Well I suppose one has to be very well fine tuned to know and feel a great difference in performance between tires.  After I bought my 91 Vanagon GL and had to buy my first set of tires I went with Michelins and sure enough the plys came unbonded on a trip I took to Florida from Houston.  I had chosen the wrong tire. Then I found that if I got tires of load rating 95 and above with max infaltion pressure of 40 psi or above I was safe and the van handled just fine.  I found the Sumitomo's to be just great. Khumo also makes a tire that I would use on the vanagon.  Multiple trips to various areas of the USA tell me that what I have in tires has been good. I am getting ready to get a new set and I am looking at the General altimax that has had very good reviews. I admit that there are few choices for 205/70/14 out there but on the other hand that makes in easier for me to choose.
Cheers
Jaime

--- On Sat, 3/14/09, Rod Knutson <rodknutson2002@YAHOO.COM> wrote:

> From: Rod Knutson <rodknutson2002@YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Tires........
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Date: Saturday, March 14, 2009, 11:39 PM
> Hmmm... I picked up along the way here that VW alloy rims
> came with 205/70R14 which is exactly what I have.... If I
> look at Hankook in that size there is no RAO8 and the three
> tires they do show are not D rated.... So, my question is
> what is the tire you all recommend for the 14"
> alloys????
> Thanks, Rod
> 85 Westy/suby "Critter"