Club 80-90 Forums

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

195/70x15 is almost identical diameter to original 185/80x14 so sounds better to me.

Will this improve cruising speed ?

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.

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?

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.

Tires are American

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

1st became useful - for the first time and it cruises nicely.

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.


Matt - brighton