Date: Sat, 20 Jun 2015 19:01:04 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: Tires.. Again
In-Reply-To: <CAKT-6MuZ5NQrFikwRrXzeru_L=XXfLfqP3hAAAgwb3Z+-9O75w@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
glad to see someone mention the michelin Aqilles 205/65 R 15 C load
rating ......
that is an AWESOME Vanagon highway tire ..
like summer/tire.
Will absoluteness transform a properly set up Vanagon compared to any 14's.
Personally ...
I run dedicated front and rear tires and sizes..
like ALL modern performance cars ..the rear tire is always 'more" ..
wider..lower profile but bigger cross section compared to front etc. Any
Corvette, Porsche, etc.
With Michelin Agilles 205/65 R 15 in front, I run a 215/65 R 15 in the
rear in an H load rating ..not by fav but they work fine in the rear.
I never like much over high 30's pis in the front ..
perhaps 44 rear . Pressured COLD>
having raced cars and motorcycles I tune the handling of the vehicle
with tire pressure.
- for ride and steering response.
( for heavy loads I go up some, but nothing like 50+ _)
The handling and steering response on my Vanagon set up this way is dead
neutral ..
doesn't even lean much in turns ( it's not an understeering pig at all,
which many vanagons are Caucasus people don't know how to set them up
for concerning stability )
< the very worst vanagons for that are 85 Weekenders and Westy's that
are too tall on their springs in the front.
85 GL front springs will fix that just fine though.
lol..I've driven an 85 Westy that was too tall in the front ..and had
ordinary tires on it ..
it leaned like the Queen Mary in corners ...and if you go for any brio
at all..you just get right away into 'terminal understeer'...leaning way
over and grinding off front tires..most unpleasant. >
My Van with this tire setup above will stay in a lane on the freeway
hands-off for a qtr. mile..
to go around a corner ..just a nice 'guiding' touch is all it takes.
I've driven at least a few hundred vanagons ..working on them and test
drives.
if your van jumps around on bumps ..
real story here ..I worked on a guy's Syncro tintop van .
we finish whatever we worked on and go for a drive.
I have a nice windy and bumpy test route.
A good cars 'just goes where you tell it to' ..is not affected by bumps
or pavement irregularities and is not sensitive to inputs like power,
brake and steering.
His van was kinda 'all over the road' ..just in normal driving at 45 mph .
I ask what pressures are you running ?
he says 48 front and rear.
( he had proper vanagon -rated tires btw )
I lowered the fronts to 40 psi .
night and day difference !
van goes right where you tell it to now ..doesn't change direction or
require steering corrections on windy roads and pumps now.
I don't expect anyone to do this ..
but I do on my vans ( i own over 8 ) with 14' s,
I run the common 185 R 14 D load rating in the rear.
but .
I can Not Stand a D load rating in the front ..now even for one day !~
Way too harsh and stiff..and lowering tire pressure doesn't help ...as
you try to reduce harshness with lower front tire pressure you loose
steering response crispness )
hard to find...but a 185 R 14 C load rating in front with a D load
rating in back ..works great.
and next time you see a late model syncro ..
look at the tire spec label . I have looked at those many times..and I
swear it says D's in the rear and C's in the front ( aka 8 ply rating
rear, 6 ply rating front )
and do the tire pressures right ..you always want about 4 psi more in
the rear.
if you want to see what the affect is there..
try less pressure in the rear and more in the front ..
you'll have a badly oversteering vanagon that way ...more pressure in
the rear contributes toward less understeer ..or more neutral handling
response.
some vehicles ever run wider rims in the rear and I have done that some
..that helps too.
anyway ...get to 15's or 16's I say.
also ....65 aspect ratio tires in general.....very sweet size.
70- aspect ratio is good too ..I wouldn't run 75's though unless I
wanted a large tallish tire.
Vanagon bliss
On 6/20/2015 11:23 AM, Mark Hersh wrote:
> These threads are always helpful to me. In 2008 I upgraded to 15" rims and
> unfortunately the tire I picked are taller than we would like (Michelin LTX
> M/S in 215/75).
>
> We want a highway tire (don't do much off-pavement stuff and what we do do
> is pretty much better Forest Service roads).
>
> I see the Goodyear Cargo G26 in a 195/70. Or Michelin Agilis or Firestone
> Transforce in 205/65. All are load range C and can take 54 to 65 psi.
>
> Thoughts?
>
>
> On Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 9:00 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> There are some tires still available for the 14" rims. There are still the
>> skinny hard high capacity sizes such as the 185/80-14 hankooks and the
>> like. In 87 VW began offering the 205/70-14XL tires as a handling and
>> comfort upgrade. These are getting harder to find. There are still some
>> General Altimax tires available but they are out of production.
>> Tires-easy.com has some choices in this size and load rating and they are
>> very reasonably priced.
>>
>> If willing to go for a wheel upgrade avoid 15's unless you want to
>> increase diameter. Few choices with adequate capacity without going taller.
>> Going to 16 or 17 gets choices with needed capacity and true modern
>> performance options. Favorite size is 225/60-16. This is only 3/4-1" taller
>> and the 225 width is a substantial improvement. Normal load index is 97 0r
>> 98 and XL 102 is readily available. This is a very common size. For Syncros
>> a 215/65-16 is a tad taller and can be made to fit in the spare
>> compartment. There are a number of outstanding winter and all season with
>> winter capability tires with the XL rating available. Going to a 17;s you
>> can go 225/55-17 with the same advantages and even better handling although
>> you will feel the bumps more. American Racing offers the AR95T wheels in
>> both 16 and 17 direct fit for the Vanagon with a 2,200 lb. load rating.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>> Of Tyler Hardison
>> Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2015 10:49 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Tires.. Again
>>
>> My weekender has the original 14" steel rims and the chrome VW hubcaps.
>> But tires seem impossible to find.
>>
>> Is there a last ditch hope to find the correct tires? Or should I remove
>> her original feet to upgrade and just not worry about it.
>>
>> I know, personal preference.
>>
>> Those that have upgraded, was the upgrade that noticeable in the vans
>> stability?
>>
>
>
> --
> 86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"
>
> Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs,
> regardless of temperament. Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at
> http://www.blackpearldogs.com/ Learn about black dogs in a Vanagon at
> http://www.pbase.com/mhersh/image/108220533
>
