My choice has been to go with a 215-70. Make sure it is rated for the
higher 44 psi inflation pressure for proper handling. These will be
rated at 1554 lbs @ 35 psi. An "H" speed rating will also help offset
any high speed heating effects and the sidewall design of an "H" rated
tire will help the handling. I have used a number of these tires,
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Firestone&tireModel=Aff
inity+LH30&vehicleSearch=false&partnum=17HR4AFLH30&fromCompare1=yes with
excellent results.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Vanagon
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 1:08 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tires...again!

I know that this has been rehashed over and over, but it seems that the
landscape of choice for a 14 in. tire with the proper load rating is
diminishing.

I have an 89 Carat with the 14X6 alloy wheels. My old Michelin MXTs are
about the give up the ghost: the tread is fine but there is some age
crazing in some sections of the sidewall rubber. I was never too
confident about them anyway.

So, now what? Will the Michelin Agilis work on my rims? They seem a bit
narrow at 185. The Vredstein Comtracs don't seem to be available in
205R14 any more, according to their web site. Likewise with the Yokohama
Y356s.

The big problem is that I'm going to fetch my son from college next
week, and there's no way I'm going to do a 500 mile round trip with a
loaded van on the old tires.

I'm considering the BFG T/A KO All-Terrain which come in 27x8.50R14/C
size with a 9% LI (1515 per tire@ 50 PSI) which seems adequate.

Any thoughts,experiences or recommendations?

TIA,

Paolo

89 Carat Eurospec'd