I believe that if you read the sidewall on your (passenger or light truck)
tire you will find that it has at most two plies.

Forty or more years ago they used more plies to increase the strength of
tires.  When radial-ply tires replaced bias-ply, that changed.

The old methods of rating tires (6-ply, 8-ply, load range C, etc.) are
holdovers from previous systems.  The load rating number (I believe VW
recommends 97 minimum for a Westy) is the best method to see if the  tire is
as strong as recommended.

As far as I can tell, the "Reinforced Sidewall" tire is just one that is
built to light truck specs, somewhat stiffer and stronger than passenger
tires, but isn't called a light truck tire.

Look at the sticker inside the drivers side door to see what tire size and
numeric load rating is suggested for your van, and tell the salesman what it
says.

Higher doesn't hurt.  I am driving Kumho 852s, 195R-14 with a load rating of
103.  They have two sidewall plies and four tread plies.  There might be
exceptions, but I haven't seen any lately.

- Mike

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Date:    Thu, 31 Aug 2000 05:19:39 -0400
From:    Puzerewski <Puzerewski@EMAIL.MSN.COM>

I do not believe that this is true.  I buy my tires for all my cars through
tirerack.com and I have commercial grade 8 ply tires on my vanagon......they
also had 6 ply for about $10 a tire less.....

Adam Puzerewski
81 westy
74 beetle
86 cabrio
Vanagon Partsmobiles
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Dorm" <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 5:06 AM
Subject: Re: [VANAGON] Oh no, not tires again!

>Is that right? They don't make 6-ply and 8-ply tires anymore???
>
>
> >From: Mike Finkbiner <mike_l_f@HOTMAIL.COM>
>
> >The number of plies in the sidewall doesn't mean anything, as far as I >
> >know.
> >  No one makes 6-ply or 8-ply tires anymore, they make 6-ply  and 8-ply
>"Rated" tires, but the actual numeric load range rating is the best way to
>go.
>
>
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