Date: Sat, 1 Nov 2003 16:06:37 -0500
Reply-To: Kevin Mulligan <mulligan_kevin@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Kevin Mulligan <mulligan_kevin@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Tires - Here's what I found . . .
James,
Regarding tires, here's what I found over the last few months of research:
1) Light truck (LT) tires, load-rated C or D, are the safest. Most people
do not recommend passenger tires for this vehicle due to the insufficient
load ratings of passenger tires in the 205/70R 14 (and alternative 195/75R
14 and 185R 14) size. Reinforced passenger tires were recommended by VW,
but I don't believe they are available any more. This leaves you with LT C
or D tires as the only ones that meet the specs for the Vanagon.
2) I've yet to see a 205/70R 14 tire in an LT size. They are widely
available among passenger tires, though.
3) For the LT 195/75R 14 size, you have several options for LT, load-rated
C tires. Last I checked, the following were available in this size:
BF Goodrich Commercial T/A All Season
Michelin LTX Mud and Snow
Goodyear Wrangler HT (Highway)
Goodyear Wrangler AT
Yokohama Y356
Cooper Discoverer LT
Uniroyal: Laredo HD/H
Uniroyal Laredo All-Season AWP
Uniroyal HD/H with Nailguard
Bridgestone Dueler AT with Uni-T
Michelin XC LT4
Nokian Hakkapeliitta CS and CQ
4) Since you have the Carat alloy wheels, you can also use a 27 x 8.5 x 14
tire, although your spare may not fit in the standard spare tire carrier in
the front without buying the adapter from www.volkscafe.com (or fabricating
your own, of course). This size can be about an inch more in diameter than
the 205/70R 14's that you have now, and about a half-inch wider. Here are
tires I found in this size:
Bridgestone Dueler AT with Uni-T
Dayton Timberline AT
Kelly Safari SJR (320BC)
Dunlop Radial Rover RV (discontinued; new model may be available)
BF Goodrich All-Terrain TA K/O
Wrangler AT
Cooper Discoverer LT
5) There are also a couple of commercial tires that I believe have a
highway-only tread -- a viable choice if all your driving is on paved roads
in the summer. I believe Michelin makes an XCA in 205/75R 14, and I've
heard Bridgestone makes a similar model. These tires are slightly larger
than the 205/70R 14 but slightly smaller than the 27 x 8.5 x 14.
Hope this helps.
- Kevin
