Does anyone know what tyre this is?

[ronmidg]

its reported as 225/85/14, gives 29 inch diameter

can be seen here

http://allride.skynetblogs.be/category/1321054/1/+VW+Baja+Bus" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[buddysbuddy]

Chunky

Looks like a standard Land Rover tread pattern?

No idea on size though.

 

[Loxy]

Have a look on thesamba.com theres a thread about offroad buses and tyre choice, looks like it could be a pic of a guy on theres bus whos name is something like xsxuxrxfx

 

[Loxy]

try here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=270984" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
and here:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=270489&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=offroad&start=0" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[ronmidg]

thanks
its a interco superswamper,

and theres an agent in Nottingham :bliss:

 

[Trikky2]

Hmm - that could be interesting to drive. Will they clear the arches without rubbing though?

They will increase the gearing by 13% which means the speedo would tend to read slow, beware of cameras etc.

The engine would need to be more powerful than stock or you will be changing down to third if the van sees so much as a photo of an incline.

With the higher sidewalls and higher center of gravity one would have to be careful about cornering too I suspect.

 

[s4lco]

Hi, I'm in the process of raising my suspension to fit such tyres & I've found the 15" tyres to be much cheaper, from £200 for 4. Depending on your stud pcd of course, then fitting 15" splitty wheels isn't too costly either. 14" tyres always seem to be harder to find & are usually special order bumping up the cost.
If you can get a deal for 2 sets then let me know :lol:

 

[ronmidg]

the reason I'm interested is to try and alter the gearing and because this is the tallest tyre I've seen that seems to fit standard arches, this is the rear wheel on the same van with one notch raise on the outer spline.

They retail around 120/130$ in the US, not found a price in the UK yet, probably going to be the same number of £ or thereabouts.

I've already fitted a six rib box to raise the gearing and its disappointing. My bay gearing (16,5 mph per 1000rpm) is still slower than my split gearing at 17 mph/1000 which is still on reduction boxes. The bay tyresare a bit small 185x70x14 compared to stock. The split rears are a bit big 195x80x15 compared to stock. The bay engine is 1800 plus 2l barrels and twin dellortos, the split is 1600 Twin port on twin ICTs, the bay is delivering at least 25% more torque than the split so I expect it to cope with the taller gearing, I still have my old gearbox if it doesnt.

The one notch raise at the rear will increase the CV joint angle, I still need to look into what that means, the bay joints have an angle limit and need to work out if better joints are required, on the other hand, the wheel seems to clear the arch so maybe the raise is not necesary at the back, and its done for clearance at the front. I'm not too fussed about the same tyre allround so might not need to raise. So the 14 inch rim becomes attractive. I would fit a bigger tyre at the front than I have now, just not29 inch big.

As for the speedo its a kilometer speedo which I've taped over the numbers and written on my own mph, it will cost me 12 inches of masking tape to change it.

 

[Guest]

itll be a noisy ride on the motorway.

 

[Trikky2]

.

 

[ronmidg]

Hi Johnny

agree with the noise comment, but louder than the engine?

The tread pattern has two central ribs running around the tyre with offroad grip from the two outer ribs with a tranverse pattern. It is claimed to be a quiet road tyre, but all things are relative, should be quieter than a sand tyre where all the tread is transverse.

Its the super swamper radial TSL on this catalogue page

 

[ronmidg]

Update.

The Nottingham "agents" can't find the size available from any of their suppliers???????

Specialist Leisure in Cheshire can get them special order from the US, say its not a size held in the UK, but cannot say if in stock in US until place an order. Price is £163 each plus vat.

 

[Trikky2]

I've already fitted a six rib box to raise the gearing and its disappointing. My bay gearing (16,5 mph per 1000rpm) is still slower than my split gearing at 17 mph/1000 which is still on reduction boxes.

Not sure what 6 rib box you fitted but on stock 185/80 - 14 wheels the 2 litre 6 rib gearbox gives 18.45 mph per 1000 rpm - not 16.5.

 

[ronmidg]

Trikky2

I know my current tyres are small at 185/70/14, a change to 80 section gives 18.5mm higher radius worth 6% on gearing which would be 17.5mph per 1000rpm. Hmmmmmm. I shall be out counting revolutions at the weekend. Is there more than one 6 rib box?

 

[Trikky2]

Trikky2

I know my current tyres are small at 185/70/14, a change to 80 section gives 18.5mm higher radius worth 6% on gearing which would be 17.5mph per 1000rpm. Hmmmmmm. I shall be out counting revolutions at the weekend. Is there more than one 6 rib box?

Its quite complicated http://www.partsemporium.co.uk/type2gearboxcodesandratios.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Heres the stock ratios :-
1.6 litre
1st 3.80
2nd 2.06
3rd 1.26
4th 0.89
final drive 5.375
Overall in top 4.407

1.8 litre

1st 3.78
2nd 2.06
3rd 1.26
4th 0.89
Final drive 4.86

2 litre

1st 3.78
2nd 2.06
3rd 1.26
Top 0.88
final drive 4.57
Overall in top 4.02

But then there were also "mountain ratio" boxes that could be specified.

The other thing is that the internal bits and final drive are interchangeable. With second hand vehicles of this age its hard to be sure what may have been changed or swapped over time.
For instance I am running a 3 rib box with a 4.57 CW/pinion set which then has a taller 4th gear than the stock 2 litre box.

I guess what I am saying is, yes your right, unless you dismantle the gearbox the only way to be certain is either turn the input shaft and count the revolutions or test the vehicle with an accurate rev counter and speedo.