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ChronicTiger
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021
Posts: 32
Location: Ohio
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 Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 5:49 pm Post subject: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Was on the road and took on some sharp metal objects in a couple tires. Fix a flat and stops to use my compressor but had unplanned trip to tire dealer on way home from trip. All they had to put on immediately was a set of Mastercraft Stratus AS, 205/70/15's. I have a 1985 Vanagon Tintop.
Specs are as follows:
Load index = 96
Speed Rating = T
Load Rating= 1565
4 ply tread
2 ply sidewall
Thoughts on safely running these? |
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Abscate
Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014
Posts: 22648
Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 6:05 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Fine if you aren’t carrying gold bullion.
Total rating a little over 6000 pounds, that’s fine.
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 6:11 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Mastercraft's website says they have no tires for a Vanogan!
https://www.mastercrafttires.com/tire-selector
They say the Stratus AS is a car and CUV tire.
https://www.mastercrafttires.com/tires/cars-minivans/stratus-as
You should be safe for a day or two, but maybe look for something else and give these to a friend.
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Steve M.
Samba Member
Joined: July 30, 2013
Posts: 6829
Location: Fort Lauderdale, Fl.
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| Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2021 6:22 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Don't mind my jesting, these will get you home.
They do say the load range is standard and you need a Light Truck tire for the Vanagon.
What inflation are you filling them to?
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wbailey2112
Samba Member
Joined: October 02, 2015
Posts: 483
Location: Grove City, OH
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:27 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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What about the date codes? If these tires are ancient the load specs aren't really going to matter much when your driving on old rubber.
I had a blow out last summer in my Thing that came as a complete surprise. The tires looked great (no noticeable dry rot cracks) but they were very old and when the first one blew it was a wake-up call.
Oh and I should add that the old tires were also Mastercrafts which I believe are bargain basement tires to begin with.
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'74 Thing
'83 Westfalia |
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82westyrabbit
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015
Posts: 969
Location: Ma
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:27 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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| I have mastercrafft tires on my 215/65/15 on westy that I run pretty light. They aren’t my favorite tire but they have been on there for 30,000 miles. When I walked out to look at them Before I posted I saw the side walls are starting to crack they are about four years old. Now that I have seen that I will have to start looking for new tires. They don’t last to long but I would run them for now. (I hope thesamda tire gods don’t get me for admitting I run under rated tires). If I ran the van heavy I certainly would not do that. John |
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dobryan
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2006
Posts: 16503
Location: Brookeville, MD
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bobbyblack 
Samba Member
Joined: May 21, 2015
Posts: 4349
Location: United States, Iowa
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:36 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Depends on your version of the term 'safe'. For instance, do you consider having an encounter with law enforcement for some other minor infraction, like a turn indicator bulb out, etc, then them noticing your underrated tires a safety concern, and impound your rig? How far from home will you be going "safely" ?? To another state where an exact same "need tires immediately" happens again, and find out they absolutely will not rim tires that are not C rated because "you have a 1 ton truck there, and we aren't allowed to put under rated tires on it here" and you are on the lift, and paying time until some other tires come in on a truck a week later? Safe with that scenario?
Sure, ask an internet forum if something will get you home, etc. but "safe" can't be explained that simply, I think.
-bobby
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'87 Westy 'Flossie','86 Westy 'R1','86 tintop GL - Subi2.2 'J2','83.5 stock tintop L 'ZoomBus','74 Karmann Ghia, '63 Notch |
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82westyrabbit
Samba Member
Joined: March 02, 2015
Posts: 969
Location: Ma
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 6:39 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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| I just checked four years and 30’000 mile. But when I put them on it was $600 for tires and rims (I got them wholesale). So I got what I paid for. John |
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wesitarz
Samba Member
Joined: August 20, 2012
Posts: 1490
Location: Victoria,B.C.Canada
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:50 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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| I ran 215 65R 15 Michelins rated 95 for 10+ years on my 88 tintop. |
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danfromsyr
Samba Member
Joined: March 01, 2004
Posts: 15144
Location: Syracuse, NY
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 7:59 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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WOW, that's a stretch there..
| bobbyblack wrote: |
| Depends on your version of the term 'safe'. For instance, do you consider having an encounter with law enforcement for some other minor infraction, like a turn indicator bulb out, etc, then them noticing your underrated tires a safety concern, and impound your rig? |
this one not as much of a stretch.
| Quote: |
How far from home will you be going "safely" ?? To another state where an exact same "need tires immediately" happens again, and find out they absolutely will not rim tires that are not C rated because "you have a 1 ton truck there, and we aren't allowed to put under rated tires on it here" and you are on the lift, and paying time until some other tires come in on a truck a week later? Safe with that scenario?
Sure, ask an internet forum if something will get you home, etc. but "safe" can't be explained that simply, I think.
-bobby |
On a tintop lightly loaded I wouldn't have much an issue
keep them inflated to 40-44psi.
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vwhammer
Samba Member
Joined: May 20, 2006
Posts: 998
Location: Boulder CO.
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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Peel the sticker out of the van that has all the tire info as it is obsolete anyway.
Then go to a shop and have them mount any standard load rated tires whos load rating multiplied by 4 then multiplied by 0.91 equals more than the weight of your van.
Or since you have 15 inch tires you can likely find a XL rated tire which does not require the 0.91 multiplier as they are rated for extra loads a truck might see.
I understand bobbyblack had an issue in the past but I also don't suspect you will find that scenario played out too many times and I also suspect that shop was full of crap and is no shop I would ever return to.
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Pretty normal daily driver build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=708418&highlight=
4x4 build
https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/volkswagen-vanagon-4x4-conversion.162055/ |
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ChronicTiger
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021
Posts: 32
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 1:21 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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| Appreciate all the insight and taking the time to provide it. |
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Wildthings
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2005
Posts: 50338
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 2:25 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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After it has been derated by a factor of 0.91 a Load Range 96 tire is going to be within 9 pounds of meeting the 1433# rear axle rating, or is within 99.4 percent of the requirement for a fully loaded T2. I have been running 215/70r14's (Load Range 96) on my various T2 for years and have had less problem with them than when I have run various truck tires. If you can't handle running on tires that are 6 tenths of one percent under rated then throw out your bag of dirty laundry or so other ballast.
Note that depending on which axle the passenger tires are mounted you may have a problem with front to rear bias. Several times over the years, I have had to swap unmatched tires between the front and rear to get more neutral steering. |
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Corwyn
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Joined: December 29, 2009
Posts: 2237
Location: Olympia, Washington
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ChronicTiger
Samba Member
Joined: March 18, 2021
Posts: 32
Location: Ohio
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| Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2021 5:22 pm Post subject: Re: Needed tires immediately - These safe to run for awhile? |
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That was a good read, thanks! I've been all over that site and have not come across that particular article. I think I'll live. The previous tires were 10 years old. When I drove away from the shop with the new set my Vanagon felt like a Rolls. Thousand miles back home was smooth as well.
Always good stuff from the members here. |
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Phishman068
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Joined: February 19, 2007
Posts: 1867
Location: Pittsburgh PA (ish)
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