Tyre Pressure

[brenchk]

Hi, I have empi alloy wheels with a 195/50 tyre on my 71 VW T2. Question... How much should I pump them up to? They are looking pretty flat but have never pumped them and having been at the petrol station I couldn;t work out how much air to put in. A stupid question I grant you. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

 

[VWAIRCOOLED]

I was taught that a tyre should be inflated to the manufacturers recommended pressure,even on non standard tyres.It is the pressure that determines the contact area on the road so keep it spot on what VW say.

 

[Clarkson46]

The tyre pressure is the same regardless of the tyre fitted. Basically it is the air pressure in your tyres that determine the ride characteristics. So inflate them to the VW recommended pressures.

 

[brenchk]

Thanks... but what is the recommended tyre pressure for a 1971 VW T2 Dorm... the handbook has gone missing.... Rgds, Kevan

 

[Harlequin]

Got this from a type 2 tech page

For 185 R 14 Reinforced _radials_ ('68 - '79 vehicles) the factory lists 30psi in front and 40psi in back, except for "Delivery Van and Station Wagon from April 1972". For these last they call for 30psi in front and 44psi in back. These specs are for "Fully loaded" conditions.

in benson if 3/4 loaded rears are 37psi

 

[Tofufi]

From the petrol flap on my '71 (ex)Dormy:

(atu is bar)

 

[Wannabay]

thought my tyres always looked a bit low - inside of my fuel cap (1971 Danbury) says 29/29 for a 3/4 load - min rear pressure in Bentley manual is 34psi - so is my sticker just plain wrong then?

 

[Clarkson46]

No your fuel flap is correct for your Bus. Bentley has to cover all eventualities and is American. Also some bus tyre pressures are for Cross Ply tyre and not Radials.

 

[Tofufi]

Why would they be different between a Dormobile and a Danbury?

Was one a kombi and one a panel perhaps?

Mine was a factory windowed bus.

 

[Clarkson46]

If you dig a little deeper, according to Bentley the tyre pressures changed in 1971 as the American buses changed to radial from cross ply tyres. So the Dormy/Danbury thing could reflect a slightly different build date and the change to radial tyres????

 

[Tofufi]

Makes sense

Mine was built Jan '71, so possibly the pressures are for crossplys?

 

[Htotheunit]

I got one in my cap, but my vans still in the garage so i cant have a look.. i keep mine between the two, best of both worlds.. unless im shifting stuff, in which case ill put in the full amount

 

[Wannabay]

I got one in my cap, but my vans still in the garage so i cant have a look.. i keep mine between the two, best of both worlds.. unless im shifting stuff, in which case ill put in the full amount

that's what I've settled on, 30 upfront and 35 rear - mine was registered July '71 so pressures were then probably for crossplys