What size tires do you have for the front and rear. They need to be some what matched or you need a plan. The Vanco is a truck type tire that has to be operated at relativley high inflation pressures to carry the load as it is really a small tire. At lower pressures, this tire will quickly deform, go out of round, and wear funny. For the passenger tires, the full load rating is really obtained at 35 psi and anything above that is for the benifit of handling and rolling resistance. Of course, they should be large enough to carry the load and for a Vanagon, that size is at least a 215/70-14. I think I would strt with the max of 40 psi for the front and run the rears at 49 psi. I believe this is the sticker recomendation for the load range C tire in a 185/82-14. This should provide a good balance and compromise.

Dennis

----- Original Message -----
From: J S <jdshoes@GMAIL.COM>
Date: Monday, August 7, 2006 2:58 pm
Subject: Tire Pressure With Different Tire Types

> 1990 Vanagon GL (second owner)
>
> The Van came with Continental Contact tires.  Maximum PSI is 40
> (arg!).  While the tread on all 4 is very good (12K miles), I picked
> up a nail that is too close to the sidewall to repair.
>
> I purchased 2 new tires for the rear - Continental Vanco-8.
>
> I can put 36 psi in the front tires (90% of maximum).  What makes
> sense for the back tires?  I could go with the door sticker
> recommendation of 53 in the back (max for the tires is 65 psi, I
> believe).
>
> But is this too great a difference between the front and back for
> stability/control?
>
> I will be traveling with 7 people in the Van for the next ~1,000
> miles.
> thanks
>