I could actually be mistaken - it could be that VW switched to a larger
spare tire cover ("clamshell") when they introduced the alloy wheel option
in 85, and so later Vanagons can carrier a larger spare (fatter, anyway)
regardless of whether they were originally shod in steel or aluminum.
Perhaps someone else has info to support one of these theories.

-Peter

On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 8:04 AM, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:

> On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 12:57 AM, Peter DiFalco <peter.difalco@gmail.com>wrote:
>
>>
>>   vehicles equipped with alloys came with with 205/70R14, and
>> those vehicles are also equipped with a larger spare tire cover....
>>
>
> Learn something every day, that's the first time I've heard that the spare
> cover was also different for the alloys/205s.
>