I had a very new set of passenger tires on my Van when I got it and felt
the same way you do about wearing them out before I bought new ones.
After driving 2000 miles here in the mountains of North Carolina I
changed my mind.  It was dangerous.  I went to 5 or 6 tire stores with my
info from the list.  Nobody here had any of those tires.  Nobody I went
to would try to special order any of those tires.  But I finally got a
set of 185R14's and what a difference.

Mark
85 Vanagon