Tire size

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Simon james
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Tire size

Post by Simon james »

Hi guys
My 81 2 litre aicooled has 15 inch alloys
Tires are 195 /65
My question is it worth it to go something like 195/70 as the tires are shot ?
Will this give me a better cruising speed ?
Thanks simon

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marlinowner
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Re: Tire size

Post by marlinowner »

195/70x15 is almost identical diameter to original 185/80x14 so sounds better to me.
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Simon james
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Re: Tire size

Post by Simon james »

Will this improve cruising speed ?

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marlinowner
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Re: Tire size

Post by marlinowner »

It's only 3% different, so equivalent to 1.5mph at 50, you would see a bigger change if you went to 195/80x15, about 10%, but you might find that gearing too high, needing to change down more on hills. If you wanted to try that I would just get two on the back first, to see how it drove. I would be tempted to keep near factory gearing though, assuming VW put some thought into their gear ratios, tyre sizes, etc.
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kevtherev
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Re: Tire size

Post by kevtherev »

Simon james wrote:Will this improve cruising speed ?
Cruising speed is about power, do you have more power than a standard 2 litre Aircooled engine?
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clift_d
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Re: Tire size

Post by clift_d »

It will improve cruising speed at the cost of performance on hills.

However, as pointed out above, your current tyres 195/65 R15 are actually undersized 3% compared to the originals that came with the van, so you'd only be taking it back to the original gearing if you went with the larger size.
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itchyfeet
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Re: Tire size

Post by itchyfeet »

Tires are American :D
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CovKid
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Re: Tire size

Post by CovKid »

Mine are 195/80x15 - running a 5-speed gearbox

1st became useful - for the first time and it cruises nicely.
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Re: Tire size

Post by matt brighton »

Im running 215/80/14's on standard steels with a 1.9 AEF engine (diesel skoda felecia n/a) engine.

Rides high and tyres look fat compared to skinny originals - but I do like the look and they fill the arches

Very happy with gearing, "acceleration" cruising speed and up-hill ability - and would recommend.

Just (literally) got back from a 6 hour drive from devon to brighton and reminded me 215's for hills/cruising and acceleration are fine on a 1.9 diesel with no turbo - well for me anyway.


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