Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 00:53:50 -0000
Reply-To: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Reinforced Tires - was Yokohama Tires Revisited
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Andrew -
I agree that any suitably sized tire designed for a heavy vehicle will carry
the load, but -
The important thing for people in the US to remember is that there aren't
many P sized tires (P185, P205) for passenger cars that have a load rating
and handle the pressures which VW recommends.
The door sticker on my '87 Westy says 185R14 39 psi front 48 psi rear. For
the 205/70R14, you can run 40 in the rear, but the recommended load rating
is 97.
The Conti's look like a decent tire, but their recommended max pressure is
only 40 psi.
By comparison the 185/70 Michelin Agilis has a load rating of 99, 1609#
capacity at a max pressure of 54 psi.
Especially with a Westy, which is tall and heavy, a stiff tire running at
40-50 psi on the rear will make a significant difference in the way it
handles. Yes, I know that tire technology keeps changing, but I would have
to have a good reason to wander too far from the door sticker.
Have fun, and play safe!
- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, Idaho
(who drives on a lot of Forest Service roads, and likes his Kumho 852 Light
Truck tires)
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 11:12:35 +1200
From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject: Re: Reinforced Tires - was Yokohama Tires Revisited
>Chad -
>
>There has been a lot of talk about reinforced tires over the years. Could
>you take a look at those and see what the maximum pressure and carrying
>capacity is? Do they also have a load rating number? It would be a two or
>three digit number like 95 or 103.
>
>I've always been curious about how they compare to the light truck tires I
>have been using. The door sticker on my Westy says to use 185/14 PR,
>(which
>I assume means reinforced) or 205/14 97 (load rating 97 ~ 1600# carrying
>capacity).
ANY tire designed for a really heavy car would be suitable loadingwise for
a Vanagon. Mercedes S-Class (which these days run low-profiles) or even an
old Galaxie landbarge. You don't need ill-handling truck tires.
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