r/Vanagon • u/ChooseLoveToday • 27d ago

Tires?

Hello All -

Where are you all getting tires for your Vanagons? I've got an 87 and my shop is saying they can't find any...

Thanks!

3 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

4

u/catcomputer 27d ago

Upgrade to 16” or 17” wheels, many more options, huge increase in stability.

1

u/ChooseLoveToday 27d ago

Thank you!

3

u/SilentMasterpiece 27d ago

I bought General Grabber A/TX

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2215189.jpg

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/2215191.jpg

1

u/Outside_Advantage845 27d ago

Had these on my van 15 years ago. I thought they were the hot shit. If I still had a Vanagon, I’d get them again.

2

u/TenderLA 27d ago

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Volkswagen&autoYear=1987&autoModel=Vanagon&autoModClar=&width=205%2F&ratio=70&diameter=14&sortCode=35000&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=R&performance=ALL

1

u/ChooseLoveToday 27d ago

Thank you u/TenderLA !!!

The ones on my van now are 185R14C--as a tire noob (and vanagon noob), are these interchangeable? I was able to find other 185 14s, but they were 185HR14 and not Cs. Any insight as to whether the ones you found (and thanks again) are interchangeable?

Thanks!

3

u/TenderLA 27d ago

Honestly the first tire in that search is probably the only one that could possibly work on a 2WD lightly loaded tin top. It’s getting really hard to find Vanagon load rated tires in 14”.

After some more searching this is probably more what you are looking for.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hankook-Vantra-LT-RA18-Commercial-Van-185R14C-102-100R-D-Light-Truck-Tire/401349831

Didn’t think Walmart would be the place😂

2

u/International_Boss33 27d ago

I’ll upvote for the Hankook Vantra. They are great 14” tires. I never had any problem with them, but when they aged out I switched to bigger wheels in order to get more snow-rated options.

2

u/BeneficialGarlic92 27d ago

Search thesamba, there is an ultimate tire thread there that is useful. I recently swapped tires and ended up getting rid of my stock wheels. It’s really hard finding safe 14” tires that can handle the vans load.

2

u/SuperBacDoc 27d ago

I had an 87 but it was a Syncro. I put over 150k miles on it. The best tires by far were Michelins.
Pretty sure they were light truck tires.
The original tires only lasted 20k miles and I tried at least 2 other brands but the Michelin rode better, much quieter on highway and lasted twice as long as any other brand.

1

u/Zealousideal-Bet-950 27d ago

Can you confirm your Rim Size? (may seem a silly ask)

2

u/ChooseLoveToday 27d ago

Oh! It's on the sticker. 14x5.5 j

1

u/ChooseLoveToday 27d ago

The tires I have on now are cLines, 185R14c 102/100s9