Hi,

I want to run steelies on my split but undecided if I want to run 14's or try get hold of some 15's, I can see the obvious benefits of cheaper tyres and the ability to fit over bigger brakes with 15's but is there any other reason why I should be running on 15's?

If I stick to 14's whats the best tyre combo to go for? Seen plenty of info on 15's combo's but not much on 14's if you want to go a lower profile on the front.

Anybody got pic's running 14's?

Help please.

14s

14's



15's




14's - advantages
They are the correct size wheel for post 63 buses
They tend to be MUCH cheaper to pick up a set
They are wider than 15's
You can get the bus lower (if hats your bag) - or as low as a bus on 15's , but still with a decent profile tyre for comfort
14" tyres are just as cheap to pick up as 15's tyres TBH

15's - advantages
They are more fashionable

general rule of thumb for me is, if you have a pre 64 bus, go for 15's
if you have a post 63 bus, go for 14's

unless you think one or the other looks better

I have a set of both - 15's have 155/60/15 tyres on the front, 14's have 165/65/14 tyres on the front...both have approx the same rolling radius, but the 14's offer a little more comfort

MMM, some nice pic's guys, so what you running on the rears? both on the 14's and 15's.

Cheers

Thought the advantage of 15's on a later bus was so you could run a full profile 15" tyre to give a higer rolling radius to 'lenghten' the gear ratios a tad...
Lower revs at higher speed

ted698 wrote:Thought the advantage of 15's on a later bus was so you could run a full profile 15" tyre to give a higer rolling radius to 'lenghten' the gear ratios a tad...
Lower revs at higher speed

...and so you can run even higher on a stock bus

There is practically no difference in rolling diameter between a 195/80/14 and a 185/80/15 (10 more revolutions per mile on the 14)
even against a 195/80/15, the 15 only gets 30 less revolutions per mile than the 14
(stick a 205/85/14 on and that gets 10 less revs per mile than a 195/80/15 tyre....so actually better cruising speed / lower revs)

Hardly gives you a better cruising speed in reality


I had 175/70/14 on my back end.....but then I actually wanted to reduce my gearing as i have straight axle and rarely go over 60mph, so would rather be a little higher in my torque range when i hit a hill....stick massive tyres on a straight axled 1500sp and yes, it'll have a more relaxed cruise speed...but hit a hill at say 55 in 4th and your at the bottom of your rev range, so forever going down to 3rd.....hit the hill at 55mph and your revving a little more in your torque range and you stand more chance of getting up in 4th .....

.....AND....your fans spinning faster so you have more of that lovely cool air blowing over your engine when you do hit a hill
its aircooled remember.....revs are good, no point in cruising along and up hills at lower revs if your engines cooking cos your not spinning enough cool air over it

like I say 185/60/14 on the back...on the 15's I have used 165/80/15, but currently running 195/45/15.....for the reason above...plus for towing a familia on a SA 1500sp...i'd rather have a few revs under my belt when I hit a hill at 50mph as well as the additional airflow

I basically change the back wheels depending on where i'm going and what i'm towing.....easier and cheaper than a gearbox, low profiles for towing, 165/80/15 for cruising when not towing

....and if your looking to slam the front....155/55/14 gets you lower than a 165/50/15

(and costs about £3 more per tyre)

sounds like i'm totally pro 14's


but i'm not ? I just dont get the fixation with having to have 15's lol

My bus came with 14's, so I'll roll with them (1965).

To be honest I was gonna stick with 14's as thats whats on the bus, just seems everyone seems to go for the 15's. I do like to see a bit more wheel under the arches so perhaps I may get a set later down the track if a drop on a reasonable set at reasonable money!

Cheers.

hmmm... my 66/67 1500sp bus has LT185/14's full profile tyres they look mahoosive - is this the correct size for my bus then?
esp. as late buses had the long final drive. It does chug up the hills and I do notice the 'hole' between 3rd & 4th - you go from lugging in 4th to top of the revs in 3rd!
Are you saying you'd go for a smaller ratio tyre?

not if your running reduction boxes....(or want to be doing 50mph flat out)

maddison wrote:not if your running reduction boxes....(or want to be doing 50mph flat out)

Yep - rocking the RGB's