Ok ... so I want to spend on some bling. I have some standard 14 “ rims and what to upgrade to the Fooks 15” x 5.5” black and polished on the std 5/112 pcd. The van is standard height and beam. So I assume no issues swapping over. What tyres have people fitted .. I assume 185/55 R15 ..but the load capacity should be for a loaded westy right ? Approx 1800 kg I currently have “C” load rated tyres on the standard 14” steel rims. what tyre rating have been used for your 15” x 5. 5” alloys ?
We use 195/70/15 Falken Linam's with a 102 load rating on both buses (15" Gasburners & BRM's on t'other bus) which are stock height.
185/55-15 is too short. Equivalent would be something like 195/70-15, easy to find with a 104 load rate.
Original bay window van tyres were either 185 R14 C 6PR, or 185 SR14 Reinforced (strengthened passenger car). Diameter was approx 652MM. (based on 185 80 14, rather than 82% profile) I've got genuine 15 x 6" fuchs with 25mm wheel adaptors. The biggest I can fit are 185/65/R15 - but the best load rating you can get with this size tyre is 92T. They are also a different (smaller) diameter of 621mm so it changes the gearing/speedo. My bus is slightly lowered This calculator will help you find something as close as possible in size https://www.tyremen.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator You should be able to find something closer to the original overall size and they should be available in a higher load rating
185/55 x 15 are much smaller than the original 185 x 14 tyres; the nearest is 195/70x15 and there is plenty of choice with adequate load rating as it’s a common van tyre size. The maximum gross weight of a Westy is 2300kg and the maximum rear axle load is 1300kg so the tyre must have a load rating of at least 650kg (93 or higher).
