Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 17:56:27 -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: Re Kirkland tires (Long and boring)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Phaedra -
I have an opinion! Dave is overstating things a bit. 93 Single / 90 Dual
is a very common load range for 185R/14 Light Truck tires. It's not the
best for a Westy, but not bad either.
If you look at the TireRack site - techical section -
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/speed.htm
go to the bottom of the page and it will show that the 93 load index is
1433 Lbs per tire, while the 97 load index (which my Westy recommends for
205/70R14 Tires) is 1609 Lbs. So - your rear axle shouldn't be carrying
more than 2866 Lbs. With Load Index 97 you could carry 3218 Lbs, 352 Lbs
more.
The Gross Vehicle Weight for your van is 5200-5400 lbs, so a set of four
Load Index 93 or 97 tires will support more than your vehicle is intended to
carry.
But - it's safer to have more capacity than you need. I weighed mine once,
with camping gear and me it came in at about 4400 lbs total, 2400 lbs rear,
which gave me a comfortable margin. You might weigh yours to see where you
are at. If you do, get a total weight and each axle.
If you are regularly running very heavy, tow a trailer, or travel on nasty
roads which put more strain on the tire, I would recommend thinking about
something with a higher load range when you replace your Kirklands,
especially for the rear.
Also remember that the capacity listed is at full pressure. Keep your rears
at 48-50 psi and fronts at 38-40.
I run four 185R14 Load Range 93 M&S tires in the winter, and in the summer,
when I go camping and am fully loaded, four 185R14 Kumho 852s Load Range
103. They are more than I need, but they were available.
Those are pretty good tires. Keep the pressure up, watch for cracks in the
sidewall, don't run them until the tread is gone, and unless you are
carrying really heavy loads you will probably be fine.
- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy (waiting for a replacemtent pushrod tube before I will be on the
road with my new engine)
Moscow, Idaho
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Date: Wed, 25 Apr 2001 08:32:53 -0700
From: PSavage <psavage@saber.net>
Subject: Re: Re Kirkland tires
Can this be true!
Anybody else have an opinion on this load rating?
If they ARE the deathtrap Dave claims, I want to
know about it & change the tires--
Phaedra
From Dave M: < If 93/90 is the load index, there is
no way these tires are suitable for a Vanagon.
It requires a load index more like 96 or 97.
You are dicing with death! >
<snip>Kirkland Signature
radial light truck tires
Load Range C
LT 195/75R14
93/90 Q M&S
Eighteen months ago, I paid $50 apiece at Costco.
I love these tires!
Phaedra <snip>
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