Date: Fri, 13 Jul 2001 13:34:20 -0400
Reply-To: Éric Giroux <eric.giroux@NRC.CA>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Éric Giroux <eric.giroux@NRC.CA>
Subject: CANADA Tire Info
In-Reply-To: <F160GdMNFmWAFsTmICl000152be@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"; format=flowed
Hi fellow Canadians...
Did some tire research lately, here are two good finds.
I kept the research for standard tires as per door sticker on my '84 Westy
(185R14C)
Kirkland LT 195/75 R 14 are $75 uninstalled at COSTCO (aka Price Club). A
little wider than standard (1cm), no big deal...
Venderstein Transport Steel 185/R14 are $103 uninstalled from
americatire.com, FREE Purolator shipping in Canada!
Other than these two *relatively low cost options, you have to go to the
more expensive Michelin Agilis 61 or Dunlop SP LT5 or....
Éric
At 12:08 PM 12/07/2001, you wrote:
>David -
>I used to have the same opinion. I changed my mind when I got to thinking
>about the relationship between pressure and carrying capacity.
>The max carrying capacity of the tires is at the highest rated pressure. If
>you have a tire rated 97 at 50 psi, it can handle something like 1900 lbs.
>At 40 psi, it will be a fair bit less. I'll bet if you look at your tires,
>the max pressure is 50 psi or higher.
>My Westy sticker recommends 40 psi on the rear for 205R/14 with a rating of
>97.
>The sticker recommends 48 psi on the rear for 185R/14 C, and does not
>specify a rating. Probably the C refers to the old Load Range C. Most of
>the tires of that size and type I have seen have a max pressure of 50 and a
>carrying capacity of 1435 lbs at that pressure, which is load rating 93,
>like the Kirkland tires we are discussing.
>IMO, IF INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE, they will be perfectly safe for
>most driving you are likely to do in this country, except serious
>off-roading.
>I think VW specified a load rating of 97 for larger size tires because they
>should be inflated to a smaller percentage of the maximum pressure, and so
>could handle only part of the maximum load specified.
>In other words, in terms of carrying capacity, a 185R/14, 50 psi maximum,
>load rating 93 tire at 48 psi is probably equivalent to a LR 97, 205R/14, 50
>psi max tire inflated to VWs recommended 40 psi.
>Just make sure you look at your door sticker, and keep the tires close to
>that pressure. Mine specifies higher pressure on the rears, and it handles
>better that way.
>There's nothing wrong with having stronger tires than needed. My highway
>tires are Kumho 852's, 195/R14 LR 102. They handle well and were a good
>price.
>Mike Finkbiner
>'87 Westy
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 16:26:00 +0100
>From: Dave M <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
>Subject: Kirkland tires
>>From: "William S. Brown Jr."
>>Subject: Kirtland Tire question
>>First question: Are the COSTCO tires only available in the following
>>size?
>>Kirkland Signature LT 2ply Radial Tires
>>LT195/75R14
>>93/90 Q M&S
>>Load Range: C
>If 93 is the load range, these tires are UNSUITABLE for a Westy.
>You need a load range of something like 97.
>They are barely adequate for a standard Vanagon.
>I run 215-70-14 passenger tires on my Vanagon load range 96 and this is not
>a Westy.
>- David '87 Wolsfburg
>_________________________________________________________________
>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
| 
