ok. this is what i've "collected" so far. one thing that seems to be showing up is that camper-folks do NOT like the reinforced car tires, but seem to like the Light Truck tires. makes sense: campers weigh more and are more top- heavy. also personal driving 'style' (as Gallagher would say) likely has a lot to do with how 'good' a set of tires 'feels' as the Good Bus Bollytrop careens around yet another corner. so maybe we ought to separate this by camper and non-camper? at the very least, it is a starting point for someone looking for tires ... at least they know the brands/size/models of some tires that fit the buses and that other people have used. but other than that, it's somewhat like "what's the Best Year for a VW Bus?" ... and we all know how THAT goes. :) Microbuses, 1963-1967 (from Bentley book) 3/4-Ton Payload 4-1/2 K x 15 Rims 6.40-15 Tires, 4 ply rating 1-Ton Payload (including Firetruck) 5 JK x 14 Rims 7.00-14 Tubeless Tires, 6 ply rating -------------------------------------------- (All Models, Buses and Vanagons, 1968-1991) Plies/ Load Range/ Tire Size Max psi Comments ---------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------------------- Sears Trailhandler ? 6/C/50 Horrid Sears Trailhander APT 195/75R14 6/C/50 Good+ (so far) 40k warranty Michelin XZX Reinforced 185/70SR14 6/?/40 Good (imho) Michelin MXL Reinforced 205/70R14 6/B/40 Good Michelin MXL Reinforced 205/70R14 6/B/40 Horrid (squirrely) Dunlop SP LT5 Tubeless 185R15 6/C/?? ??? Kelly Safari All-Terrain 850x27R14 ?/?/? ??? Bridgestone RD-603 LT 185 R 14 6/D/65 Nice and stable; (marked "8 PR") Too early to know wearing qualities Uniroyal Laredo 195/75/R14 6/C/50 open tread all-season OK (lowish) noise Handling ??, only 1 mounted, doesn't wallow this is all the owners manual/bentley book specifies for vanagons: 185 R 14 C 7.00-14 8 PR 185 SR 14 Reinforced 205/70 R 14 joel
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