Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2021 18:16:21 +0000
Reply-To: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Life of spare tire in clamshell
In-Reply-To: <149BFE98-9D63-483B-A0BE-565A78480901@gmail.com>
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So many different scenarios to consider; I think the largest of these is future planned driving, and current condition of the four 16" tires (records indicate I should be fine for another 25K miles, which for me is about 3 years). This means my spare at that time would be 12 years old; not too horrible; the ideal situation would be to replace ALL tires including spare at that time, most convenient scenario.
I don't drive offroad much, and when I do it's smooth dirt or gravel, pretty mild. I have gone down to Baja several times but with Vanagon friends; worst case scenario would be to borrow one of their spare tires. Practically no hope of finding a 14" tire of proper rating (or at all!) down in Baja. Not to mention it would spoil the trip for everyone.
In the USA, with cellphones and flatbed tow trucks and lots of tire stores, the situation improves. The question still looms....what will be ability to find proper 14" tire 3 years from now? I have had 2 catastrophic blowouts on rear tire over 30+ years of Vanagon ownership; scariest time was on a busy freeway with 18-wheelers blowing by at 75. But this is best solved by having solid running tires and being a little conservative regarding change interval. I don't even want to think about tire failure on a long bridge crossing the Mississippi with no shoulder with a big Semi behind me. And equally hairy situations all across the country. And that is my driving style; I use my Vanagon for more than local errands or local camping.
Thanks guys for your tips and observations; but for now, I am going to cross my fingers and wait 3 more years. Unless I change my mind....a new 14" tire installed is less than $100.
Also....I cringe whenever I see Vanagon site leveling achieved by using rocks to park on; I did that once...I think I compromised steel belts because tire failure happened not long after.
Rich
San Diego
On Wednesday, March 10, 2021, 9:13:37 AM PST, Chris S <szpejankowski@gmail.com> wrote:
My personal policy is that I never plan to go far, fast, or long on my spare. It’s a 10 year old zero mile Nokian WRC3 of smaller diameter than my current 15’’ tires, a leftover from a previous set of five matching tires.
Chris.
Wysłane z iPhone'a
> Wiadomość napisana przez Richard Koerner <rjkinpb@sbcglobal.net> w dniu 3/9/21, o godz. 13:50:
>
> I run 16" GoWesty alloys and correct tires. But I keep a 14" Vanagon steel wheel (with 5 original nuts and 5 original bolts) with correct rated tire in the clamshell. Brand new....well...it was 9 years ago. And all that blowby heat from radiator; no rubber wear, but many cycles of hot and cold, expanding and then shrinking back, a tough environment. No sunshine of course; ozone exposure same as other tires I guess. I always keep it properly inflated.
>
> So the question: time to replace this unused tire? For me, the spare is only to get to tire store to replace the 16" tire after failure.
>
> Rich
> San Diego
