Hi all, been looking at some fuchs style wheels.... and I know all the downfalls of the diamond cut wheel they wont last etc but besides that, whichever style I do go for what's the verdict on 4.5 or 5.5 width wheels on a bus?? Anyone reccomend, pointing out any flaws or is it best to run narrow upfront and the wider to the rear? Tyre sizes is also an open topic? I have a lowered bus it's a user not a show piece, it tows a trailer and we do use it to camp so please consider all this in the answers, thanks for any info!
std bay wheels are 5.5 so makes sense to stick that that size? the only reason i think they make a narrower wheel is for slammed folks who have to run bicycle tyres on the front to avoid rubbing.
I've got genuine fuchs, mine are 6 wide ((6J). They are fitted with a 25mm adaptor plate. plenty of room at the front, rears are a finger width from the wheel arch/bodywork
If you go for lower profile tyres, make certain you're happy with the load rating of the tyres you've chosen.
Got 5 1/2s all round with as ^^^^ check load ratings, although we have ran 50 profiles on front for about 20,000 miles
Ultra low profile tyres are a benefit to the tyre manufacturers as you wipe them out on potholes, along with a benefit to the makers of the smashed alloys they are riding on. I use 185/65R15 front and back, on a clone of EMPI five spoke alloys. There is a small gap for the rear tyres against the arch, and I can still remove the wheels. As you go up in load rating, the allowable inflation pressure increases to the point where you can start to get even tyre wear . Low load rating tyres may be so under inflated you are always rubbing the edges off the tyres. Fortunately the advent of bloated EVs with tonnes of batteries means that higher load rated low profile tyres are around..
Thanks guys 5.5's then no need to go skinny upfront for me but I'm sure i wont get a commercial rated tyre for them wheels as i run now? So next question is what is the sizes you all run? I'm guessing sizes upfront affect the mph reading and the rears change the overall speed it can go do playing around with the gearing or is it to little changes to notice?
185 65 R15 are available in a 92T reinforced tyre. weight limit of 630kg per tyre. From another wheel & weight limit thread. Original bay window van tyres were either 185 R14 C 6PR, or 185 SR14 Reinforced (stengthend passenger car). Diameter was approx 652MM. (based on 185 80 14, rather than 82% profile) My Current tyres & 15" wheels have a diameter of 621mm ish (based on 185 65 15) & i'm happy with this gearing.
Yokahama do a 185/65 XL with a 95 load rating, I have used the 195 version a few years back, found them to be good tyres.
Good to know. Best I could find , at the time, weight wise were 92T's, so I went for continental vanco RF (Reinforced).
If I recall I found limited tyres with quite a high load rating in the profile I required, now we are running Falken 195/70's with a 102 load rating as we're back to stock height!
use an on-line calculator to help you work out what size you need to match the original rolling radius, something like https://www.willtheyfit.com/ is perfect. you're correct, a change in the front affects your speedo, and a change in the rear would affect your gearing, so if you're stock height or close to it then keep the rolling radius as close to stock as you can. as others have said, needs to be appropriate load rating. On my westy that means i need min 85 on the front and 93 on the rear, xl rated or a commercial tyre.
I'd kinda like some lower profiles upfront and a little bigger on the back just for added "suspension" with loading and the trailer that's got the camping gear in, so I shall play round with them calculators, thanks for all the info and if I find a good size etc I'll share in a few months time!
You might want to consider air adjust dampers for that added "suspension" when loaded and/or towing. Perhaps with a controller to adjust as necessary, even on the move.
Not yet, @Gingerbus has them but mine are in the UK – Amazon.fr wanted €270 for the dampers delivered to France – I’ll fit them whenever I can travel.
They're a bit nice! And a fair price too, but to be fair the trailer is a small erde type and only takes the awning and a few other bits to free up space in the bus so not lots of weight
Out of interest it would be good to know which ones fit the front. I reckoned MA803s when I last looked into it...
