Are you sure it is a "C" after the "98"? I had to look this up. Normally the
letter after the load index indicates maximum speed. Speed rating "C" is 37
mph.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire_code

Maybe it is a damaged "Q" which would indicate 100 mph.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: JRodgers [mailto:jrodgers113@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 9:36 PM
To: Dennis Haynes; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Tires and Wheels - The best laid plans of Mice and Men.....

Dennis, my new Altimax tires are marked 205-70/14 RT 98C.  Would the 98-C be
the load rating??

John

On 3/18/2014 8:10 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> As other have mentioned this tire is not suitable for the Vanagon.
> Tire Rack will probably decline the sale. They are familiar with the
> Vanagon application. For a non XL or LT tire they have allowed me to
> use 215/70-14 with an acknowledgment to maintain pressure at 42 psi.
> The original
> 205/70-14 tire was load index 97, 1,580 pounds @ 40 psi.  The General
> Altimax and the tires I mentioned last week meet those specs at even
> better pricing.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of Jack R
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 6:54 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tires and Wheels - The best laid plans of Mice and Men.....
>
> Tires are good for about 10 years... give or take, depending on storage.
>
> I'd opt for fresh tires.  My current 185/R14 D Yoko's are not very
> smooth on the road, and 7 years old.
>
> Tossup between going to the GW 16" or just replacing the 14" with the
> tires below.
>
> Anyone try these from the Tire Rack... after rebate, seems like a
> great deal.
>
> http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Michelin&tireModel=De
> fender
> &partnum=07TR4DEF
>
> Load rating should be enough, pressure good to 44 psi.
>
> Jack R.
> 84 Westy
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of JRodgers
> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 4:41 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Tires and Wheels - The best laid plans of Mice and Men.....
>
> Well, I've been planning an upgrade to 15 or 16 inch wheels and tires
> for my Carat restoration - but my main priority is getting the thing
> on the road - not so much having the bigger wheels ad tires - but I
> was going to go for it
> - in part because it's getting to be a hassle to get the 14 inch tires
> in my area without having to ship them in, paying freight in addittion
> the tires, and ultimately having to pay someone $20 or so to mount each
one.
>
> Well - yesterday I learned I could still get my fav tire - the General
> Altimax RT 98C in a 205-70/R14. So, I opted to get one more set and
> wait until the next round of tires to upgrade to a larger size. Given
> I'm dropping a bundle to get the engine and tranny working, plus some
> other stuff, I ordered the tires. I just picked them up. Installed,
> mounted and balanced -total cost of a set of 5 (4 on the road and one
> spare) included - taxes and all - $430.00. or $81/ea, I could not beat
> that with a stick anywhere.
>
> Hip! Hip! Huzzah!!   Dennis Haynes for putting me onto the General
> Altimax in the first place!!
>
> And one more thing about Dennis!
>
> I have a Dennis Haynes receiver hitch on my '88 GL - and that thing
> makes one heck of a fine jacking point for getting the rear end up off
> the ground with one Jack.
>
> Careful there Dennis - let;s not get the bighead over this.
>
> But seriously  - it worked great for that purpose.
>
> Happy Motoring Everyone,
>
> John
>