Interesting. Pressure does influence the ride. I am running Nokian Wrc, 215r65-16's front and rear. 48 lbs front 55 rear. Tracks perfectly very stable and handles well. Any less pressure, fuel Econ drops.
Jon

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> On Jun 21, 2015, at 12:01 AM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM> wrote:
> 
> glad to see someone mention the michelin Aqilles 205/65 R 15 C load
> rating ......
> that is an AWESOME Vanagon highway tire ..
> like summer/tire.
> 
> Will absoluteness transform a properly set up Vanagon compared to any 14's.
> 
> Personally ...
> I run dedicated front and rear tires and sizes..
> like ALL modern performance cars ..the rear tire is always 'more" ..
> wider..lower profile but bigger cross section compared to front etc. Any
> Corvette, Porsche, etc.
> 
> With Michelin Agilles 205/65 R 15 in front, I run a 215/65 R 15 in the
> rear in an H load rating ..not by fav but they work fine in the rear.
> 
> I never like much over high 30's pis in the front ..
> perhaps 44 rear .  Pressured COLD>
> having raced cars and motorcycles I tune the handling of the vehicle
> with tire pressure.
>  - for  ride and steering response.
> ( for heavy loads I go up some, but nothing like 50+ _)
> 
> The handling and steering response on my Vanagon set up this way is dead
> neutral ..
> 
> doesn't even lean much in turns ( it's not an understeering pig at all,
> which many vanagons are Caucasus people don't know how to set them up
> for concerning stability )
> < the very worst vanagons for that are 85 Weekenders and Westy's that
> are too tall on their springs in the front.
> 85 GL front springs will fix that just fine though.
> lol..I've driven an 85 Westy that was too tall in the front ..and had
> ordinary tires on it ..
> it leaned like the Queen Mary in corners ...and if you go for any brio
> at all..you just get right away into 'terminal understeer'...leaning way
> over and grinding off front tires..most unpleasant. >
> 
> My Van with this tire setup above will  stay in a lane on the freeway
> hands-off for a qtr. mile..
> to go around a corner ..just a nice 'guiding' touch is all it takes.
> 
> I've driven at least a few hundred vanagons ..working on them and test
> drives.
> 
> if your van jumps around on bumps ..
> 
> real story here ..I worked on a guy's Syncro tintop van .
> we finish whatever we worked on and go for a drive.
> 
> I have a nice windy and bumpy test route.
> 
> A good cars 'just goes where you tell it to' ..is not affected by bumps
> or pavement irregularities and is not sensitive to inputs like power,
> brake and steering.
> 
> His van was kinda 'all over the road' ..just in normal driving at 45 mph .
> I ask what pressures are you running ?
> he says 48 front and rear.
> ( he had proper vanagon -rated tires  btw )
> I lowered the fronts to 40 psi .
> night and day difference !
> van goes right where you tell it to now ..doesn't change direction or
> require steering corrections on windy roads and pumps now.
> 
> I don't expect anyone to do this ..
> but I do on my vans ( i own over 8 ) with 14' s,
> I run the common 185 R 14 D load rating in the rear.
> but .
> I can Not Stand a D load rating in the front ..now even for one day !~
> Way too harsh and stiff..and lowering tire pressure doesn't help ...as
> you try to reduce harshness with lower front tire pressure you loose
> steering response crispness )
> 
> hard to find...but a 185 R 14 C load rating in front with a D load
> rating in back ..works great.
> 
> and next time you see a late model syncro ..
> look at the tire spec label .  I have looked at those many times..and I
> swear it says D's in the rear and C's in the front ( aka 8 ply rating
> rear, 6 ply rating front )
> 
> and do the tire pressures right ..you always want about 4 psi more in
> the rear.
> 
> if you want to see what the affect is there..
> try less pressure in the rear and more in the front ..
> you'll have a badly oversteering vanagon that way ...more pressure in
> the rear contributes toward less understeer ..or more neutral handling
> response.
> 
> some vehicles ever run wider rims in the rear and I have done that some
> ..that helps too.
> 
> anyway ...get to 15's or 16's I say.
> also ....65 aspect ratio tires in general.....very sweet size.
> 70- aspect ratio is good too ..I wouldn't run 75's though unless I
> wanted a large tallish tire.
> 
> Vanagon bliss
> 
>> On 6/20/2015 11:23 AM, Mark Hersh wrote:
>> These threads are always helpful to me.  In 2008 I upgraded to 15" rims and
>> unfortunately the tire I picked are taller than we would like (Michelin LTX
>> M/S in 215/75).
>> 
>> We want a highway tire (don't do much off-pavement stuff and what we do do
>> is pretty much better Forest Service roads).
>> 
>> I see the Goodyear Cargo G26 in a 195/70.  Or Michelin Agilis or Firestone
>> Transforce in 205/65.  All are load range C and can take 54 to 65 psi.
>> 
>> Thoughts?
>> 
>> 
>> On Sat, Jun 20, 2015 at 9:00 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> There are some tires still available for the 14" rims. There are still the
>>> skinny hard high capacity sizes such as the 185/80-14 hankooks and the
>>> like. In 87 VW began offering the 205/70-14XL tires as a handling and
>>> comfort upgrade. These are getting harder to find. There are still some
>>> General Altimax tires available but they are out of production.
>>> Tires-easy.com has some choices in this size and load rating and they are
>>> very reasonably priced.
>>> 
>>> If willing to go for a wheel upgrade avoid 15's unless you want to
>>> increase diameter. Few choices with adequate capacity without going taller.
>>> Going to 16 or 17 gets choices with needed capacity and true modern
>>> performance options. Favorite size is 225/60-16. This is only 3/4-1" taller
>>> and the 225 width is a substantial improvement. Normal load index is 97 0r
>>> 98 and XL 102 is readily available. This is a very common size. For Syncros
>>> a 215/65-16 is a tad taller and can be made to fit in the spare
>>> compartment. There are a number of outstanding winter and all season with
>>> winter capability tires with the XL rating available. Going to a 17;s you
>>> can go 225/55-17 with the same advantages and even better handling although
>>> you will feel the bumps more. American Racing offers the AR95T wheels in
>>> both 16 and 17 direct fit for the Vanagon with a 2,200 lb. load rating.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
>>> Of Tyler Hardison
>>> Sent: Saturday, June 20, 2015 10:49 AM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Tires.. Again
>>> 
>>> My weekender has the original 14" steel rims and the chrome VW hubcaps.
>>> But tires seem impossible to find.
>>> 
>>> Is there a last ditch hope to find the correct tires? Or should I remove
>>> her original feet to upgrade and just not worry about it.
>>> 
>>> I know, personal preference.
>>> 
>>> Those that have upgraded, was the upgrade that noticeable in the vans
>>> stability?
>> 
>> 
>> --
>> 86 Campmobile Six-Seater "Monty"
>> 
>> Black dogs are euthanized at a greater rate than other-colored dogs,
>> regardless of temperament.  Learn about Black Dog Syndrome at
>> http://www.blackpearldogs.com/  Learn about black dogs in a Vanagon at
>> http://www.pbase.com/mhersh/image/108220533
>>