

| Subject: | Re: Reinforced tires - what about other vans? |
| From: | Tony Collins |
| Date: | Mon, 16 Mar 2009 09:22:37 -0400 |
SO Can someone answer this? DO the General tire Atimax RT below do the job? They are XL rated tires *205/70R14 **Load Index 98* = 1653lbs (750kg) per tire *Speed Rating �T�* = 118mph (190kph) 98T<http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=General&model=Altimax+RT&tirePageLocQty=#> XL On Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 9:06 AM, The Bus Depot <vanagon@busdepot.com> wrote: > > 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 > > _____________________________________________ > Toll-Free for Orders by PART # : 1-866-BUS-DEPOT > -- 82 Scirocco "Rodolfo" 85 Vanagon "Blubrik, El Guapo"
Have something to add on this topic today? Revive this thread in the forum »