I recently came across one dated from 1986. Never touched the road. I wouldn't want to have to use especially being cooked behind the radiator all those years. 

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: mcneely4@cox.net [mailto:mcneely4@cox.net] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 5:31 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM; Dennis Haynes
Subject: RE: New tires

---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote: 
> Many Vanagons came with load range "C". My 84 had the Continental TS771 and I have seen this tires used on many years. I still see some of these "originals" in the spare tire trays. 

Wow!  The newest of these would then be 20 years old.  What is the industry recommendation -- no older than 6 years?

mcneely

> 
> Dennis
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On 
> Behalf Of Dave Mcneely
> Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 10:56 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: New tires
> 
> The stock tire with steel wheels was 185R14 D.  The stock tire with 
> alloy wheels was 20570R14 XL.  The latter is "reinforced," the former 
> is a truck tire.  Pressure specification is lower for the latter tire 
> than for the former.  I have never driven a vanagon with the XL tire, 
> only the D.  The ride is great for me, but I have always preferred 
> stiff over floating.  Really don't like the floating feel of big 
> sedans like my brother drives.  mcneely
> 
> ---- Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM> wrote:
> > The stock tire was a REINFORCED tire. It's not about the size, its about the load rating.
> >
> > On Oct 12, 2011, at 10:05 AM, Karl Wolz wrote:
> >
> > > Dennis,
> > >
> > > Do I understand correctly that you're saying the stock tire size 
> > > for the Vanagon is not adequate for the standard load?  Something 
> > > doesn't sound right there.
> > >
> > > Karl Wolz
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > |-----Original Message-----
> > > |From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]
> > > |On Behalf Of Dennis Haynes
> > > |Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 6:12 AM
> > > |To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > |Subject: Re: New tires
> > > |
> > > |I wasn't able to locate the load-inflation table for that 
> > > |specific tire but that size regardless of the C or D rating is 
> > > |only good for about 1,200 pounds at 40 psi.
> 
> --
> David McNeely
> 

--
David McNeely