I appreciate the in-depth descriptions, but I must say I lost you through it
all. I guess what you're saying is 205/70/14 is OK with load rating C(if
possible to find) and LT(if possible) or stay with 185 or 195R14 and C
rating, or find some Hakepealida(good luck) or pay shipping.....?
Michael.

On Sat, May 10, 2008 at 9:22 PM, Scott Daniel - Shazam <
scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:

> You're very right.
> The original 205/70's - a *perfect* size on that van , where reinforced.
> You
> might not be able to find anything but "P' car tires in that size.
> You do not want P205/70 anything, or any P tire on a vanagon.
> That P means 'passenger car.'
> Their sidewalls are not stiff enough.
>
> I did however, take the studs out of a ( non P  ) set of Hakepalida 205/70
> R
> 14 tires, and it turned the van into a sports car, from a boat.
> They are T rated for speed.
> Technically they might be a tad 'not quite the right rating' but they work
> like a dream
>
> The 185 and 195 - if in C load rating, they are perfect.
> I have seen C rated 185 R 14,s that are really D load rated.
> D load rating is an extremely stiff sidewall tire.
> They are used for trailer tires - as what you want is very low rolling
> resistance.
> I find them too harsh - but a matched set of 4, in D load rating might work
> fine.
> I've driven an 86 camper vanagon the 'Jupiters' on it - a popular tire a
> while back in that size and rating.
> In fact, I have 3 really really good ones that I'll sell.
>
> And 185 or 195 in C load rating - just about perfect.
> Yes, I mixed up T speed rating and C & D load rating.
>
> In speed raring, H rated tires are pretty harsh. A performance car tire.
> My 88 turbo Volvo uses them in 195/60 R 15.
> They can be desperately harsh at lower speed.
> Lowering the tire pressure helps some, but tire pressure can only 'sort of'
> make up for what a tires rating is.
> Putting very high pressure in a non-vanagong rated tire barely helps make
> it
> have stiffer side walls. Same for lower pressure with an H rated tires.
>
> When I run my 185/60 R 15 snow tires in the winter on my turbo volve, even
> on pavement, it turns into a delightly tossible car with fantastic and
> nimble ride.
> I found  a set of  195/60 R15's summer/rain M & S tires in T rating. Can't
> wait to try those. The H ones won't wear out though, and the rear ones,
> which I got off a Saab 9000 in a junkyard with 80 % tread - totally out of
> round, well shake the front end to pieces, and it's not balance either.
>
> Right now I thnk the best overall use choces are either 185 R 14 C, C
> rated,
> or the 195 - those a tiny bit bigger and look and work fine.
>
> Or a 205/70 in a non car tire, with good load ratings, max lbs rating, and
> max pressure rating.
> If you look at the max load rating and max pressure rating on the tires -
> you'll find you want about 1,700 lbs max load rating per tire, and the
> stronger the tire the higher the max pressure is. You'd like to see 50 psi
> or so max pressure rating.
> The 185 R14 C's that are really D load rated - their max rated pressure is
> 65 psi !   real overkill though I think on a vanagon,
> But people run matched sets of 4.
> You do not  ever want D load rated tires on the back and LT's ( light
> truck,
> which is about like a C load rating ) or C load rated tires on the rear.
> The van will bounce all over the place on bumps, steer like a barge, and be
> just awful. Going down on front tire pressure on helps a little
>
> I've also gotten into 27 by 8.50 R 14 - that's a truck type size system.
> That size is going out of favor, but at my local Less Schwab tire place, I
> saw a set of four that looked awesome.
> They do have the load rating to, a truck thing, like an LT tire.
> I have never run them on the front, just the rear- and they are nigh
> perfect
> on the rear for a 2WD vanagon.  Nicely a 'bit larger' look knarly, help the
> gearing a tiny bit etc.
>
> For sure 14 inch tires are going out of use.
> It's all 15's and 16's now, but there are still good 14 inch vanagon rated
> tires available.
> I like my cars to feel nimble, not truck like.
> I'm super pleased with those T speed rated Hakepalida's. Steers like a
> sports car, and tracks just fine. I'd buy a summer version of that tire if
> there was one, probably.
>
>  The 205/70 tire is a great size for all around use - just need to find it
> in vanagon -rated.
>
> I have a set of 4 Michelin Rainforce tires that came off a syncro.
> Can't say I especially like them, they look small for one thing.
>
>
> oh  - go study at tireack.com
> and call them on the phone too, their phone people are sharp that I've
> experienced though they might not be very vanagon savvy.
> But you can read reviews, get outside diameter, a hundred things.
> You spend hours on their site, it's really good.
> Like a library/encyclopedia of tires.  ( the original size tire that's not
> 205/70 or 185 R 14 C, is the 195/75 R 14 LT. always a great all around
> vanagon tire.
> I think I'd start there with LT tires and see what I found.
> LT as a tire type  is dead perfect on a vanagon , sufficient, but not too
> stiff.
> And if you find 205/70's in a proper rating - perfect.
>
> I've noticed that the D load rated, and the C load rated tires to a lesser
> extent, have very plan tread patterns.
> I think to achieve the load rating, and tread life, they have to make the
> tread pattern very plane.
> Look at the front tires on all big trucks - just a very plane tread, not
> any
> little blocks or sips or anything.
>
> I'd not want that on a vanagon myself, personally. LT's have great tread
> patterns though, and the others, and perfect sidewall stiffness.
> If you had to pick just 'one tire' .........the traditional Wildcat 195/75
> R
> 14 is your 'do anything'  tire. They've stopped making Wildcats though
> believe.
> Not as wide as a 205/70, but quite nice. No complaints at all - whether
> dry,
> rain, snow, etc.
> Anyone want to buy 3 at least 60 % tread life remaining vanagon D load
> rated
> Jupiter  tires ?
> The 'Jupiter' is a nice looking tire too. I just don't think they make them
> anymore, but I'm just guessing too, haven't really tried to track one down.
> I really don't want D load rating - bit too stiff.
> I have about 20 sets of mounted vanagon tires and 6 vanagons to play with
> too, so I get to test out various setups.
> I have a 'thing' about tires too, I love them.
> They are THE SINGLE most important thing with the biggest affect on how
> your
> vanagon rides, steers, handles etc. The single most important factor
> -affects the whole car.
> Resist putting on very over sized tires. There's little to gain and lots to
> loose.
> Change the gearing,  if that's why you're going for too tall tires.
>
> Scott
> www.turvans.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Stephen Edwards
> Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2008 5:36 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tires for 91 GL
>
> Hi Michael,
>
> Be careful with those 205/70/14's - last time I checked there was no
> longer any such tire available that has the correct load range for
> the Vanagon.  I'm no tire expert, but I do know that the 185R14 and
> 195R14 such as Bus Depot carries are reinforced tires which is what
> the manufacturer originally recommended (I have the 195's and am very
> happy with them even though the ride is not quite as sweet as it was
> on the discontinued Michelin Rainforce 205's).  Don't forget, 14" is
> a very small rim to carry all that top heavy load.
>
> Sincerely
>
> Steve, in Chicago with 91 Vanaru GL
>
>
> --
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--
Michael in San Antonio
91GL AT 'Gringo'