Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 21:20:54 -0700
Reply-To: Michael Edwards <mpedwards@LYCOS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Michael Edwards <mpedwards@LYCOS.COM>
Organization: Lycos Mail (http://mail.lycos.com:80)
Subject: Re: 15 inch wheels
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
--Actually, the 103 is the service description for the tires. 103 denotes passenger radial. The load rating is actually a B,C,D, etc..., translating into
4ply,6ply,8ply respectively. As this rating system was devised when the belting of tires was cotton, todays ratings may not actually correspond to actual construction, only load carrying capacity. Hence, a load range C tire may only have 4 actual plys on the tread and 2 on the sidewall (this information is available on the side of the tire, just do the math). In a 14" wheel, most brands do manufacture a 185 & 195 series in a load range C, however tread is usually aggressive. Other important considerations are the temperature (A,B,C rating) and traction ratings (A,B,C) and the treadwear ratings (this is confusing because there is no govt regulation or standard for this, so be wary of a super high treadwear rating on any tire with a high traction rating, as higher traction ratings usually denote softer rubber compound to adhere to the road, but wear considerably faster).
With regards to suitable tires for rough roads, a taller sidewall, while providing more cushion for impact, may not withstand punctures from jagged rocks/branches etc if the sidewall is only a single ply (as are many B load rated tires). For this, it is important to consider not only the load rating, but the sidewall construction as well. To my knowledge, BFG all-terrains load range C are one brand which have a three ply sidewall (even says Triple-Guard, I think) and they are manufactured in 185/75R14C as well as other sizes. Although fairly new to the Vanagon scene, I have run these on a little 2wd beater toyota which saw massive offroad trauma as a ranch truck. I have had even better luck with the Cooper Discoverer in the same size---60k miles with no flats--same vehicle, same conditions.
Good Luck
Mike
On Sun, 15 Apr 2001 16:15:36
Mike Finkbiner wrote:
>Andrew -
>
>Which tires are you thinking of, and what is their load rating?
>
>Also - when people are thinking about tires, they need to think seriously
>about where they are going to be driving. Low profile / short sidewall
>tires are designed for smooth roads. The more often you drive on gravel or
>two-track (primitive) roads, the more you need to worry about tires that are
>designed to stand up to slamming over the occasional rock without damaging
>the tire or wheel, and a taller sidewall helps a lot.
>
>My 2WD Westphalia has been up some pretty bad roads in the past, and will
>again, hopefully soon (Spring is starting in Idaho)! I wouldn't want the
>sort of tires a Mercedes S-Class would generally wear.
>
>As with everything else in life - Choose, then pay the price.
>
>Mike Finkbiner
>'87 Westy wearing 195R-14 Kumho 852s - load range 103
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>Date: Sun, 15 Apr 2001 13:34:45 +1200
>From: Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
>Subject: Re: 15 inch wheels
>
>>The standard tire for a Vanagon requires a "C" load rating
>>or at least a load rating of 1620 pounds per corner. Getting this >kind of
>>a load rating in a shorter sidewall tire is difficult to do. >Generally
>>speaking, the shorter the sidewall, the lower the load >rating. The tires
>>that I chose have a load rating of 1520 per tire. >I am trading some weight
>>bearing capacity for the "look" I wanted. >In my case, this works because
>>the van is a weekend warrior and it >is unusual for it to carry more than 2
>>people.
>
>Low-profile tires ARE available. Heavy cars such as mercedes S-Class roll on
>'em But they are NOT cheap.
>
>
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