Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 12:42:50 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: 14" Alloy and 195R14
In-Reply-To: <CAGwfHKQ9PtrfRFfUU7Mm0=boxuvdMnSwOb2pajreSsZ6MY6yHA@mail.gmail.com>
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Since vanagon speedometers read a little high anyway ..
going to a slightly bigger tire brings the speedo closer to a correct
reading often.
People have run 195 R14's with satisfaction I believe.
my all time favorite 14 inch size though ...
if you can find them in LT ..
is 27 X 8.50 R14 LT.
There are fewer offerings in that size these days I think.
Cooper Discovery as a brand had offered that size.
the absolute best handling and driving vanagon I have ever driven ..
and I've driven hundreds of vanaogns ..
had 27 X 8.50R14 LT's on it. Super nice size for a 14.
Very close to the 195 R14.
one last comment ..whatever you do do not put D load rated tires on the
front.
This is the common load rating available in 185 R14's these days ..
andevery time I drive a vanagon with D Load front tires I just can not
stand it ..
you feel every tiny ripple in the pavement.
But ..if you run C ( or LT ) laod rating tire ..
which *are correct for vanagosn with 14 inch tires* ....then ride is
smooth, handling is great.
for even better straightline tracking, good turn-in, and good cornering
stability, in 14's ..
run D laodrating tires in the rear, C's in the front.
I set up all my 14 inch vanagons this way.
I own 9 good vanagons ..about 6 of those are running, and 7 are for sale.
I'm realnutty about ride and handling, have raced cars and motorcycles ..
many vanagons are not handling and steering anything like they are
easily capable of.
main thing ..just don't put D laod rating tires on the front.
D load rating tires are not even correct for vanagons anyway. Read the
tire sticker in the driver's footwell.
You might want to check out the 27 X 8.50 R14 LT ....
those are nigh perfect for a slightly larger 14.
wanting people to get the most out of their wonderful vanagons .
scott
www.turbovans.com
On 1/7/2013 7:11 AM, Harold Teer wrote:
> Is anyone using the Carat alloy with 195R14 tires and if so, what is your
> experience with them?
>
> I presently have the Hankook RA08 185R14 mounted on the alloys and am
> either going to replace with the same tire in the same size or the same
> tire in 195R14 and am looking for real life experience pros and cons.
>
> Every tire I have had on the van to this point has had an OD of 25.6 but
> the 195R14 would increase that to 26.3. I do realize the larger OD
> changes the accuracy of the speedometer but that does not bother me. Also
> the Tread Width would increase from 5.1 to 5.5 One advantage I see for
> the 195R14 is that the Tread Depth increases to 12.5 from 11.5.
>
> We have a Westy with the original 2.1 engine and use the van for long trips.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Harold
>
> --
> Harold Teer
> 1991 Westy
> Harrisonburg, VA
>
