I have a full size Michelin Agilis 51 215/65-15 under my syncro - I
have heard too many warnings about running different sized tires
damaging the AWD system. I use Volkscafe's oversized spare carrier
with no problems:

http://www.volkscafe.com/vanagonparts.jsp?pa=ip&ip=764380099

Chris

On 6/24/05, Wognacious <wognacious@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> They are the Michelin Agilis 51's , size is 205/65 R15C.
> 
> Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@optonline.net> wrote:What size tire?
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Wognacious
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 8:01 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: 15" wheels - what about spare?
> 
> I've got a 15" spare in my carrier. I took the stock hing pin mechanism
> out and replaced whatever was there with case hardened bolts and nylock
> nuts. Seems like there was some kinda spring steel thing in there
> before. Someone on the list mentioned this fix a while ago so it should
> be in the archives. Spare fits fine with the correct amount of air
> pressure in it too.
> 
> Paul Rogers
> 85 Westy Weekender
> 
> Dennis Haynes wrote:
> The issue is the overall size of the tire, not the wheel. The practical
> limit the later tire tray and removing the hold downs is probably 27"
> diameter and 215 widths. 225 widths might be possible with a custom tray
> or support bars. This may require leaving the tire deflated and carrying
> an air compressor. I have 215/65-16's on my Syncro and the spare is
> mounted this way. If the spare wheel is steel and the other wheels
> alloy, you should also carry a spare set of lug nuts and bolts for 2wd.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Maggie Dew
> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2005 6:00 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: 15" wheels - what about spare?
> 
> I took my Westy in to F.A.S.T. in Santa Fe this morning and they will
> replace that crossover above the fuel tank and replace all my old fuel
> lines that are forward of the engine compartment - plus whatever else it
> needs in the way of seals/grommets to the fuel tank. They had five or
> six
> Westys in for various repairs.
> 
> Now on to the wheels: Jim, the owner, was curious about my 15" wheels
> and
> asked what I did for a spare. I told him I used the 14" wheel and spare
> because I didn't think the 15" would fit in the spare tire carrier. He
> has a Syncro and said he doesn't think it would be safe to drive the 4WD
> using a 14" spare. It seems to me that someone recently mentioned a fix
> for putting a 15" spare in the carrier. I am unable to do long searches
> in the archives since I'm using the library computer for 30 minutes.
> Any
> suggestions or personal experiences will be appreciated.
> 
> Maggie
> '85 Westaru "Anne Bonney"
>