Hmmm............I'm flatly not convinced that is true. I had
Continentals on my 88GL when I bought it. The thing handled terrible. I
put Michelin MXT 205/70R14's on it, and what a difference. The
reinforced sidewall strength improved the handling dramatically . Our
vans, with the higher sprung weight need the stiff sidewalls for the
correct handling. And for road protection of the sidewall. Try driving
the fatter, rounder sidewall passenger tires on a gravel road and you
will suffer sidewall failure before you suffer tread failure by rock
damage as a rule. I have lived through the proof of it, having driven
the Alaska Highway numerous times before it was paved, and also other
gravel/rock roads in other parts. Same experience. Round, fat sidewalls
will suffer damage, and handling is reduced on Vanagons.

Stiff, re-inforced sidewalls are the ticket, IMHO, based on my own
hands-on driving experience.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver - with tall 6ply re-inforced sidewalls - 65 psi!!

Ari Ollikainen wrote:

>At 2:10 PM -0500 7/28/03, John Rodgers wrote:
>
>
>>DO NOT PUT PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES ON A VANAGON !!!!!!
>>
>>
>
>        Sorry, but I can't help myself. I wouldn't be so quick to
>        chastise Vanagon owners on their tire choices!
>
>        Ahem...the various Michelin and Continental OEM "reinforced"
>        tires that came on our Vanagons (and Vanagon Campers) from the
>        factory were precisely...uhhh... "PASSENGER VEHICLE TIRES".
>
>        And Vanagons, in general in the USA, are used as passenger
>        vehicles...
>
>
>
>           +----------------------------------------------+
>           | You need only two tools: WD-40 and duct tape.|
>           | If it doesn't move and it should, use WD-40. |
>           | If it moves and shouldn't, use duct tape.    |
>           +----------------------------------------------+
>
>
>