Hi Rob,

Fitting the rims and the body are important tire considerations, but
not the only ones.

Safety and proper control of the vehicle should also be a concern.
Also be aware of the fact the 3020 was the UNLOADED weight, not the
weight you went into the dump with. Care to share that number with us?

My baywindow is rated for 5200 lbs GVRW, and I use it that way pretty
regularly. My Dad treats his vanagon fleet the same way; they carry
or tow heavy loads routinely.

Are under-rated tires really more affordable if you wind up replacing
them prematurely due to sidewall failure?  I'm a very frugal person,
but in  my opinion, tires are not appropriate area to try to save $$
on a bus or vanagon. And a bus or vanagon will handle MUCH better
with the correct-rated tire on it.

Visit Larry Chase's tire review page, and shop around. There are
affordable tires out there that meet your vanagon's specifications.

www.roadhaus.com/tires.html

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/77/79 Westfakia "Bob The Tomato
www.pottsfamily.ca
www.busesofthecorn.com

On 13-May-07, at 3:53 PM, Rob wrote:

> Seemed like it's time for tire talk here on the Vanagon list,
> actually there was a discussion going on on the wetwesties list and
> this list seemed a better place for it.
>
> My Vanagon weighted 3020 pounds the last time I left the dump, that's
> me and the van as I drive it.
> For me good tires need to be round, hold air, have tread, fit the
> wheels I have, not rub and be affordable.
>
> That statement ought to be enough to get the discussion started.