Date:         Sun, 26 Feb 2012 08:45:09 -0800
Reply-To:     Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: Checked your spare tire recently? Spare Tire Size
In-Reply-To:  <1330271134.99771.YahooMailClassic@web83607.mail.sp1.yahoo.com>
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And one more tip--since the 16" GoWesty Michelin Hydroedge tire won't fit into the clamshell, I carry one of those large Glad Trash bags tucked in with the nuts & bolts mentioned below; tires are pretty dirty and since I'll be carrying the damaged tire inside the Vanagon, no need to add further misery by getting carpet and upholstery and whatever else it touches all messed up.  Said trash bag can also be used as a makeshift ground cloth when crawling underneath for spare removal, turn it inside out when done and put dirty tire inside bag so clean side of bag is inside car.

--- On Sun, 2/26/12, Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET> wrote:

From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Checked your spare tire recently? Spare Tire Size
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 7:45 AM

Yes, on my 14" spare with the original steel rim, I carry a set of both the original nuts and bolts so that I'm good to go for either a front or rear tire replacement.  I have the hardware in a strong plastic bag tie-wrapped securely onto the steel rim; so when that moment comes on the side of the highway, I've got everything handy and don't have to spend time wondering where in the heck I put those nuts and bolts!

When you buy a 16" GoWesty alloy wheel & tire package, it comes with the proper hardware for attaching those--they have the proper chamfer or spherical shape (can't remember which offhand) to match the wheels.  And I also bought long socket to fit said hardware so that I don't need to use that nearly useless stamped "lug wrench" that comes with Vanagons.  Oh yeah, and a 2 foot length of steel pipe which I use as a cheater bar for my ratchet--learned the need for that right away when installing the new wheels--I think installation torque used at tire shops is around 133 ft-lbs, pretty beefy, no good having a spare tire & and proper bolts & nuts if you can't unscrew the ones on the vehicle (learned that when doing a tire rotation only to find out I couldn't budge the fasteners.

Glad this isn't a "tire thread"--its a "spare thread"!

Rich
San Diego

--- On Sun, 2/26/12, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:

From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Checked your spare tire recently? Spare Tire Size
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Date: Sunday, February 26, 2012, 4:51 AM

16 inch versus 14 inch can mean very little. The question needs to include the tire size. `A 195R14 and 226/60-16 are almost identical diameters. The standard differential in the Vanagon will take most any miss match you may throw at it. The syncros will not as the Viscos coupling has to take up the difference. When a customer insists on only replacing two tires I do one on each axle, opposite corners. This keeps the overall axle speeds matched. 

Also note if using a steel or unmatched spare wheel you need to carry the lug nuts-bolts that go with them. No sense having a spare if you can't attach it.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of J Stewart
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2012 7:09 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Checked your spare tire recently? Spare Tire Size

RIch brings up something here that I've wondered about. Running 16 inch rims/tires but carrying a 14 inch spare. What is the difference in diameter between the 16's and the spare? On the front I guess it wouldn't matter, but wouldn't running two different size tires on the rear cause damage tot he transaxle? There is a somewhat funny Craigslist ad running here in N. Virginia for a Chevy Astro AWD van from a Ford dealer. They were, being a dealer, asking way too much for it, but a couple of weeks ago the price dropped to $1500.00 and the ad now reads "one of our mechanics put a new tire on this van and it didn't match the other three. Apparently all wheel drive does not work well with mismatched tires and the van now smokes and won't move when in gear" The price is still way too high, and it doesn't say much about the quality of their mechanics-who doesn't know you can't mix tire sizes on AWD? Jeff Stewart ----- Original Message -----
> I'm getting ready for a roadtrip in a few weeks. Wanted to check tire 
> pressures and top off if required (GoWesty 16" tire & wheel package, 3 
> years old now). Everything looking good at the recommended 44 psi, 
> maybe a pound low in pressure, except for right rear.....15 
> lbs.....nail right in the middle of tread, easy to fix. Got under to 
> remove spare to check it....0 lbs....and it wouldn't accept air. Off 
> to local Discount Tire. They fixed the RR but said the spare was too 
> old (which it is). So bought a brand new Hancook RA08 (14" original 
> steel Vanagon rim) for $152 after all the fees and stuff. I really 
> think that in 8-10 years I'll be replacing that brand new spare again, 
> just the way it goes for the "insurance".
> Very embarrassed to admit I hadn't checked the spare in 3 years or so; 
> guess the age and the high heat right behind the radiator took its 
> toll. Will now check at every 5000 mile tire rotation.
> Got lucky in my mind; you really need 5 good tires at all times (I 
> knew that...). Go check yours please while it's easy to do so.
> Rich
> San Diego