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

[jtauxe]

[dodger tom]

one more vote for stock size. hankooks have been very very good to me.
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1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[Shonandb]

I run the stock size (185R14) load D Hankooks in the summer but run 215/65/16 Extra Load Nord Frost Winter tires from Oct to the end of April. I think the 215/65/16 is as big as I can go on the front without changing out to raised spindles.

The Nord Frost tires are on ET33 rims which give it an extra 1.5" wider stance and give a noticeably smoother and more stable ride, better handling on winding roads, and more ground clearance for those washed out FSR's. Steering is more of a workout when parking though. I have a Subaru swap so no issues with power to drive them and the larger diameter reduces the rpms at hwy speeds.

185R14

215/65/16

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76 Westy with a 2.5L Subaru SOHC + Vanagon (010) Automatic Transaxle
Build & Trip Thread: https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=758760
Previous 1973 Panel Bus:
Click to view image

[NASkeet]

[nemobuscaptain]

I don't understand why people who pay $8-12 for a coffee still want to skimp on tire purchases.

I drove around on 27/8.50/14 on a 1600 and it ran great. It has been a common size tire on busses since the 60s. here you drive may matter though. I wasn't going up mountains in Colorado. When I did go to altitute, 8000 ft more or less on Mount Lemmon, I had to stop and adjust my carb. Not likely a tire issue.
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Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub

RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf

[Shonandb]

[NASkeet]

[nemobuscaptain]

[NASkeet]

[Justin Painter]

I purchased Yokohama Super Van 356 195/75r14. I'm very happy with the purchase.


https://www.prioritytire.com/yokohama-super-van-35...gL5hvD_BwE

[NASkeet]

[catmando]

The load index is lower, 99/98H than 185 75 14,Why? Says 8 ply. Load index on 185 is 102. I can't understand why. Sorry, but common sense tells me and van/bus specs says 102. Yes, I like wider but it also cost more. For what? I wonder what the tire pressure would be on 195 75 14?

Even cheaper tire, is the Haida HD 718. 185 75 14 8 ply 102 load rating. Spot on! Ebay $304.93 for 4. Free shipping. #1 tire manufacture in China.

[NASkeet]

[Wildthings]

A tire's rating is pretty proportionate to the mass of the air inside the tire. As the tire profile goes down so does the load, while as the pressure goes up the load rating goes up as well. Other things being equal increasing the diameter and/or width of the tire increases its ability to carry a load.

[1FineOLD69]

ok so after looking around at what is available in my price range locally i found two choices: 185 75 14 and or 205 75 14

My bus has had the same set of 205 75 14 on it for over 10 years with no problems with the little use it gets here on the California coast.

So should I just continue to run the 205 75 14? and get a new set exact same size?

Or should I switch it up to the 185 75 14?

and what would be the pros and cons of each of my two options?
or what other size would you recommend other than the obvious and popular but expensive 185 14C


Keep in mind I don't buy coffee ever at a take away store and eat every meal at home. I never spend 8$ on a coffee not even 1$ ,I buy a big bag of coffee at the grocery outlet for 5$ and that bag lasts me all month.......
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Looking for a complete sink unit for early bay window

[Holzy22]

Anyone use Continental Vanco tires?

[Wildthings]

[Anchovy]

[Holzy22]

[Anchovy]