Marc -

I will chime in and say that mixed tires on the same axle are not a good
idea.  It also sounds like tread separation to me.  Better get them checked
right away.  The only tire I ever had blow destructively had tread
separation (15 years ago in a VW Dasher wagon, fortunately on the rear.)

The Conti is probably an OK tire for the Vanagon - 99/97 is probably the
load range, and I believe 97 is what my '87 Westy specifies.

The other three could be passenger tires with a load range of 90 although
the max inflation might mean they are low end truck tires.

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.

An inexpensive alternative that I have been happy with is the Kumho 852.
Load range about 103 in the 195R-14 size, and a reasonable all-weather tread
pattern.

At a minimum I would end up with matched tires on the same axle, and the
heaviest load rating on the rear.

Good luck!

- Mike Finkbiner
'87 Westy
Moscow, ID

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

From: Marc Perdue <marcperdue@adelphia.net>
Reply-To: Marc Perdue <marcperdue@adelphia.net>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Oh no, not tires again!
Date: Mon, 28 Aug 2000 23:29:54 -0400

Hi all,

I'm back for a short time because I've run into an odd situation and I
think my tires may be the culprit.
<SNIP>
Now,about a thousand miles later, the van rocks lightly, but regularly, at
slow speeds, almost as if there were a bump on one of the tires.  At higher
speeds the van seems to vibrate, with a fair amount of road noise.  I
checked out the tires, which were uniformly low at 37 psi, and pumped them
up to the max rating listed on 3 of them, 44 psi.  I haven't yet fully
tested the effects of this.  The 4th tire is different.
<SNIP>
Here are the numbers and what I understand about them.  I'm hoping somebody
can shed some light on what the other numbers mean.

One tire:
Continental Transport
185R14C  RS771
DOT CUKM CWC 496 185 R 14C
99/97 N   55 PSI
Tread: 5 Plies (2 Rayon, 2 Steel, 1 Nylon)
Sidewall: 2 Plies, (1 Rayon, 1 Nylon)
Load Range C

This one sounds like a halfway decent tire, but probably right at the
lower end of what I should be looking for in terms of # of plies and
load range.  I understand the size part except for the RS771.  Not sure
what 99/97N is, or what the DOT numbers mean.

Three tires:
Metric Radial (Who is this made by?)
185R14 90S
Treadwear: 280
Traction: B
Temperature: B
Made in Brazil
URM-203 R-35441 K-7371
M&S  44 PSI
DOT C2J5 HPKR 256
Tread: 3 Plies (1 Polyester, 2 Steel)
Sidewall: 2 Plies, Polyester

<SNIP>
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