First I've heard that hoses are different.
wanted to comment on this one part ...

'Get a longer 14mm Bolt (same diameter and thread pitch as the lug-bolts
> but longer)"

I don't believe that's ture.
the bolt that holds up the spare tire carrier is a 12mm diamter thread bolt.

oddly .....it's not the same 12mm thread pitch as used 'everywhere else' in
vanagons ..
like diesel 12mm headbolts ...or engine-to-trans mounting bolts on
waterboxers ..
the bolt that commonly has 17mm hex head on it..
'that thread' is the normal common one.

the spare tire carrier hold-up bolt is 'the other thread'  in 12mm diameter
...it's a finer pitch..

but it's sure not 14mm like lug bolts are .

----- Original Message -----
From: "Peter DiFalco" <peter.difalco@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2010 1:59 PM
Subject: Re: subject Re: Stock tire size

> Thanks Phil - I was wrong on both counts. But who could have imagined
> you'd
> need to look up your tire size before ordering coolant hoses? Only in
> VW-land.
>
> On Tue, Jun 29, 2010 at 11:54 AM, Phil Zimmerman <philzimm1@shaw.ca>
> wrote:
>
>> Original: Mike from Marin asks: Stock tire size for 198? Syncro
>> From:    Peter DiFalco <peter.difalco@GMAIL.COM
>>
>> ...... So, if you try to cram a 205 in the spare slot on a van made for
>>
>> 185R14s, it should, I think, seem quite obvious that a fatter tire
>> doesn't fit.
>>
>> -Peter
>> ---------------------------
>> Further tire trivial for Mike in Marin:
>>
>> From Lar's tire tome:
>> <http://www.roadhaus.com/tires/guideline.html>
>>
>> Syncro Vanagon & Camper - 1986-1991
>> 185R14C  6PR
>> - Max Inflation 55psi
>> 205R14C 6PR/8PR
>> - Max Inflation 65psi
>> *205/70R14 97R
>> - Max Inflation 40psi
>> * Reinforced Sidewall Passenger car tire
>>
>>  A couple of comments on the Stock/Optional spare tire carrier.
>>
>> The Pans are the same, the front "L" brackets are different.
>> The bracket for the wider tires (the 2 - 205 profiles) is longer.
>> This extends the distance the Pan drops below the attachment point.
>> Uses the same bolt-length for both Carriers.
>>
>> The Steel-Wire Bracket things, that act as hinge-pins and hold
>> the tire to the Pan... they are different also.. Different Part #s.
>> They are bent differently to give clearance to the wider tires.
>>
>> The Radiator Hoses are different also. (believe they are NLA now?)
>> Both Hoses (for 205's) have a dog-leg in their shape to give more
>> clearance to
>> the wider 205 profile tires.
>>
>> All the above said... a 205:65x16 tire can be stuffed into the stock
>> (smaller) carrier.
>> Get a longer 14mm Bolt (same diameter and thread pitch as the lug-bolts
>> but longer)
>> How long? About 2-1/2".
>> Deflate the tire down to about 3-5 psi. Cram into the carrier and get
>> longer bolt started!
>> Snug-up but do-not over-tightened. The Safety Catch will not be
>> functioning so be
>> advised: Take reasonable efforts to protect your toes when removing
>> spare tire!
>>
>> Check for clearance between Spare-Tire: Radiator Hoses and the Steering
>> Rod.
>>
>> Van Cafe makes an alternate set-up. Some talented listmembers have made
>> innovative
>> carriers by modifying a stock pan or made a new sling out of heavy
>> Webbing. VMMV
>>
>>
>> Phil Z.
>> Campbell River, BC
>>