Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (March 2009, week 3)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
Date:         Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:46:37 -0400
Reply-To:     Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Chris S <szpejankowski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Reinforced tires - what about other vans?
Comments: To: Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com>
In-Reply-To:  <20090316122113.255DC1165C1@hamburg.alientech.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

OK, then you agree with me that Honda Odyssey tires, which are not reinforced but have a sufficient load rating, will work on a Vanagon just fine.

On 3/16/09, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote: > At 11:48 PM 3/15/2009, Chris S wrote... >>What you folks can't see and refuse to admit is that with today's >>technology larger diameter tires of proper size can and do handle the >>weight loads of a Vanagon, a 3400 lb vehicle. I just looked up OEM >>tires for our 4310lb Honda Odyssey and the are rated at 1653 lbs at >>44psi. > > It's hard to figure out exactly what you are now arguing. > > You started by claiming that "1990 Mercedes 560 SEC...15'' Mercedes > tires and wheels are just fine," without provide ANY information on > what tires you were referring to. > > Doing a search on tirerack.com for 1990 560SEL tires, the lowest load > rating shown is a 92-1389 lbs., which is insufficient for a Vanagon. > > Now you're listing a bunch of other vehicles, the majority of which > have tires with a load rating higher than VW specified (100-1764 lbs. / > 102-1874 lbs.). > > Why did VW specify a reinforced tire? Because the Vanagon weighs more > than a car, and it needs stronger tires. > > When the Vanagon came out, tires were spec'd differently - so VW > specified a 185R14C (load range C light truck tire) or a 185R14 > reinforced (passenger car tire with higher than standard load rating). > "Reinforced" simply means that it had a higher load rating than normal > passenger car tires of the same size. > > With modern tire markings, the "reinforced" and "extra load" markings > are somewhat redundant. You look at the load range number and use that. > For a light truck tire, you use the number directly, for a passenger > car tire, you should derate the load carrying capacity by 9% when used > on a Vanagon. (why has already been discussed) > > http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=55 > > The lightest duty tire VW provided as OE on a Vanagon was a 97-1609 > lbs. rated passenger car tire. That derates to 1464 lbs. That is the > closest match to the Vanagons GAWR (rear) of 2866 lbs. (divide by 2 to > get per tire requirement). The next step down, a 96-1565 lb. rating, > would derate to 1424 lbs., too low for the Vanagons actual weight > rating. That's not a coincidence. > > A 100-1764 lb. load range passenger car tire, which derates to 1605 > lbs., is fine, as long as it has a high enough maximum inflation > pressure (something 40+). A passenger car tire for an MB560, with a > load rating of 92-1389 lbs, which must then be derated to 1269 lbs, is > seriously under spec. > >

-- Sent from my mobile device

Chris S. Disclaimer: "Death and serious injury may occur"


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.