Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2003 13:32:43 -0700
Reply-To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: 15" Wheel Question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
Ah, yes, many SUVs come with P-metric radials.
However this is due to manufacturers meeting consumer demand for a
"soft" ride and the fact that most SUVs and light trucks are never used
off road or as trucks.
Not because it is necessarily a good idea. (according to a friend of
mine who is an automotive journalist )
I don't think it is quite fair to say the MXT that the vanagon came with
is a true passenger car tire, as the fact that it had reinforced
sidewalls, really classifies it as a specialty tire - take any similarly
sized passenger car tire of that era, and you will see that the MXT far
exceeded the load rating of the average passenger car tire.
Having driven Westys with both LT and passenger car tires, I can say
there is a significant difference when it comes to body lean and
handling in crosswinds - enough so that I personally would not select
passenger car tires for my vehicle.
Anyway, my point is that you should study the information and make your
own choices.
With tires, religion and politics, many opinions abound.
Todd
'88 Westy
TJ Hannink wrote:
>--- Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM> wrote:
>
>
>>Lastly, at least on my Westy, the tire sticker has
>>two tire sizes, one
>>load range C (a truck tire) and one with
>>'reinforced' sidewalls. So, it
>>sounds like a passenger car tire would not be a wise
>>choice.
>>
>>
>
>Sorry, but the tire size shown on the sticker with
>'reinforced' sidewalls is a passenger car tire. That's
>why it has a reinforced sidewall and a larger load
>range than needed for a Vanagon. VW chose to put
>Michelin MX series tires on Vanagons, and they are
>passenger car tires, with reinforced sidewalls and a
>larger load rating.
>
>Go to any new car dealer and count the number of light
>trucks, SUV's and vans that came with light truck
>tires and compare that to the quantity that came with
>passenger car tires and you will find that most come
>with passenger car tires.
>
>
>
>>I encourage people to study the facts and make their
>>own informed
>>decisions..
>>
>>
>
>
>
>>For me, the last thing I want to be doing is
>>wondering if my tires can
>>handle a fully loaded westy while negotiating a
>>mountain pass with
>>gusty cross-winds.
>>
>>
>
>If your tires are properly inflated and you haven't
>overloaded the vehicle, you should have nothing to
>wonder about, no matter what type of tire you are
>using or what kind of vehicle you are in. I would be
>more concerned about making it up the grade at all in
>a Vanagon. :>)
>
>
>
>
>=====
>TJ Hannink
>Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
>Winter Park, Florida
>http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
>http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album
>
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