________________ Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50351
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:15 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Shinnlinger wrote: |
It has some "ok" van tires on the original 14" wheels but my understanding is those tires are hard to come by so a 15 or 16" rim upgrade a good idea. |
For most, larger diameter wheels are not called for unless you are getting larger diameter rotors for the front and need the extra clearance. |
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Cap10323 Samba Member
Joined: July 24, 2016 Posts: 604 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 3:38 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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The Vantras are fantastic tires. Highly recommended. They will make your Bus ride and handle like a car 20 years younger. _________________ -Ian
'77 Westfalia - 2.0 F.I |
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danfromsyr Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15144 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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there are plenty of 185r14 and 195r14s.
just make sure you have all 5.
you can order them shipped to your door or your tire shop or walmart. _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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plywoodkid Samba Member
Joined: April 17, 2018 Posts: 217 Location: Ventura County, CA
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 8:51 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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I 2nd Aeromech, I did exactly that:
I powder coated locally and ordered the Hankook Vantra LT (RA18) Light Truck Radial Tire-185/R14 102R 8-ply from Amazon. They were here in no time.
These are meant for vans/commerical vehicles. Certainly feel safer wit the 8-Ply.
Don't make the mistake of riding on tires made for automobiles.
BTW, I even bought an extra full size spare and put it on a 5th powder coated rim. |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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TomWesty Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007 Posts: 3482 Location: Wyoming,USA
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Stock wheels and Vantras can’t be beat for looks, ride, simplicity. Simplicity is wonderful! _________________ If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50351
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Posted: Mon Mar 29, 2021 10:23 pm Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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nemobuscaptain wrote: |
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire. |
You can get an extra load tire in a 215/65R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well.
Last edited by Wildthings on Tue Mar 30, 2021 10:45 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NASkeet Samba Member
Joined: April 29, 2006 Posts: 2958 Location: South Benfleet, Essex, UK
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 9:59 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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Wildthings wrote: |
nemobuscaptain wrote: |
I think if you called Michelin and told them you wanted those for your bus, they wouldn't sell them to you bc the bus calls for a load rated tire. |
You can get an extra load tire in a 215/16R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well. |
I don't think there is a 215/16 R16 tyre, except possibly for a Formula 1 racing car!
The 215/65 R16C commercial van tyres that I have seen, have a load index of about 108/110. Similar 60-Series commercial-van tyres are also available, but they're not nearly as common or keenly priced as the 65-Series commercial-van tyres. _________________ Regards.
Nigel A. Skeet
Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.
Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper
Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)
http://www.vwt2oc.net |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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Wildthings Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50351
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2021 11:11 am Post subject: Re: Wheels and tire suggestions? |
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NASkeet wrote: |
Quote: |
You can get an extra load tire in a 215/16R16 though. Vredestein makes one. The heavily siped threads on the Vredesteins would likely give good traction in most conditions as well. |
I don't think there is a 215/16 R16 tyre, except possibly for a Formula 1 racing car! |
Sorry, that was a typo. Meant to say 215/65R16, The Tire Rack lists dozens of them and with a 98 load rating they exceed the 97 load rating of the stock 205/70R14 reinforced tires.
I would still be wanting to avoid the short sidewalls of a 65 profile tire if driving off road though. I would think that an ideal tire for these old rigs would be a 225/70R14 or 27/8.5R14 mounted on a 6.5" wide rim with the correct offset. I suspect with the wider rims they would be very stable in the wind without the rim being so wide as to make the bead overly vulnerable to damage for rocks and curbs.
FWIW I was with a friend a couple of weeks ago and he had a 1/4" diameter stick puncture the sidewall on an 8 ply truck tires, so higher ply ratings don't translate into super dependability as is often claimed here. One of the reasons I like the 27/8.5R14 is its 4 ply sidewalls are more heavily built than a typical 8 ply, which is part of the reason why they outweigh a 195r14 by 5 pounds or so. |
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