They won't fit with out a little modification - what you need is a piece of
metal shaped in a "C" - the top part of the C has a 12mm hole and the bottom
part has an M12x1.5 nut welded to it.  Use a common M12 bolt to secure the C
to the existing hole and a then insert the original bolt in the nut at the
bottom of the C - basically you need to make a spacer.

The other solution is to buy one of those fancy VW Original spare tire
carriers... but I have a funny feeling the spacer is a LOT cheaper! :)

David Marshall

Fast Forward Automotive Inc.
4356 Quesnel Hixon Road
Quesnel BC Canada  V2J 6Z3
mailto:info@fastforward.ca <mailto:info@fastforward.ca>
http://www.fastforward.ca <http://www.fastforward.ca>
Phone: (250) 992 7775           FAX: (250) 992 1160

. Vanagon Accessories and Engine Conversions
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-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Steve Hoge
Sent: October 27, 2001 1:36 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Fitting Dunlop Radial Rover in spare carrier?

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