Stuart,

I'm doubtful about the necessity of having a tire up front in the spare carrier as part of the crash worthiness of the van. It's not that I doubt it might have some effect being there, it's just that I think it's a bad and unlikely decision on vw's part to design it into the crash worthiness and not mention this in the owners manual.
ie stating that a fully inflated spare tire must be carried in the front spare  carrier tray at all times.

Think about the liability issues resulting from requiring a fully inflated spare to be installed up front at all times . What if you have a flat and have to store the flat in the carrier after changing wheels? What if your spare has a leak?

It just seems to unlikely that vw designed the vans structure to require an inflated spare be in place.

Vw also made a rear spare tire carrier and I haven't found any documentation stating that using the rear carrier reduces the crash protection up front.

Alistair

> On Nov 1, 2014, at 5:28 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Makes sense Eric.  And yes, the spare tire (not the clamshell) is part of
> the front energy absorbing design.  Go to minute 1:21 here:
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO_AfCFQR2M  There really should be an
> inflated spare in the carrier at all times.  It's an early "air bag" of
> sorts, but only for the van itself. 
> 
> Stuart
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Eric Caron
> Sent: Saturday, November 01, 2014 11:53 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Spare won't fit
> 
> Hi Stewart,
> 
>        I had this problem last year.  the 205 tire just won't fit with the
> existing clamshell.  apparently there is a clamshell that is meant for the
> 205 and came with the vans that came stock with that tire size.  
>        I purchased the larger carrier from Van cafe.  I'm not very happy
> with it over all.  it has no adjustments and is better suited to a 215 not
> the 205 tire.  As a result the 205 is loos and you have to come up with a
> solution like big plastic zip ties. the Van cafe holder works without the
> big wires.  
> 
>        I've heard that some folks have modified the existing clam shell but
> I've never seen it to see the results.
> 
>        My local garage finally fabricated new wires to go with the Van Cafe
> holder.  it holds my spare snugly but the fabrication cost they charged me
> was crazy.  Sadly they did the work without asking me first.
> 
> the thing I don't like about my existing set up is that the tire and wheel
> are exposed.  i liked the way the clamshell protected the tire and the hoses
> and such above the tire. I also think the clamshell is part of the safety
> planning for the crumple zone.  I don't think the Van cafe holder would do
> the same function.
> 
> The Van Cafe holder does seem to be nicely constructed.
> If I was to do it all over again I would either use the 185 as the spare or
> find out how to modify the existing clamshell.  
> 
> 
> Eric Caron 
> 85 GL Auto 
> 
>> On Nov 1, 2014, at 1:55 PM, Stuart MacMillan <stuartmacm@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>> 
>> Son’s ’86 Westy came with steel wheels with 185 tires, and we picked up a
>> set of 5 Carat wheels with 205 tires and the spare is too wide to fit.  Is
>> there some modification I need to make?  The door tire pressure sticker
>> shows both 185 and 205 tires, but it looks like the rods that hold the
> spare
>> are too low.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Any ideas other than using the steel wheel spare or do I need to lower the
>> clamshell or get Van Café’s bigger bracket?
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Stuart