Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

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Emma&Al
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by Emma&Al »

All done! 4 x 185/80R14s 102R yippee!!!! thanks all
1990 2.1 petrol injected Caravelle

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itchyfeet
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by itchyfeet »

When I had mine fitted I took my hubcaps off before so they didn't damage them, thay asked me if I wanted long or short valves because some hubcaps need long valves otherwise they are hard to get to, dunno what the Rover ones are like but I went for long ones just in case.
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Emma&Al
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by Emma&Al »

I forgot about that, thanks itchy feet. I've left my hubcaps at work so I've not even opened the package yet - but Ill take them with me so they can advise :)
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by ajsimmo »

What tyre brand/model did you go for, and how much?
Last time, for the wife's daily diesel Caravelle I went for THESE, Uniroyal Rainmax2, 195R14C.
They were great value, and 12 months on they're doing great. Quiet, grippy, and wearing well (as in hardly at all).
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itchyfeet
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by itchyfeet »

one more tip, check your spare date code, when I checked mine 2 years ago it was pre 2000
looked fine but at that age it could blow out due to rubber hardening and cracking.
If you have a flat on the front you will fit your spare and drive home.

Also ask for the date of the new tyres before thay are fitted, usually they are less than 6 months but I once had one that was over a year old, when the have a reccomended life of 6 years due to rubber hardening you don't want ones that are old when new.

week 38 2013
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week 16 1987 or 1997 if it's 3 digit it's before 2000 so scrap it
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by silverbullet »

C tyres are hard as iron and an overkill imho.
I have GT Radial 205/65/15C and they are firm in the summer but brick hard in the winter. No fun but they do seem to grip well in all weathers.
Max axle weight on a T3 is 1350kg on the rear, so 95's just scrape in, 97's would be better.
Worth seeing if there is an XL version but thats usually for wider& lower profiles.

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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by clift_d »

VW recommend 97s in the manual.
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by silverbullet »

That's what my SA manual says too

Emma&Al
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by Emma&Al »

I went for Hancook Vantra RA18s .
Hmm I did look around A LOT for 97s but there weren't any, where I could physically go and get them fitted. I spoke to the guy at Blackcircles and he said 102 would be fine.
1990 2.1 petrol injected Caravelle

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clift_d
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by clift_d »

97s tyres have the minimum load rating that VW recommended originally for these vans. 102s have a higher load rating and so this means they will likely be a stiffer tyre, which means you'll get a bit more feedback from the road, but it's nothing to worry about - you'll be fine with what you've got.
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Emma&Al
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Re: Just about to buy from Blackcircles - need quick advice!

Post by Emma&Al »

OK, thanks for explaining cliftd :)
1990 2.1 petrol injected Caravelle

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