Date: Fri, 11 Mar 2011 00:11:37 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: And now - still trying for NEW TIRES
In-Reply-To: <4D76CE09.2070705@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
The Syncro Camper came from the factory with 205/70-14 tires with a 97 load
index. Why wouldn't you these?
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
John Rodgers
Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2011 7:47 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: And now - still trying for NEW TIRES
As suggested by Dennis Haynes, I'm running the General Altimax
205/70-14's on my '88 GL. Over winter here in the south, they have
proven to be a great tire. There has been wind, hard rain, show, ice,
sleet and the tires have performed well. They are plenty sufficient and
safe for the max spec'd load ratings one might put in the Vanagon. My
driving is 97% paved public roads so I cannot address what they might do
off road or on un-improved roads. I plan to buy two more sets, one for
each of my other two vans - another GL and a Carat.
Dunno that I would put these on a Westy, and definitely not on a Syncro
but they are just fine for a GL or Carat.
John
John Rodgers
Clayartist and Moldmaker
88'GL VW Bus Driver
Chelsea, AL
Http://www.moldhaus.com
On 3/8/2011 2:53 PM, Jake de Villiers wrote:
> Chicken Little's not so good with math, I guess. ;)
>
> My 255/55-16 Continental EWC winters are XL ie 99T: 1709 lbs and 118 mph
-
> I think I'm pretty safe!
>
>
>
> On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM, Mike S<mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:
>
>> At 11:24 AM 3/8/2011, The Bus Depot wrote...
>>
>> For your own safety and education, please take a moment to read this
>>> primer
>>> on safe tire choices for Vanagons before making any tire purchase:
>>>
>>> http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp
>>>
>> That's only correct for Synchros.
>>
>> Your site claims: "based on the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) of a
>> Bus or Vanagon you get the following minimum acceptable load ratings:
>> 1520 lbs (load index 95) for a light truck rated tire, or 1670 lbs
>> (load index 99) for a standard Passenger car (P) rated tire," which
>> implies a GAWR of 3040. You offer no source for "the 6% safety margin"
>> you say is required in addition to the 9% derating for a passenger tire
>> used in a light truck application. There's no mention of the additional
>> 6% here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=70
>>
>> A light truck tire rated for 1520 (1/2 the Synchro rear GAWR) would be
>> load index 95. A passenger car tire rated for 1672 after derating 9% is
>> load index 99, which agrees with the load indices given on the busdepot
>> site. Interestingly, if a passenger tire had to be derated 9%, then an
>> additional 6%, as claimed, one would require a passenger tire rated for
>> 1914 lbs, or load index 103. So, the busdepot site doesn't even follow
>> the rules it claims to use.
>>
>> But, a 2WD has a rear GAWR of only 2866, so tires need not be rated to
>> the same capacity. As I said in previous posts, tires suitable for
>> normal Vanagon must be rated 93 (if light truck) or 96 (if passenger)
>> or better.
>>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX - 'The Grey Van'
> 1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Subie - 'Dixie'
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
>
>
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