Its time for me to buy new tires----thoughts on tire size??

[1FineOLD69]

Hey everyone I'm currently running P205 / 75 R14 tires

They are really old and showing signs of dry rot and cracking. The tires are defiantly overdue for a change.

I don't use my bus to often but still want it to be a safe ride.

I'm looking to go cheep as my budget is next to nothing.

Before I just put the same size tires on I thought I'd ask everyone what size tires they prefer.

If money wasn't tight I know I would be going with general grabber but still unsure of which size is best I've heard of folks running a few different sizes.

what are your opinions size wise?
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Looking for a complete sink unit for early bay window

[richparker]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/234622221212?mkcid=16&...media=COPY


https://www.ebay.com/itm/334495595196?mkcid=16&...media=COPY

For $80 more I’d buy the Grabbers. I’ve had both and the Grabbers definitely offer a better ride. What year is your bus and what size engine?
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[1FineOLD69]

[richparker]

Go with the Hankooks. The Grabbers will drag too much with that engine.
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’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build
’63 Deluxe Build

[brookmp]

[aeromech]

Get the Hankook vantra 195/14 or 185/14
_________________
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
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DC9/MD80
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VW type 1 1962,63,65,69,72
VW Type 2 1971 (3 ea.) 1978, 1969
VW Jetta
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[babysnakes]

Hankook 185r14c as said before.

[bsairhead]

[Wildthings]

I have run 215/70r14 about half the time on my Transporters, buy a decent quality set and they will do you well. You can typically find them with a selection of all season tread patterns. Load wise (after a 9% load reduction) they can carry 99% of the rear axle rating, so unless you are running close to maximum load continually should do you fine.

[Wildthings]

[richparker]

[danfromsyr]

for a driven infrequently in Sunny California coast vw I'd go with these Haidas
$75ea delivered.. low rolling resistance of a 185 cross width but same height

https://www.ebay.com/itm/354754860659?hash=item5299099673
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[1FineOLD69]

I have found a really good deal on a used set of :

Michelin 205 70 VR14 XWX

can anyone tell me if these will fit onto my 1969 VW bus?


I don't have much cash and these are available to me locally and within my limited budget
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Looking for a complete sink unit for early bay window

[aeromech]

You may be missing the point. It’s not only about tire size…. It’s also very much about load rating
_________________
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

[bsairhead]

[Wildthings]

Those tires only have a 89 load index, meaning they can only carry 81% of the minimum load rating for a bus tire, that puts them in the iffy range.

[mikedjames]

Apart from the correct commercial van rated tyres, most car tyres are not high enough load rated for a bus. Ideally they need 102 or 104 load rating . but that is hard to find.

You will find clues like the maximum tyre inflation pressure will be 40 psi while the sticker in the bus suggests 45 psi at the rear for full load..

At least my tyres have a max pressure of 50 psi , and a rating of 92XL which is barely into acceptable levels. As a result they get worn out in about 10k miles.
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Ancient vehicles and vessels

1974 VW T2 : Devon Eurovette camper with 1641 DP T1 engine, Progressive carb, full flow oil cooler, EDIS crank timed ignition.
Engine 1: 40k miles (rocker shaft clip fell off), Engine 2: 30k miles (rebuild, dropped valve). Engine 3: a JK Preservation Parts "new" engine, aluminium case: 26k miles: new top end.
Gearbox rebuild 2021 by Bears.

1979 Westerly GK24 24 foot racer/cruiser yacht Forethought of Gosport.
1973 wooden Pacer sailing dinghy

[metahacker]

15" wheels and 215/65R15 .. the bus will drive MUCH better

or if you want to keep 14"
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=...mpare1=yes

26" outer diameter is what you want

EDIT: looks like rich already suggested the vantra .. it's the perfect size

[Air_Cooled_Nut]

I run the Hankook Hankook 185r14 (the proper truck/van tire).

[Wildthings]

If you want to go with a passenger tire, a P215/70R14 will carry 99% of the rated axle load and give pretty good service. They have been better than about 50% of the various truck tires I have tried and not far off from being equal to the others. They are a bit larger in diameter than a 185r14.

The next step up is a P215/15R14 which will easily carry the rated axle load. I have a set of these on my Vanagon and am happy with them. IIRC they are almost 27" in diameter versus 25.5" for a 185R14.

Note that most 215/75R14 are trailer tires, but there are a few passenger vehicle tires in that size.