Hi,
Using a 14 inch tire and wheel for a spare is fine, as long as you are 2WD
and not Syncro.

If it's for 'really serious use' ......like for major trips where you want
to be able to run at full speed and load on your spare, you might want to
have a really good spare. The most important thing, besides condition and
load rating ...is diameter.
  You want it medium close to the same outside diameter as what you are
running on the ground.
And if you are running special 15 inch wheels or whatever, that use their
own type of lug nuts/bolts...
you need to carry 5 lug nuts for the rear, and 5 lug bolts for the rear to
use with your stock 14 inch wheel - keep that in mind.

Did you not see my post about a 15 inch tire - 195/65 R 15 ?
that is a very nice narrow 15 inch tire that will probably fit where a 185 R
14 C or 195/75 R 14 LT was.

vans that came with 205/70 R 14's .....have a spare tire holder clamshell
with a 'drop' where the front bolt is, and those will hold a 205/65 R 15 C
Michelin Aiguilles spare. .
Scott
www.turbovans.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "Melissa Mourkas" <westywoman@MAC.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, August 29, 2009 2:56 PM
Subject: Re: was 15" Tires for Westy-Now Spare Tire

> Hi all:
>
> Original poster here.  I have done my homework (Larry's list was very
> useful).  I have also since discovered that my spare tire on this rig
> is a 14" non-C-rated tire, so I am going to have to do something
> about that, too.
>
> Can I run a 14" wheel & tire along with the 15"s for short-term use
> as a spare?  Should I suck it up and buy a 5th 15" wheel & tire?
> From what I read, the only tire that fits in the clamshell without
> modification is the Michelin Agilis.  Big Bucks!
>
> How do you all with 15" wheels handle the spare?  There was
> discussion on the Samba that mentions a Van Cafe "cage".  That's all
> the info I gleaned that was of use.
>
> Melissa Mourkas
> 84 Westy "Honey Bee"
> Sacramento, CA