IMHO, you should use passenger car tires (proper ones) when you use the
vehicle the majority of time as a passenger car. If you find you're using
the vehicle as a light truck and running around fully loaded most of the
time, the truck tires are probably a good idea.

The original equipment Michelin MXL 205/70R14 was a passenger car tire. It
used a reinforced sidewall and a 97 load rating (which was de-rated by 91%
for use on a light truck) to provide the load capacity and stability needed
for the Vanagon (with 5120 GVWR).

I wouldn't recommend ever putting light truck tires on a Vanagon that you
will be driving daily (unless its always fully loaded). The ride quality,
noise level and handling suffer too much. I just replaced a set of "D"
rated truck tires with some reinforced passenger car tires and will never
go back. The difference is amazing, and vehicle stability in crosswinds has
increased.

Tim Hannink
Winter Park, Florida
Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/

-----Original Message-----
From:   mike [SMTP:mwmiller@CWNET.COM]
Sent:   Wednesday, April 10, 2002 4:57 PM
To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject:        Re: 87 Vanagon Wolfsburg Tires

I don't think we're supposed to use P [passenger car] tires on the vans.

Mike

> From: Bob Krupiarz <hockeyinaz@YAHOO.COM>
> Reply-To: Bob Krupiarz <hockeyinaz@YAHOO.COM>
> Date: Wed, 10 Apr 2002 13:21:00 -0700
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 87 Vanagon Wolfsburg Tires
>
> I just had a blow-out on my 87 Vanagon Wolfsburg with the
> P20570R14 Michelin MXT tires.  Trouble is, Michelin doesn't
> make them any more.  Can anyone out there help me with an
> alternative tire?
>
> Bob
>
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