Date:         Tue, 26 Jul 2011 09:16:23 -0700
Reply-To:     David Vickery <david_vickery@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David Vickery <david_vickery@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tires again!
In-Reply-To:  <CAAj276xS8TKOz9GwA9CyRi51HWJY7+KpkGnBoiG15OujFBqc=g@mail.gmail.com>
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--- On Mon, 7/25/11, ralph meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> looking at those altimax but it seemed too
> close to minimum load limit

I could be wrong but I think it is a misconception about minimum load rating.  You want a tire that supports the Gross Axle Weights.  When VW selected a tire that could be inflated well above the GAWR, they chose lower inflation pressures that brought load capacity down to the GAWR for a smoother ride.  That is how they came up with 30/40 psi on the 97R Michelin MXT.  And same thing for the 185R commercial tires.  They did not inflate them to the max, but where they set them, was at or close to the gross axle weight.

So if your tires are capable of carrying the max axle weeights and you set the pressure of your new tires to a point where it supports the gross axle weight, you are at the correct load.