Chicken Little's not so good with math, I guess.  ;)

My 255/55-16 Continental EWC winters are XL  ie 99T:  1709 lbs and 118 mph -
I think I'm pretty safe!

On Tue, Mar 8, 2011 at 12:38 PM, Mike S <mikes@flatsurface.com> wrote:

> At 11:24 AM 3/8/2011, The Bus Depot wrote...
>
>  For your own safety and education, please take a moment to read this
>> primer
>> on safe tire choices for Vanagons before making any tire purchase:
>>
>> http://busdepot.com/details/tires.jsp
>>
>
> That's only correct for Synchros.
>
> Your site claims: "based on the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) of a
> Bus or Vanagon you get the following minimum acceptable load ratings:
> 1520 lbs (load index 95) for a light truck rated tire, or 1670 lbs
> (load index 99) for a standard Passenger car (P) rated tire," which
> implies a GAWR of 3040. You offer no source for "the 6% safety margin"
> you say is required in addition to the 9% derating for a passenger tire
> used in a light truck application. There's no mention of the additional
> 6% here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=70
>
> A light truck tire rated for 1520 (1/2 the Synchro rear GAWR) would be
> load index 95. A passenger car tire rated for 1672 after derating 9% is
> load index 99, which agrees with the load indices given on the busdepot
> site. Interestingly, if a passenger tire had to be derated 9%, then an
> additional 6%, as claimed, one would require a passenger tire rated for
> 1914 lbs, or load index 103. So, the busdepot site doesn't even follow
> the rules it claims to use.
>
> But, a 2WD has a rear GAWR of only 2866, so tires need not be rated to
> the same capacity. As I said in previous posts, tires suitable for
> normal Vanagon must be rated 93 (if light truck) or 96 (if passenger)
> or better.
>

--
Jake

1984 Vanagon GL 1.9 WBX - 'The Grey Van'
1986 Westy Weekender/2.5 SOHC Subie - 'Dixie'

Crescent Beach, BC

www.thebassspa.com
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27