Ok - why not chime in as well given it is a Saturday and there is a whole
weekend of tire threads to wear through yet and it is currently snowing!
Well my Syncro is sound asleep under her winter cover - she is sporting
Nokian WR 3s 205/70/15 - a tire I recommend for snow, moderate off road and
lots of highway road travel - a very quiet ride and worthy tire.  However I
don't think they manufacture these anymore.  I no longer drive the Westy
during the winter (my third winter) due to the road brine and salting and I
want to keep whatever good metal I have left and slow down the current
spread of corrosion.

Funny though - as I've been tempted to put her back on the road as my other
car was T-boned last week thanks to a Honda sedan running a stop sign and
taking out my Mazda 6 wagon.  Without a car - other than my wife's / family
Enclave - I've been on foot a lot more and the Syncro is just sitting there
wagging her tail like a dog eager for a walk.  BTW - the Mazda was a tank
and took the impact very well even though I spun 180 degrees pointing in
the opposite direction than I was going.

I will likely be moving on to a 16"or 17" wheel and tire combo as I would
like to install the big brake set up from G-Westy and from what I have read
the 15's are too small in diameter to make the fit work.  I had a heated
and scary brake fade descent this past summer coming down a long switch
back which pretty much sealed my thoughts on the bigger brakes.  When I do
re-tire - I think I will go back to a little more aggressive tire -
something that threads the needle between fairly rugged off road and yet
still maintain a smooth and relatively quiet highway driving experience.

Bruce

On Sat, Feb 13, 2021 at 9:15 AM Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:

> Yup the rotivas look good.
>
> One issue with nokian tires up here in Canada is that there is only one
> distributor. A monopoly. Prices reflect that.
>
> I still think there will be a greater choice of suitable van tires with
> the recent surge in smaller commercial van types being sold here in Canada .
>
>
> > On Feb 13, 2021, at 6:40 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
> >
> > A tires load rating is only slightly determined by how "stout" the
> construction is. The main limitation is the generation of heat and how much
> flex can the tire take. The ratings are based on standards which is why the
> ratings are consistent across brands for given tire types. So yes to get
> more capacity a given design becomes a larger tire. Increased diameter
> means decreased revolutions per mile so it can carry more weight at a given
> speed, inflation pressure, increased width means larger footprint reducing
> tread loading. Air volume and pressure can also be a factor.
> >
> > As a group we seem to get hung up on the need for commercial or truck
> type tires. With 16 inch wheels there are a number of choices in reasonable
> sizes with the XL ratings that for extended high speed travel are actually
> much better choices. For Syncros I like 215/65-16XL. The Nokian Rotiiva is
> a current favorite for AT/Winter use. For 2WD 225/60-16XL is my usual
> choice.
> >
> > Dennis
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
> Alistair Bell
> > Sent: Friday, February 12, 2021 10:20 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: Search for tires
> >
> > Hey Kim,
> >
> > I’m picking up what you’re laying down :-)
> >
> > I’ve been hoping, the last few years as more transits , ducatos, etc are
> sold up here in Canada , that we get a wider choice of tires.
> >
> > The geolander, bfg, general, etc seem to me to have the same carcass
> construction and only gain load rating with larger tires.
> >
> > Unlike the Hakka and some Michelin and Conti which do have the
> commercial van construction that’s so common in Europe.
> >
> > I’m hoping with more of the above mentioned vans being sold in North
> America we might get the tire choice you have already in Europe.
> >
> > So far it’s been mostly commercial van summer, all season and, snow.
> Maybe , maybe, we will get a good load rating all terrain for the vanagon.
> >
> > 16” anyway.
> >
> > Alistair
> >
> >> On Feb 12, 2021, at 10:30 AM, KIM BRENNAN <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
> >>
> >> So, the other day, instead of searching tire sites for vanagon tires…I
> searched for cargo van tires. Lots more choices than I expected. And most
> are load 100 rated (or better). Just something for folk to consider when
> looking for tires the next time. I still can’t get my preferred brand/tire
> in the USA (Vredestein Winter Comtrac 2), unless I go via eBay from Italy
> and pay through the nose, but Nokian has a similar winter tire that is
> available. Not the 225/70R15 size, but the 215/75R15, which is acceptable.
> My current Vredesteins are still good for this winter, and probably through
> next summer…but for next winter I’ll have to be prepared.
>