what shocks do you run ?
very significant factor.
I never thought Heavy Duty Bilstenis were 'magic' ( like they can be )
on a vanagon until I ran them with 15 inch wheels...then they got more
magic.

I don't think 14's can work very well on vanagons, in general.
my fav size is 27 X 8.50 R14 LT.
a guy owes me a full set of four ..
my good vans run 15's with dedicated front and rear sizes. ( 2WD of
course ).

I make do with stock springs , though I've had to juggle things around
here and there.

On 3/18/2014 5:49 PM, Ralph Meyermann wrote:
> My stock westy springs with the 185/75/14 D tires were very harsh on pot
> holes, smooth hwy ran nicely. So far with the 1.5" lift progressive springs
> and LT 215/75/15 bfg all terrain KO are a huge improvement. Making the 14's
> seem like solid rubber. We'll see more further down the road.
>
> Velma 82 1.9L AAZ TD Westy
> On Mar 18, 2014 7:37 PM, "SDF ( Scott Daniel Foss )" <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> ditto ..
>> all the 14 inch tires I have seen with either C or D load rating have
>> had max cold pressures of 55 or 65 psi..repsectively.
>>
>> I don't think you are in 'real danger' actually.
>>
>> and it would really be neat if list members could drive various vanagons
>> with various tires on them,
>> to feel the difference..
>> and The Difference in how vanagons ride and handle can be VAST.
>>
>> Members who own and operate a couple or more vanagons have an idea wut
>> ah'm talkin' 'bout.
>>
>> Some vanagons are desperately understeering pigs.
>> Some ride way too harshly in the front due to D load tires there.
>> some 'change direction on pumps' way too easily due not having proper
>> front-rear tire pressure ratios,
>> and so on.
>>
>>
>> On 3/18/2014 4:22 PM, Jeff Schwaia wrote:
>>
>>> Those tires are not for a Vanagon.
>>>
>>> Passenger tire, 93 rating for the sidewall.  Not safe.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>>
>>> Jeff
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of
>>> Jack R
>>> Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2014 3:54 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=Defender
>>> &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
>>>
>>>