Tyre Sizes

[Dumptruckface]

Im sure that this subject has been broached many times before but I'm new!
i have a 14" single cab and I'm looking to get some more aggressive off road tyres fitted, does anyone have any direction to point me in as far as tyre size is concerned?
I'm reading allot about upgrading the wheels to 15" or 16" which wheels are a straight fit? I'm not looking for alloys i just want to stick with steels.
Another thing i would like to do is lift the truck up a little higher, so if i put 15" or 16" wheels will this kill two birds with one stone" so to speak?
as much info as possible would be great as I'm looking to get the wheels off and refer them and get some new rubber fitted sooner rather than later, i don't want to re verb the 14's if the general consensus is to upgrade the rim size?

all info gratefully accepted

[Ralf85]

Check out the archive. This has been covered constantly.

[hugomonkey]

the most common upgrade is to 15 inch mefro´s, a perfect fit and a much wider choice of tyre, 215/75-15 is what i use and the van seems to be very happy on those as they are very close to the original overall size, i use bfg km2 tyres for playing in the mud and would definately buy them again as they are a fantastic tyre, cooper weather masters for the winter, again a very good tyre and im about to get some at`s for everyday use and there the choice is going to be between bfg at´s or the conti cross contact not quite sure yet need a bit more info on the conti´s, the mefro rims will cost you between 35 and 60 pounds depending on where you buy them and are an absolute must on a syncro, brilliant rim and totally indestructable, you can buy yourself a lift kit and use your original springs but the original syncro rear springs seem to constantly break at the small pigtail and in my eyes is a bit of a design fault, i scrap a lot of syncros and i find that maybe 1 in 10 of the original rear springs are intact, i have the gowesty spings on my doka with original shocks and shock extenders front and rear and top ball joint spacers up front, i find it to be a good setup and it wasn´t really that expensive either
good luck with it and don´t be afraid to ask

[Winchweight]

Just about to fit 15" MEFROs to our Syncro and I'm looking at an all terrain, all year 215/75/15 tyre.

But given we are running a 1.6TD JX for a while yet, I won't be getting anything too aggressive. Looking at General Grabber AT2s, or possibly Dunlop AT3s or Hankook RT03 Dynapro MT

[hugomonkey]

Just about to fit 15" MEFROs to our Syncro and I'm looking at an all terrain, all year 215/75/15 tyre.

But given we are running a 1.6TD JX for a while yet, I won't be getting anything too aggressive. Looking at General Grabber AT2s, or possibly Dunlop AT3s or Hankook RT03 Dynapro MT

out of those three i would definately go for the general grabber at2s for a very good all year round tyre, i have never had a problem with 215 75 15 and a JX as they are only about 3% bigger than the original tyres

[Winchweight]

Thanks Jase.

[syncropaddy]

as they are only about 3% bigger than the original tyres

Or 7.98% .......!

[clift_d]

as they are only about 3% bigger than the original tyres

Or 7.98% .......!

Approx 3% increase on the basis of 205R14, approx 7.5% increase on the basis of 185R14. I think both sizes were shown as standard options in the VW manuals.

[silverbullet]

215's really do dent the top gear performance of a standard wbx engined van, especially if fitted with 4.86 final drive. No doubt about that IME. TDi engines probably won't notice it.

PS According to the Bricky tyre calculator 205/70/14 are actually smaller than 185/80/14 by about 1.7% anyway!

So if you went from the 205/70/14 (643mm dia) up to 215/75/15 (704) that would increase the gearing by 9.5%

That's quite a lot, before you account for the tread pattern which may increase the rollian radius even further.

[hugomonkey]

as they are only about 3% bigger than the original tyres

Or 7.98% .......!

205 r14 - 215 75 15 = 2.9%

[Dumptruckface]

Thanks for all the info guys, I just can't afford nor justify buying
A new set of 15" wheels AND tyres at the mo, I have found a set of 185 14's at a good cost to go right
Ont my standard rims, although they are mud terrain so pretty damn aggressive!!
I don't know if they are a little aggressive really tho. And a bit narrow as well

[Bucketbabe]

Oh dear, my 15 inch rims arrived today
Tyres to be ordered very soon. (After lots of good advice on here, thanks guys)
I also can't afford it
But justified it this way: the van needs them.
Simples.

[Dumptruckface]

Ha ha I like your justification! As a man I can pretty much justify getting
Any part for my "toys" although if I'm honest just trying to
Rein in my spending on this truck, things are going from a tidy up to a full restoration!
And I'm not good at holding back at buying stuff just because I want it.
New 15" wheels and tyres are going to cost me at least £750 and I have a brand new set of tyres on the 14"'a so I may stick with them....... For a (short) time.

[silverbullet]

The difference between a std syncro on free-rolling 14" road tyres (even winter treads) and draggy 15" AT's is like comparing chalk and cheese, never mind driving on tarmac with muds...
On 14" road tyres even a tired DG bus just zips along...
It depends on how (or how much) you actually end up using the wagon, I guess.

[max and caddy]

Thanks for all the info guys, I just can't afford nor justify buying
A new set of 15" wheels AND tyres at the mo, I have found a set of 185 14's at a good cost to go right
Ont my standard rims, although they are mud terrain so pretty damn aggressive!!
I don't know if they are a little aggressive really tho. And a bit narrow as well

185 x 14 mud terrains? How old are they?