Date:         Thu, 2 Mar 2000 14:28:52 -0800
Reply-To:     harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         harald_nancy <harald_nancy@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: 90 Multivan spare tire - compatibility question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

An often overlooked detail:
The rim will fit, but the bolts are different.
The alloy wheels have a flat cone shaped seating surface, and the steel
rims have a ball type seating surface.
That is very important, because if you use the wrong one,
the wheel can come loose.
The reason is that there is not enough contact and
friction to prevent the bolt or nut from working itself  loose.
Not advisable.
You can see the difference when you compare the
different lug bolts and nuts.
What I am saying is,  go back to the junk yard, and get 5 regular lug bolts
for the front, and 5 regular lug nuts for the back from a bus or vanagon.
Keep those in your van, in case you have to use the steel rim.
I know this, because I use steel rims with my winter tires, and use an
alloy as a spare. So I carry two sets of the alloy wheel fasteners in the
tool box on board in case I have to switch to the alloy wheel.
Harald
90 westy

> John wrote:
 >    Hello, I recently purchased a 90 Multivan & it does  not have a spare
 >tire (go figure..).  Anyway, I'm wondering if the  spare tire off an '84
 >Vanagon that I found in a junk yard will work.   Anybody have a clue?  If
 >not, what years do share the same  rim?   Thanks, JOHN
>
> John,