Date:         Sun, 5 Jan 2003 02:18:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
Subject:      Re: 14" or 15" wheels?
Comments: To: Robert Berkemer <berky@WWT.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <3E17AAD6.BD40FFB0@wwt.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I've got BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO's on both my 7 passenger
Vanagon Syncro (the GoldBrick) and my Westy Syncro. On the GoldBrick
they are 215/75R15, on the Westy they are 27x8.5R14's on the stock
alloys. I believe both of these are the LT (light truck) versions.

On my TriStar I've got Bridgestone Dueler H/L in the 215/75R15 size
(these are more street tires. The BFG's are real aggressive off road
tires which are great in the snow, but that also can function on the
highway.

There are also Michelins, Firestones, Pirellis, other Bridgestones and
no doubt a few other LT tires in the 215/75R15 range. Michelin had the
most (some varieties are only sold at Sears.) I think Pirelli only had
one variety in the 215/75R15 and it wasn't clear to me if it was a
reinforced tire or not.

Ah. Let's see, the PDF files I grabbed off the various web pages
included...
Michelin XCX (available exclusively at Sears) LT215/75R15 (they also
have a passenger version in that size...make sure you get the LT
version.
Michelin LTX M/S in LT 195/75R14 suitable for all stock wheels as well
as the LT215/75R15.
Michelin LTX A/T in LT 215/75R15 (again available in this size for
passenger vehicles so make sure you get the LT one)
BF Goodrich All Terrain T/A KO available in LT215/75R15 as well as
27x8.5R14 (suitable for 6 inch wide wheels...most stock steel wheels
were only 5.5 inches wide...stock alloys are 6 inches wide).

On Saturday, January 4, 2003, at 10:50  PM, Robert Berkemer wrote:

> This is the same thing I'm trying to find out. I'd like the bigger
> brakes
> but I'm NOT finding tires. Checked the Tire Rack's web site I plugged
> in
> 215/65-15 in ALL truck tire catagories I got ONE tire, a Firestone
> Wilderness with a maximum load range of 1521 lbs. What tire came on the
> vanagons with factory alloys? What tires are available if you want to
> be
> on rough forest roads? Am I missing something in the proper size or is
> "Go
> Westy" selling the wrong size tires in their wheel/ tire packages?