| [ Total Views: 1916 | Total Replies: 25 | Thread Id: 100319 ] |
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 modulus
A.k.a.: Peter Hill
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| posted on December 30th, 2012 at 02:24 PM |
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Experience with light truck tyres wanted
I'm about to replace my (no-longer-available) Michelin XCD light truck tyres with something.
Does anyone have experience with any of the following?
Michelin Agilis
Diamondback TR645
Bridgestone R263
Any other (185R14 light truck) recommendations?
Humourous suggestions (such as using passenger car tyres) also welcome.
TIA
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 matberry
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| posted on December 30th, 2012 at 02:47 PM |
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Obviously for your bus??
I've a customer car here now with Bridgestone R623 and it was terrible to drive after a front end repair and align, so I checked the rear align, it
was 6mm toe in, so reset and best I got was 3mm toe in and its way better but still twichy in the rear. I'm yet to see if I can get the rear closer
to zero, but I feel the tyres are contributing to the poor handling
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE
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modulus
A.k.a.: Peter Hill
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| posted on December 30th, 2012 at 02:54 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by matberry
Obviously for your bus??
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Yep, for my '75 double-cab pickup.
hth
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 helbus
A.k.a.: Pete S
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| posted on December 30th, 2012 at 06:20 PM |
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Is there a specific reason for light truck tyres only? A set of 4 passenger tyres can accommodate 2400kg GVM load rating in most circumstances.
We use Kumho KH18 for the 91V load rating for the limo which has a GVM 2450kg
LOL (for humour)
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kaiisons
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| posted on December 30th, 2012 at 06:53 PM |
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Toyo h08 From reports a good tyre. I had the Yokohama equiv. good as well.
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modulus
A.k.a.: Peter Hill
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| posted on December 31st, 2012 at 09:55 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by matberry
I've a customer car here now with Bridgestone R623 and ... but I feel the tyres are contributing to the poor handling
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Thank you, I'll steer clear of those (pun intended).
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AA003
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| posted on December 31st, 2012 at 10:02 AM |
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Why do you want light truck tyres? (I don't get the joke)
Check out Toyos.
Stay away from Michelin Agilis.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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modulus
A.k.a.: Peter Hill
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| posted on December 31st, 2012 at 10:13 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by helbus
Is there a specific reason for light truck tyres only? A set of 4 passenger tyres can accommodate 2400kg GVM load rating in most circumstances.
We use Kumho KH18 for the 91V load rating for the limo which has a GVM 2450kg
LOL (for humour)
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Peter,
Thanks for the information. I guess from the load rating the limo must have 15" wheels? Unfortunately the best-fit 14" (195/60R14) only has a load
rating of 86H, i.e. 530 kg per wheel. My fully-loaded GVM is 2350, i.e. 588/wheel. I don't *intend* to fully load my doka, but it is easier to
overload a single-cab or double-cab than a Kombi.
That's one of the reasons for my preference for LT tyres. Second is that VW fitted transporters (from '71 on) with "commercial" grade radials
(i.e. 185C14) for the same reason. Thirdly, when I first got the doka it was fitted with passenger radials and was rather "wallowy"; once I fitted
Michelin LT tyres and set them at 42 PSI (290 KPA for you mod3rn folk) the stability improved markedly.
I'm sure if I went up to 16" wheels with low profile passenger car radials I could get both the sidewall stiffness and load capacity required, but
I'm attached to having steel wheels rather than aluminium.
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modulus
A.k.a.: Peter Hill
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| posted on December 31st, 2012 at 10:24 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by kaiisons
Toyo h08 From reports a good tyre...
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Thanks kaiisons - that looks like a good candidate, with a 102/100S rating which is 850/800 kg per wheel.
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AA003
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| posted on December 31st, 2012 at 10:25 AM |
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I've Toyo Tranpath MP4 215/65R14 94H on my Doka on 6" rims.
The standard tyres are 205/70R14 but are near impossible to buy with a decent load rating.
The light truck and C rating are old ratings and don't really mean much nowadays. They are not even written into Australian standards.
Light truck usually means stronger less flexible sidewalls and shit handling in the wet.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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modulus
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| posted on January 21st, 2013 at 04:18 PM |
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The upshot - after searching diligently for comments, I managed to find negative comments and experience for just about every tyre of the right size
ever constructed.
I am trying Diamondback 185R14C 102/100N tyres on the front. They were $89 each, fitted and balanced, and so far, so good. The ride quality is good,
directional stability is good. I'm sure that ultimately they will lack cornering grip compared with some of the other options available, but it's
not a race car. The one thing I haven't found out yet is whether the wet grip, especially braking, is up to snuff, but it hasn't rained since
fitting them two weeks ago.
hth
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grinderman
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| posted on January 21st, 2013 at 07:50 PM |
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Good point, it's not a race car. If you drove fast enough to question the tyres grip I think your in the wrong vehicle. I have bought at least 6 sets
of 185r14 lt tyres over the last 10 years and one thing I know is that more expensive tyres DO NOT last longer than the cheapies. I got over 90,000ks
on a set of $78 cheng shin (or whatever they were) and I never matched that on dunlops or bridgestones. This may not be true with 4wd tyres but for
normal use light truck tyres its just not worth the extra $100+ for a set unless you have performance upgrades.
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1303Steve
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| posted on January 21st, 2013 at 08:42 PM |
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Hi
Ive had some terrible experinces with light truck tyres on my Hi Lux work utes, the worst were Goodyear G800, in the wet you were never sure what was
going to happen when you went around a corner or applied the brakes.
Im using Kumho 857 in 205 x15, they are very good in all conditions but we never let them get anywhere near the wear indicators.
My ute is permantly loaded and weighs 2.5 tonnes.
Steve
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viiking
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| posted on January 22nd, 2013 at 08:16 PM |
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Years ago I was travelling from Byron to Sydney with the wife and four kids in my '74 Microbus downhill at 100kmh with a fully loaded box trailer
with our camping gear in it. I had only been on the road for about 200k.
Bang, Bang! I lost both rear tyres. If it wasn't for the added weight at the back with the trailer and some drag keeping us straight, I reckon we
would have run off into the bush and been killed. No joke.
On inspection the new Bridgestone car tyres had failed and had flailed around under the rear mudguards and caused a huge amount of damage from the
flapping.
When I contacted Bridgestone they said that it was my fault (of course) that I had run the tyres under-inflated. This was of course not correct as I
was anal at keeping my pressures higher around 40psi even if it meant a little hard ride. After replacing the two tyres and back on my way, one of the
front tyres started to delaminate but I felt it going and I had to replace both the front two as well before I got home.
I was somewhat upset and aided with a letter from a country tyre dealer I confronted Bridgestone in Sydney and they advised in the end after some
pressing that it was a bad batch of tyres. They paid for the tyres and the body repairs. However they did say off the record that you should not have
used a 2-ply radial car tyre on the Kombi. Even though there was NO recommendation against it.
I immediately proceeded to remove the Bridgestone and go to Dunlop LT tyres and never regretted it. Nor did I notice much difference in the handling.
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Lucky Phil
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| posted on January 26th, 2013 at 07:58 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by 1303Steve
but we never let them get anywhere near the wear indicators.
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x2
After wearing out quite a number of sets of LT tyres on 1 ton utes, I have never worn any of them to the wear indicator. Way too scary.
I can recall one incident (vividly!) when this practice saved me from an accident on the freeway.
The (not quite) worn out tyres I use on the trailers where they perform excellently.
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AA003
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| posted on January 26th, 2013 at 08:40 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by viiking
However they did say off the record that you should not have used a 2-ply radial car tyre on the Kombi.
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What a load of BS!
What did your Kombi come with?
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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bus914
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| posted on January 27th, 2013 at 07:58 AM |
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LT tyres have stiffer side walls. The idea is that this will give you better stability while cornering or in side winds. It’s kind of like using a
larger rim and a low profile tyre. I had LT’s on my stock ride height bus and loved the difference. The tread pattern was very uninspiring (firestone
cv2000) but they were quiet and fine in the wet weather. Pretty sure the owner’s manual specified LT’s too. The other thing that made a big diff was
tyre pressure. I can’t recall what the specified numbers were but rear was about 10 psi higher.
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AA003
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| posted on January 27th, 2013 at 10:47 AM |
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The idea is that they have stiffer sidewalls so that the mongs driving them can hit gutters.
Stiffer sidewalls = poorer handling. As you corner the sidewall cannot flex so it acts like a hinge and reduces the amount of rubber on the road.
The owners manual would not specify LTs as they were never fitted from factory.
Tyre pressures are the same whether they are LT or not.
The factory knows best.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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bus914
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| posted on January 27th, 2013 at 01:04 PM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
Stiffer sidewalls = poorer handling.
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Google this ^ AA003
And here... pg51 :
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HappyDaze
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| posted on January 27th, 2013 at 02:23 PM |
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Can't see why you should not fit light truck tyres to a light truck.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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AA003
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 08:08 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by bus914
| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
Stiffer sidewalls = poorer handling.
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Google this ^ AA003
And here... pg51 :
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You have a US Kombi then.
Australian Kombis had Uniroyal Steel Cats.
German imports (1977 on) had Continentals.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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AA003
A.k.a.: Phill
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 08:11 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by HappyDaze
Can't see why you should not fit light truck tyres to a light truck.
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Is a Kombi a light truck? What about a Microbus?
I'll go for safety. (Handling, braking etc.)
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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HappyDaze
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 08:20 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
| Quote: | Originally
posted by HappyDaze
Can't see why you should not fit light truck tyres to a light truck.
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Is a Kombi a light truck? What about a Microbus?
I'll go for safety. (Handling, braking etc.)
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Suggest you read ALL of the first post.....in particular, the last paragraph.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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AA003
A.k.a.: Phill
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 09:31 AM |
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Sorry Greg I don't understand what you mean.
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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HappyDaze
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 09:38 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by AA003
Sorry Greg I don't understand what you mean.
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That's OK , AA03.....I often don't understand what I mean.
I'd rather wear a Beetle out by racing it than by polishing it!
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AA003
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| posted on January 28th, 2013 at 10:05 AM |
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| Quote: | Originally
posted by HappyDaze
That's OK , AA03.....I often don't understand what I mean.
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It's an age thing. I am beginning to understand what you mean.
(I hope it's not a Southern Highlands thing!)
I read it on samba, so it must be correct.
Sometimes Volkswagen dealers sell spare parts. Amazing isn't it!
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