Date: Mon, 18 Jul 2011 13:51:19 -0700
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: understanding tire sizes
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As you may notice on that german tire recommendation site..
there are no 8PR tires ( 8 ply rating ) as those are too stiff and harsh,
particularily in front.
they show 6PR tires.
and where the speed rating is the rating factor ..
there are no 'H' rated tires..
there is however ..a tire with a 'Q' speed rating ..
those are also nice 'nimble' feeling, yet strong enough tires.
I mention this because many tires stores are fitting 8PR ( D load rating )
185 R 14 tires..
which is simply not right..
and gives a much too harsh feeling and ride from the front end.
in the rear ....8PR's are fine.
one brand of 185 R14 C tire I got ..
8PR ...is nice and wide , not narrow at all..
for a 14 inch vanagon tire ..nigh perfect..
just don't run 8PR ( D laod rating ) 14 inch tires in front and for 14's..
they're not bad at all.
LT front tires, in C load rating also work very nicely.
you'll notice the tire sticker usually says 6PR front and rear.
late syncro's show 6PR in front, 8PR in the rear..
which is a very good setup for 14's.
which I highly recommend.
Scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alistair Bell" <albell@SHAW.CA>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2011 7:39 AM
Subject: Re: understanding tire sizes
the cover letter is dated 2002.
road tests and specs for the SA vanagon are around if you care to search.
alistair
On 2011-07-18, at 6:19 AM, David Vickery wrote:
> That document doesn't look updated in any way to 2002. Or maybe I missed
> it.
>
> I'd be curious what tires (and specs) VW of SA put on their vans after
> they went to 15" wheels. More of a modern size no doubt. My personal
> opionion, the 185 tire is a dinosaur. We're lucky they still make
> something that fits the vanagon, but I don't think it is nearly wide
> enough.
>
> --- On Sun, 7/17/11, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>
>> From: Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
>
>> if you want to know what VW
>> recommends (as of 2002) for tire sizes for stock wheels for
>> 2wd, 14" syncro, and 16" syncro, I've posted a german pdf
>> doc on my blog.
>>
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/vanagon-stock-wheel-and-tires/