Tires - Blowout - Gowesty load rating is optimistic?

[Jon_slider]

Here are some specific recommendations of tires that DO meet Vanagon spec

14": Hankook RA08 195R14 and 185R14. BFG AT Ko 195x75x14. Nokian Hakka C 185R14
15": Michellin Agilis 205x65x15, BFG AT Ko 215x75x15, Nokian WRC Van 205x65x15
16": BFG AT Ko 215x70x16, Nokian WRC Van 205x6 5x16

Here are some vendors that I recommend for the tires listed above:
for Hankook http://www.busdepot.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=hankook&dir=desc&order=default_sort_order
for Nokian http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/search?keywords=nokian&x=0&y=0
for BFG AT Ko and Michellin Agilis http://www.bigotires.com/ (and many other sources)

Here is the one simple criteria that I require on any tire I consider on a Vanagon. It MUST have a least 50psi max inflation.
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[crazyvwvanman]

You are right, size matters.

For your 15", look at 205/65/15. TireRack has 4 tires XL and Load C
That size is what RSA Vanagons came with as well as many Eurovans.

For 16", look at the numeric ratings of the SL 215/65/16. Those are commonly LI 98 and they have tons of them as you said, some even 50psi tires for people who care about that. Sure myself I would prefer the XL versions at LI 102 and 50 psi but the SL at 98 is higher than stock 14" tires Vanagon alloys came with, those were index 97 and 40psi.

I wouldn't consider a 215/55/16 since too many rims get damaged with that low of sidewall. Speaking of damage, I wonder how many of those 'replica' wheels GW sells end up bent. I know a few. I like how they talk about them getting bent but without any damage to the tire, like that is a good thing?

Mark

[[email protected]]

I have been having difficulty in finding a load rang C or D tire for my 83 Vanagon . The factory rims call for a 185/75 R 14 - I have been told that HANKOOK makes a tire of adequate load range. Goodyear made a police special tire with 6 ply tread and 4 ply sidewall. That is the most heavy duty tire I have seen. All the name dealers I have seen here in Kansas City - Firestone, Goodyear, Mich., and who else I can find, don't want to sell the tires I am looking for, I got quite a few things to do on my diesel Vanagon.
I am game. I don't like Alloy rims, they tend to break up on side wall impact against curbs. The tires I have on there are Douglas, I did not buy them - they will be replaced. Any recommendations will be appreciated.

[vanagonjr]

[Randy in Maine]

Actually I think the factory calls for a 185R14 Commerical tire, not a 185/75/14 tire which would likely be a passenger car tire.

From the 1982 owners manual...

[danfromsyr]

$99ea delivered to your or your tire shops door.
Hercules Power CV in 185r14
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-TIRES-185R14C-8-102-10...mp;vxp=mtr

[pdm777]

I resolved my tire issue today.
went to America's Tire.

They gave a discount of $262.00 for my old Michelin HydroEdges,
w/about 75% of thread remaining and severe cracked sidewalls.

I DID NOT buy the GoWesty tire:
Goodyear TripleThread 215/60/16 94T (1477lbs)
(Amer. Tire said they would not install that tire due to low rating)

I Bought: Goodyear Triple Tread 215/5516XL 97H (1609 lbs.).
installed total cost: $361 + CA tax.
-- PLUS an $80 rebate VISA card from Goodyear

- the total diameter is slightly less than an inch from the Michelins.
- The reduction in tire diam. also provides a 'slight' boost to power.
- Match well for my intended uses, according to TireRack tests, etc..

comments?
peace of mind was less $$ than I expected.

[jackbombay]

[Jon_slider]

[pedrokrusher]

[Jon_slider]

Hi Pedro,

imo, you do not need to worry about your tire, it exceeds the max load of 1580, that was used on the lowest rated tire VW ever put on a Vanagon.
http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/VW%20Vanagon%20Original%20Equipment%20Tires%201984%20-%201991.html

if you look at that link, you will see that VW did use one Load Range 97 XL rated tire, but every other tire they ever used was at least Load Range 99 (C rated tires)

Personally I won't settle for less than a C rated tire because I like how the stiff sidewalls eliminate body roll driving through curves, even with stock sway bars.

imho, 17" rims are not safer than 16". I would say Load Range C tires are safer than XL rated passenger tires, regardless of rim size.
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My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[jackbombay]

[kamzcab86]

[Jon_slider]

the following tires are all available in identical 205x65x15, all are 100T load range C, max load 1875@55psi:

agilis $169 at tire rack
contivanco $145 at tire rack
nokian wrc $140 at Van-cafe

I put Nokian WRC 205x65x15 on my 2wd Westy about 2 weeks ago.

I run them at 42psi front, 48rear and am very happy with them.

The previous tire was a Michellin Agilis. It worked great, but they are not snow friendly. So I went with Nokian, in anticipation of ski season.
_________________
My Soapboxes: Inflation; Handling; Gearing; Decoupling; Swepco

[Corwyn]

Tires-Easy.com is showing these load range D tires at a terrific price. I may try them:

http://www.tires-easy.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=13...View+Tires
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'90 White Westy ("The Longship")
FAS Gen V 2.0
The Annual Baja Rally
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=604813&highlight=baja

"If anything's" gonna happen, it's gonna happen out there"
~ Captain Ron ~

[Vasa]

I too had sidewall cracks in my Michelin Hydro-edge tires purchased directly from Gowesty. I switched to Cooper tires years ago, and I have had absolutely no problems with them. The Coopers do not show any cracking for the full life of the tire-- in my experience, Michelins are over-rated as a tire, generally. This goes for their Bicycle tires, as well....

[carterzest]

[insyncro]

I have proudly unmounted and recycled every set of Hydro Edge tires that have come through my shop.

Complete crap and not suited for a Vanagon.

And I don't care who says that they are fine for a van.
Disagree.

[Jamos]

When I bought my van 6 years ago, it had the GW/Hydroedge package installed about 4 years prior. The PO had put about 20k miles on them, and all 4 tires had extreme sidewall cracking. There was tons of tread left, but within about 6 months I replaced them with Michelin Agilis tires.

I have no problems with the Agilis in wet or dry conditions, but now they too are starting to get sidewall cracks. Only on the outside though, the side that gets UV exposure.

I've never had any other tire do this.
Maybe it's a Michelin thing?
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'86 Wolfy Westy Weekender
2020 Audi Q5

[vanonimous]

Wow, 94 passenger on a Westy? I am not an expert but I would do minimum 98xl on a passenger van preferably 4 ply sidewall.
98XLs come as either 2 or 4 ply. C rated are 6 ply but commercial sizing sux.
_________________
If happiness is being a mechanic, owning a Vanagon is nirvana.

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