Larry,

Many syncro drivers find themselves creeping down a steephill and all of a
sudden three wheels are carrying the load. (I think there might be a picture
of my sw in this state on the syncro pages of vanagon.com, under the GW
forest story.)

Anyway, I just want to make the point that 6k lbs/4 is not  necessarily
going to result in  the absolute maximum load per wheel...and you dont have
to be offroad, a steep irregular driveway can do it.  You don't even have to
take a wheel off the ground: a steep hill will transfer weight to the lower
axle.

Besides the 97 rated tire, my doorjamb states that "C" rated 8 ply tires at
up to 48 psi in a couple of sizes are also suitable, so I am curious what
those ratings equal in terms of maximum weight.

Incidently, I have seen the correction factor for p tires on some tire co.
Webpages over time, though I don't remember where.

Finally, I wish we could just trust a reputable tire company. Unfortunately,
they make mistakes too. I think it is the responsibility of the vehicle
owner to confirm that the tire recommended meets or exceeds the required
specs.
Thomas Forhan