A 195/60-14 is basically a Golf/Jetta/Passat tire. Only rated 1168
pounds minus 10% (1058). No way is it suitable for a Vanagon.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of George Goff
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 6:13 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: WANTED: winter tires / Summer Must Be Over

In a message dated 9/23/03 1:49:44 AM, mst@AK.NET writes:

<<  195/60R14 will be a slightly lower profile than you currently have,
thus
lowering your ride height approx. 12.5mm(roughly 1/2in). Your
speedometer will
slightly less accurate, but this is easily an acceptable size to run. >>

The diameter of a 195/60R14 tire is nearly 3 inches less than the
diameter of
a 185R14.  Hardly a difference without consequence.  In my experience,
the
taller the tire, the better it performs in snow and over the inevitable
pot hole
ridden roads of spring.  So, I never use tires with an aspect ratio in
their
stated size.

Also, I do not have them studded because the few instances when I could
use
studs do not justify the hours that I have to live with their
shortcomings.

I totally agree with Mark that the most important ingredient in this mix
is
what kind of brain is controlling that foot on the throttle.  In the
winter, it
is always amusing to me when I pass a ditched SUV with a soccer mom
frantically calling for help on her cell phone right after she blew past
me because I
was holding up her Mission from God.

George