Hi all -

I've got 5 new Dunlop Radial Rovers (27x8.50R14) for my '89 Syncro and
they feel just great so far (50 miles.)  However, I got a shock when I
went to pick them up and the tire guys said they couldn't get the spare
carrier closed on the 5th one.  What?!?  I thought these were "EZ-fit" on
the Vanagon, but they're wider than my old Yokohamas, and the carrier
won't clamp down far enough to get the bolt to thread in.

I could see that the sidewall interferes with the box around the shift
linkage unless you cheat the tire rearward a bit, which is feasible.
However, once you do that it still seems like it's hanging up on
something, and I need at least another inch of clearance.

Do I have to do some heinous bending of the metal bars above the carrier
that are supposed to clamp the tire down from above?  Also, the tire
sidewall looks like it's in contact with the rubber coolant hoses - is
that kosher?

What's the trick to getting these to fit?

-Steve