We are passionate about them because tires make or break the ride and
handling of any vehicle.  When I first got my Carat Vanagon, it rode like
crap.  I thought it was the shocks so I replaced all the shocks with Boges
all the way around.  Found that after 150k miles the old Boges were still in
good to excellent shape and probably didn't need to be changed (I have had
this experience changing these shocks on customers vans as well).  After
shock change it rode the same.  However when I got my 15" rims and new tires,
it made a world of difference (mainly the tires).  I got some nice BF
Goodrich tires that are Light Truck rated for the 15" rim from the Tire
Rack.com for around $85 each.  These tires are 215 65 R15 and they ride and
handle great.  Now the van rides excellent.  No more rocking boat effect, and
the tires absorb a good bit of the bumps as well (I am running these at 35
psi).
So although I delete most of the tire posts, I have to say that I understand
why people want to talk about them so much.  Because if you have a crappy car
tire on your van, you can have the best shocks in the world on there and it
will still ride crappy.  But if you have some nice tires on something, the
ride comfort factor goes way up.

PS for those people who are now going to email me and ask about or tell me
that my speedometer is now reading improperly, I will pre-empt your emails by
saying that I have tested my speedo accuracy by timing between mile markers,
checking the odometer readings by mile markers over 100 miles, and by radar
gun and all of these confirm that my odometer and speedo are right on the
money.  Perhaps even more so since putting on the 15" rims.  Just FYI.

Thanks,
Ken Wilford
http://www.vanagain.com
John 3:16
Office (856)-765-1583
Shop (856)-327-0027
Fax   (856)-327-2242