Date:         Tue, 2 Nov 2004 02:03:12 -0600
Reply-To:     Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: Largest diameter wheel.
Comments: To: "Todd P. Last" <Rubatoguy@comcast.net>
In-Reply-To:  <41872D80.5020703@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Todd:
ALL of these tires but maybe 1.5 sets were reinforced or C 6pr tires. I
kinda misspoke when I posted that. What I mean to say is that there are
probably 6.5 to 7.5 SETS of mounted Vanagon tires around here. At least
SOME members of each set have failed  due to broken carcases/belts, IOW
have a lot of out of roundness. The only ones that did not fail were the
Avons. These are a studdable all weather tread. I have 8 of them.
(Actually 1 of those failed too, but  I drove it after a sudden loss of
air in extreme cold for about 2 miles. At least 20 below and my work van
was bumping around so much because of the cold and packed snow I didn't
even realize the tire was flat! I still put a tube in it but less than a
year later it blew out. I really can't hold it against Avon for that one! )
It's hard to say any other brand is much better than the other, except
the Avons.
I've been driving type 2's and Vanagons for 22 years now. I bought my
first one, a 1976 after an engine fire. After getting the restoration
all done, I took it for a drive- absolutely scarey. I knew VW would have
never had any buyers if they drove new like that. Then I read the
owner's manual (it says right there!) Back then I got a lot of sets of
Klebers 185R-14 reinforced. Those were pretty good as  I remember. But
I've had a lot of Michelins, Conti's, especially fail.
I'm quite familiar with the XCA's. I had them on an old Chevy 4wd
pickup. I broke those, too,but  only by driving over sharp brick edges
with 1000 bricks in the box. That was 6000 lbs in a 1/2 ton pickup. Can
you say abuse? Not very much snow traction, but very quiet on the road.
Does any mail order place sell  205/75R-14 XCA's ?

Todd P. Last wrote:

> ....
> I'd be curious to know if any of the tires you saw that had
> carcass/belt failures were appropriately rated for Vanagon.
> I've seen a number of tire failures from people who were adventurous
> to put car tires that did not meet the load rating on the Vanagon.
>
>