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1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 12 Sep 2022, 19:14
by dcworm57
Ok so I’m running a 1989 1.6 td westfalia , I’m thinking of fitting 15” wheels with 235/75/15 AT tyres.
Anybody running this set up at the moment ?
Has the 1.6 td standard engine got enough wallop to pull these wheels and tyres without losing a lot of speed and performance ( the little it has got )
Will probably fit high lift suspension later if all goes to plan ..
Thoughts , ideas appreciated.
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 12 Sep 2022, 22:37
by clift_d
The largest tyre size that will fit a 2WD van is generally understood to be 215/75 R15, which is just over 700mm diameter, around 7.5% bigger than the stock 185/R14.
The tyre size you're thinking about, i.e. 235/75 R15, has a diameter of approx 735mm, which is more than 12% larger than the stock 185/R14.
Consensus is that you'd start noticing the effects of having larger tyres if they're more than 5% bigger than the stock tyres.
So even if you could get those larger tyres to fit, which is unlikely without some metalwork, then your JX is almost certainly going to struggle, particularly on climbs.
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 12 Sep 2022, 23:26
by Smiffo
clift_d wrote: ↑12 Sep 2022, 22:37
The largest tyre size that will fit a 2WD van is generally understood to be 215/75 R15, which is just over 700mm diameter, around 7.5% bigger than the stock 185/R14.
The tyre size you're thinking about, i.e. 235/75 R15, has a diameter of approx 735mm, which is more than 12% larger than the stock 185/R14.
Consensus is that you'd start noticing the effects of having larger tyres if they're more than 5% bigger than the stock tyres.
So even if you could get those larger tyres to fit, which is unlikely without some metalwork, then your JX is almost certainly going to struggle, particularly on climbs.
Does the 235 change the diameter, Cliff?
I thought 235 would be the depth aspect, and not affect circumference? i.e. same diameter and therefore circumference for 235/75/R15 and 215/75/R15?
Maybe I'm wrong - tyres ain't my thing
1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 12 Sep 2022, 23:43
by clift_d
Yep, it does.
The second number, i.e. the ‘75’, is the height of the tyre walls expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. Wider tyres also mean a taller section for the same profile ratio.
Where this ratio isn’t written, then the assumption is that the profile ratio is around 82. So 185/R14 means 185/82 R14.
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 13 Sep 2022, 05:13
by dcworm57
clift_d wrote: ↑12 Sep 2022, 22:37
The largest tyre size that will fit a 2WD van is generally understood to be 215/75 R15, which is just over 700mm diameter, around 7.5% bigger than the stock 185/R14.
The tyre size you're thinking about, i.e. 235/75 R15, has a diameter of approx 735mm, which is more than 12% larger than the stock 185/R14.
Consensus is that you'd start noticing the effects of having larger tyres if they're more than 5% bigger than the stock tyres.
So even if you could get those larger tyres to fit, which is unlikely without some metalwork, then your JX is almost certainly going to struggle, particularly on climbs.
Will I still have clearance issues if I fit high lift suspension kit ?
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 13 Sep 2022, 06:57
by clift_d
My understanding is that you’re likely to have body and suspension interference with 235/75R15, which a lift kit is unlikely to resolve.
And you need to be careful about jacking your van up too much or you’ll be putting too much strain on your CV joints.
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 13 Sep 2022, 06:59
by Smiffo
clift_d wrote:Yep, it does.
The second number, i.e. the ‘75’, is the height of the tyre walls expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. Wider tyres also mean a taller section for the same profile ratio.
Where this ratio isn’t written, then the assumption is that the profile ratio is around 82. So 185/R14 means 185/82 R14.
Ahhh. I thought it was ratio of width and tire wall height, not depth.!
Many thanks
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: 1.6 td westfalia with AT tyres
Posted: 13 Sep 2022, 07:06
by dcworm57
clift_d wrote: ↑13 Sep 2022, 06:57
My understanding is that you’re likely to have body and suspension interference with 235/75R15, which a lift kit is unlikely to resolve.
And you need to be careful about jacking your van up too much or you’ll be putting too much strain on your CV joints.
Ok , thanks very much for the advice , much appreciated