> What you folks can't see and refuse to admit is that with
> today's technology larger diameter tires of proper size can
> and do handle the weight loads of a Vanagon

The T5 - the current "Eurovan" generation sold in Europe - still requires a
load index of 100 or greater. Since its load capacity is similar to a
Vanagon's, this could be considered a good indicator of what a Vanagon might
call for if used with a 15" or 16" tire. If you are skeptical of this, you
can get to roughly the same number another way - by taking the GAWR of the
Vanagon, then factoring in the 6% safety margin and 9% derating as called by
U.S. D.O.T. safety specs (See http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp.). When
you do that math, this calculates to a load index of 99 - indeed very close
to the 100 that Volkswagen recommends today,. So both resources bring you to
roughly the same load index requirement.  Even with today's tire technology,
standard-load 15" and 16" passenger car tires do not even meet the lower of
those two numbers (load index 99).  You would need to go to an extra-load
(XL) rated tire.

> The portly Routan does without enforcement.

The Routan is a rebadged Chrysler minivan, significantly smaller and with a
lower center of gravity, and lacking the load capacity of a Vanagon or
Eurovan.

> Nokian make a few 16" tires in their WR line that
> are marked XL.

Yes, there are a few 16" XL tires available, although the selection is
relatively limited. We carry a Hankook Icebear 300, which is a snow but is
very quiet and some people run it year round. It has a 102 load index.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  www.busdepot.com
  (215)  234-VWVW

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