Hi fellow Canadians...

Did some tire research lately, here are two good finds.
I kept the research for standard tires as per door sticker on my '84 Westy 
(185R14C)

Kirkland LT 195/75 R 14 are $75 uninstalled at COSTCO (aka Price Club). A 
little wider than standard (1cm), no big deal...
Venderstein Transport Steel 185/R14 are $103 uninstalled from 
americatire.com, FREE Purolator shipping in Canada!

Other than these two *relatively low cost options, you have to go to the 
more expensive Michelin Agilis 61 or Dunlop SP LT5 or....

�ric

At 12:08 PM 12/07/2001, you wrote:
>David -
>I used to have the same opinion.  I changed my mind when I got to thinking
>about the relationship between pressure and carrying capacity.
>The max carrying capacity of the tires is at the highest rated pressure.  If
>you have a tire rated 97 at 50 psi, it can handle something like 1900 lbs.
>At 40 psi, it will  be a fair bit less.  I'll bet if you look at your tires,
>the max pressure is 50 psi or higher.
>My Westy sticker recommends 40 psi on the rear for 205R/14 with a rating of
>97.
>The sticker recommends 48 psi on the rear for 185R/14 C, and does not
>specify a rating.  Probably the C refers to the old Load Range C.  Most of
>the tires of that size and type I have seen have a max pressure of 50 and a
>carrying capacity of 1435 lbs at that pressure, which is load rating 93,
>like the Kirkland tires we are discussing.
>IMO, IF INFLATED TO THE CORRECT PRESSURE, they will be perfectly safe for
>most driving you are likely to do in this country, except serious
>off-roading.
>I think VW specified a load rating of 97 for larger size tires because they
>should be inflated to a smaller percentage of the maximum pressure, and so
>could handle only part of the maximum load specified.
>In other words, in terms of carrying capacity, a 185R/14, 50 psi maximum,
>load rating 93 tire at 48 psi is probably equivalent to a LR 97, 205R/14, 50
>psi max tire inflated to VWs recommended 40 psi.
>Just make sure you look at your door sticker, and keep the tires close to
>that pressure.  Mine specifies higher pressure on the rears, and it handles
>better that way.
>There's nothing wrong with having stronger tires than needed.  My highway
>tires are Kumho 852's, 195/R14  LR 102.  They handle well and were a good
>price.
>Mike Finkbiner
>'87 Westy
>Moscow, Idaho
>
>Date:    Wed, 11 Jul 2001 16:26:00 +0100
>From:    Dave M <dmc@CYBURBAN.COM>
>Subject: Kirkland tires
>>From:    "William S. Brown Jr."
>>Subject: Kirtland Tire question
>>First question:  Are the COSTCO tires only available in the following
>>size?
>>Kirkland Signature LT 2ply Radial Tires
>>LT195/75R14
>>93/90 Q  M&S
>>Load Range: C
>If 93 is the load range, these tires are UNSUITABLE for a Westy.
>You need a load range of something like 97.
>They are barely adequate for a standard Vanagon.
>I run 215-70-14 passenger tires on my Vanagon load range 96 and this is not
>a Westy.
>- David '87 Wolsfburg
>_________________________________________________________________
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