Date: Fri, 27 Dec 2013 12:42:24 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: Tire observation
In-Reply-To: <F01588F1-F370-40D7-B148-288960A435F8@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Hi Eric,
if you are going have five 205/70 R 14 tires..
you should be aware of the fact that if your van did not originally come
with alloy wheels or 205/70 R14 tires..
it will have a spare tire holder for the smaller stock size
and a 204/70 R 14 tire may not fit where your spare goes.
there's more to it than that ..
even the radiator hoses are slightly different for the wider tire.
you can read about that at Van Cafe's site...
which is where I learned about the slight hose differences..
I think they sell a hose that will work in either situation ..something
like that. Van Cafe is a REAL GOOD company ..
they 'really try' to supply good stuff .
be accurate in what they say etc.
re the reinforced rating ..sounds good.
If there is one thing I seriously to not recommned on 14 inch wheels on
vanagons, as I've said many times..
do not run 8 ply/D load rating 14 inch tires on the front of a 2WD vanagon.
I've tried it a few times..
I can't stand how harsh the ride is in the front with D's.
D's on the rear are fine ..no problem..
and actually ...if one runs D's and the rear and C's ( C load rating is
stock for vanagons with 14 inch wheels )
the improvement in straight line tracking,
turn-in response,
and cornering stability will be improved by roughly 12 to 15 % . All
modern performance cars are set up this way btw..always 'more' in
tire/wheel in the rear.
( and I am speaking as someone who has raced cars and motorcycles and
driven perhaps 2 million miles - that's 100K miles times 20
.........not that hard to do if you love driving and have been doing it
since 1962 )
Scott
On 12/27/2013 11:14 AM, Eric Caron wrote:
> Hi Dennis and others,
>
>
> I'm planning to stick with my original 14 inch rims. I called around and the General Ultimax is discontinued but I can still get the 205/70/14 RT. Is this the correct tire?
>
> I don't know what the RT stands for or if it is a sign that this is the correct or incorrect tire. the sales person at tire rack said it had reinforced side wall but I didn't hear true confidence in his voice. I suspect he sells tires but doesn't know tires.
>
> If this is the correct tire they are selling today for $67 plus shipping. for me the shipping is $55 for 4 tires. I'll probably get 5 and rotate often as well as have a spare if disaster strikes.
>
> If you can, please confirm this is the correct tire.
>
> Eric Caron
> 85 GL Auto with 14 inch rims.
>
> On Dec 25, 2013, at 2:31 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>> The 205/70-14 tire was never all that popular a size. Many Mercedes vehicles
>> used it but not with the XL requirement. Obsolete it is becoming. That
>> Altimax was a surprising good all-purpose replacement for the original
>> Michelin MXL in that size. If wishing to stay with that size stock your next
>> set now.
>>
>> Dennis
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>> Richard A Jones
>> Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 11:07 AM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Re: Tire observation
>>
>>> What helps the most in my experience with non-PS Vanagons is front
>>> tires with tall new tread.
>>> when the Wildcat 195/75 R14 LT was available..
>>> and I still have a few with lots of tread..they steer quite nicely
>>> without PS.
>> I went from stock tires (185R14) to General Altimax RT 205/70-14 on my
>> '81 air-cooled Vanagon with no PS. Just that little extra width of tire is
>> noticeable when parking. But I love those tires in every other respect.
>> However, as most things stock Vanagon, I see they are "closeout" at the
>> Tirerack and the Altimas RT43 doesn't have that size....
>>
>> Richard
--
