MY 'NEW' 2008 T5 DUAL CAB MOTION 128KW 6speed

[DOUBLECAB]

Ok Guys .......bought a 2008 T5 DUAL CAB MOTION 128KW 6speed this week and looking at putting a more agressive set of boots on the beast for some added traction.............and looks.

It wears 215/65R16C tyres on the 6.5.J x 16 rims and I note on the compliance label that there is a 7J x 17 rim option.

I have also read the Vic roads info on tyre and rim mods and am not 100% clear on the do's and don'ts to stay street legal so I have a couple of questions please for anybody that is upto speed with the Vic Road regs.............

1.Can I put 235/70 16's legally on my rims? What is the tallest road legal tyre I can put on my rims?

http://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/CC48FC10-4D57-4F04-82E1-3BD72EF88340/0/VSI8.pdf

2.Anybody know anything about/use/have used Remoulded tyres?

3.Anybody run these............... or would run these on their T5 motion and if not why not?

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Thanks....................

[Transporter]

You will be very limited with the tyres options with 17"rims, if you want to stay within leagal limits. I think that you can use 15mm bigger diameter, at least in SA. Check the thread 17"tyres what is available, in this stickie http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/foru...9-a-32995.html

[4wheels]

You need to also consider the effect on gearing of going to a taller tyre (whether 16" or 17"). Trakka offered a 235/70 16 (or it might have been 75 profile) with their offroad pack for the T5, but that also included (expensive) gear box mods to reduce the gearing by 10% to compensate. You have opposing objectives here. For off-road traction, you want the bigger/taller tyre, but you also want lower, not higher gearing. I faced the same dilemma, and in the end went with standard size Bridgestone A/T's (D693) and a suspension upgrade/lift. At $200/tyre (from Jax Tyres, Preston), I would not even consider a remoulded tyre in the $170/180 range. Those ones you listed also had a very aggressive tread pattern (more a M/T type), which are generally quite noisy (even though they say quiet, they probably mean compared to other similar tread patterns). I do a bit of off-roading, and have found the Bridgestones quite adequate. In fact, even the original Michelin road pattern tyres were surprisingly good on loose surfaces when I went to Cape Yorke.
You'll also want to speak to your insurance people. A tyre rated to 140Kmh, on a vehicle capable of 180Kmh, may be reason enough for them to reject a claim (despite our maximum speed limits of 110Kmh).

Brian R.
2007 Trakkadu 4Motion

[Seano]

1. Basic rules Oz wide now are nothing more than + or - 15mm in diameter from placard. You may have multiple sizes on the placard. Check which ones are the biggest and go for +15 over that. As an example, the tyre calc at 1010TIRES.COM® — Tires and Wheels Absolute Authority. says that 225/65R16 is OK compared to 215/65R16 while 215/70R16 is about 7mm over the 15mm mark and 235/70R16 is over 25mm more than the limit. These sizes are nominal though and vary from model to model even within manufacturers...but I'd say that you'll struggle to get the tyre size you want as a road legal fitment.

2. Remoulds are common on truck tyres. That's because truck tyre carcasses are overbuilt. Car and light truck carcasses are not. I wouldn't use them in an on road situation. On a farm? Sure. But not attached to a VW.

3. No. And most definitely no. They would sound horrible. The tyre whirr would be deafening even inside the van.

[DOUBLECAB]

You need to also consider the effect on gearing of going to a taller tyre (whether 16" or 17"). Trakka offered a 235/70 16 (or it might have been 75 profile) with their offroad pack for the T5, but that also included (expensive) gear box mods to reduce the gearing by 10% to compensate. You have opposing objectives here. For off-road traction, you want the bigger/taller tyre, but you also want lower, not higher gearing. I faced the same dilemma, and in the end went with standard size Bridgestone A/T's (D693) and a suspension upgrade/lift. At $200/tyre (from Jax Tyres, Preston), I would not even consider a remoulded tyre in the $170/180 range. Those ones you listed also had a very aggressive tread pattern (more a M/T type), which are generally quite noisy (even though they say quiet, they probably mean compared to other similar tread patterns). I do a bit of off-roading, and have found the Bridgestones quite adequate. In fact, even the original Michelin road pattern tyres were surprisingly good on loose surfaces when I went to Cape Yorke.
You'll also want to speak to your insurance people. A tyre rated to 140Kmh, on a vehicle capable of 180Kmh, may be reason enough for them to reject a claim (despite our maximum speed limits of 110Kmh).

Brian R.
2007 Trakkadu 4Motion

Hi Brian................questions please...........

1.So what happens/changes in the way my T5 will handle/perform if I put 235/70 16's on my T5?

2.A suspension upgrade/lift is a VW Kit/option/or? And entails what and costs what?

Thanks...............

---------- Post added at 05:58 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:47 AM ----------

1. Basic rules Oz wide now are nothing more than + or - 15mm in diameter from placard. You may have multiple sizes on the placard. Check which ones are the biggest and go for +15 over that. As an example, the tyre calc at 1010TIRES.COM® — Tires and Wheels Absolute Authority. says that 225/65R16 is OK compared to 215/65R16 while 215/70R16 is about 7mm over the 15mm mark and 235/70R16 is over 25mm more than the limit. These sizes are nominal though and vary from model to model even within manufacturers...but I'd say that you'll struggle to get the tyre size you want as a road legal fitment.

2. Remoulds are common on truck tyres. That's because truck tyre carcasses are overbuilt. Car and light truck carcasses are not. I wouldn't use them in an on road situation. On a farm? Sure. But not attached to a VW.

3. No. And most definitely no. They would sound horrible. The tyre whirr would be deafening even inside the van.

Hi Seano..........my 'placard' states the following tyre specs........

205/65RC 107/104T Rims 6.5J x 16 or 215/65R16C 106/104T Rims 6.15J x 16 or 235/55R17C 103WXL Rims 7J x 17

So if I read you correct you are saying I could put a 16'' tyre on that measures in height the height of the 235/55R17C plus another 15mm? And that being the case would a 235/70R16 be legal ?

Thanks........................

---------- Post added at 06:09 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:58 AM ----------

Hi again Brian.... forgot to ask but are there any pics of your Cape Yorke trip on the forum or elsewhere on the web?

Cheers...........

[4wheels]

Hi Doublecab,

I did a write up on the trip on the Kombi Club forum here;
Kombis to the Kape 2008 - Kombi Club Forums . You'll find links to photos about half way down. Note that I was still on standard suspension (and tyres) in those pics.

Other Q's
1. I noticed the extra tallness (especially already being a bit top heavy with the pop-top set-up), but it was offset by the stiffer springs/shockers. If you just put taller tyres on the standard springs, you may also notice a bit more lean. You will also pay the price of taller gearing. The 128 should pull it OK, but it's not what you want in terms of off-road use. Then there's the legalities of course. The Trakka set-up, which uses that tyre size, compensates with the altered gearing and even stiffer (Siekel) suspension, and is presumably engineering approved.
2. It was an after market (Bilstein) set-up, fitted by Boris at Volkscare in Boronia (9729 9281). About $3k if I remember. In Geelong, you could try Gary at Wolfsburg, or probably a Pedder's outlet. An upgrade is available from VW now, for the T5GP, but wasn't back then.

Brian R.

[brad]

2.Anybody know anything about/use/have used Remoulded tyres?

Yes, used to sell them instead of retreads 25 years back when new tyres were expensive & we had no brains.

Basically, they are a retread that extends down to the bead. This helps cover up any sidewall imperfections & lets you imagine you have paid for proper tyres. The speed rating is a fraction higher than retreads 90kmh up from 80kmh. Also, they say you can run them tubeless - good luck with that.

The rubber in them is usually fairly soft too - so don't expect good mileage. They really are false economy.

The only retread I'd run is a Bandag or similar.

235/70 are too wide for a 6.5" rim (they'd squeeze on because of the tall sidewall but I wouldn't do it). You also need to get the right load rating.

[DOUBLECAB]

Hi Doublecab,

I did a write up on the trip on the Kombi Club forum here;
Kombis to the Kape 2008 - Kombi Club Forums . You'll find links to photos about half way down. Note that I was still on standard suspension (and tyres) in those pics.

Other Q's
1. I noticed the extra tallness (especially already being a bit top heavy with the pop-top set-up), but it was offset by the stiffer springs/shockers. If you just put taller tyres on the standard springs, you may also notice a bit more lean. You will also pay the price of taller gearing. The 128 should pull it OK, but it's not what you want in terms of off-road use. Then there's the legalities of course. The Trakka set-up, which uses that tyre size, compensates with the altered gearing and even stiffer (Siekel) suspension, and is presumably engineering approved.
2. It was an after market (Bilstein) set-up, fitted by Boris at Volkscare in Boronia (9729 9281). About $3k if I remember. In Geelong, you could try Gary at Wolfsburg, or probably a Pedder's outlet. An upgrade is available from VW now, for the T5GP, but wasn't back then.

Brian R.

Hi again Brian...........firstly thanks for the input (and that also goes for the rest of you Guys) and for the link for the Cape Yorke adventure.

Now I have a couple more questions please..............

You have the Van with the poptop and mention the point of more sway with higher tyres applying with standard suspension which made me ponder on the point of me having a Double Cab ute with a payload of 1025kg which compares to your payload of ??? And would the Double Cab have a stiffer/heavier suspension to your van?

And going from 65C to 70C in height is an increase of ?mm ?

Also since my last post I called in at one of my local tyre dealers and came across these..........................

Double Star DS608 225/65C 16 $145 fitted and balanced or 225/70C 16 $155 fitted and balanced both 106/108 load rating.

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Anybody have any experience with the Double Star brand?

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[Seano]

Hi Seano..........my 'placard' states the following tyre specs........

205/65RC 107/104T Rims 6.5J x 16 or 215/65R16C 106/104T Rims 6.15J x 16 or 235/55R17C 103WXL Rims 7J x 17

So if I read you correct you are saying I could put a 16'' tyre on that measures in height the height of the 235/55R17C plus another 15mm? And that being the case would a 235/70R16 be legal ?

Yes. No - still way too big.

Honestly....the big tyres don't make that much difference to offroad performance (a couple of mm extra is still a bees **** to a rock). Nor does the aggressive tread pattern simply because the 4Motion system doesn't have the low speed gearing to properly exploit the pattern anway.

[4wheels]

[QUOTE=DOUBLECAB;741987]Hi again Brian...........firstly thanks for the input (and that also goes for the rest of you Guys) and for the link for the Cape Yorke adventure.

Now I have a couple more questions please..............

You have the Van with the poptop and mention the point of more sway with higher tyres applying with standard suspension which made me ponder on the point of me having a Double Cab ute with a payload of 1025kg which compares to your payload of ??? And would the Double Cab have a stiffer/heavier suspension to your van?

And going from 65C to 70C in height is an increase of ?mm ?

The (empty) LWB van has a similar payload (don't recall exactly, but it was around 1000Kg +/- not more than 50Kg). As for spring ratings between DC and van, I'm not sure, but wouldn't be surprised if they were the same from the factory. I've never heard any talk of using DC springs to raise a van, for instance. Your centre of gravity may or may not be lower than my camper. While I've got the pop-top, the general load floor is lower in a van than in your cab/chassis type set-up. Being a camper I carry a constant load of probably 500+Kg.

Tyre sizes vary between brands, as well as with the profile, but you should be able to find a radius or diameter on their spec sheets.

Brian R.