Do we have documentation for that claim?

Does the owners manual warn you that a fully inflated tire is needed at all times?

What happens when you have a flat and use your spare? Does the un inflated tire now in the carrier reduce the crash worthiness?

Does the Vw supplied rear swing away tire carrier come with a notice that it makes the van unsafe? 

It seems to me, that any crash protection structure that is owner removable would come with many warning stickers.

Alistair 

> On Apr 3, 2021, at 8:42 AM, Stacy Schneider <vwcrewman@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
>         Do we need to remind people that part of the crash worthiness of
> these vehicles is the spare tire?
>        If you’re going to take the spare out you may as well not wear a
> seat belt either.
>       Both of these item are an engineered  safety item of the van.
> 
>                                 My .02
>                                          Stacy
> 
> 
>> On Sat, Apr 3, 2021 at 6:42 AM Peter Cobb <careyid1@gmail.com> wrote:
>> 
>> I have converted to 16 s . whats wrong with removing the spare and loose
>> some weight.  If need to replace tire , have vehicle towed to nearest shop,
>> all of my driving is on paved roads
>> 
>> On Fri, Apr 2, 2021 at 9:57 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> 
>>> The GoWesty steel wheels use the common 60 degree cone nut as used on
>> many
>>> aftermarket wheels. You may still need to check for length if using bolts
>>> or closed end lug nuts.  For the screw in stud conversion kits be
>> extremely
>>> careful especially anytime the tires are re0installed. I have seen them
>>> fail at the threads where screwed into the rotor.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of
>>> Richard Smith (Smirby)
>>> Sent: Friday, April 2, 2021 12:40 PM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: Spare tire location
>>> 
>>> For those who will be running alloy wheels but keep a steel wheel as a
>>> spare, consider also carrying a set of appropriate / previous lug
>>> nuts/bolts. The shoulders (and sometimes the diameter) of the lug
>>> nuts/bolts vary from the alloy to the steel.
>>> 
>>> My new alloy wheels came with new nuts and I converted the fronts from
>>> bolts to studs that take the nuts (came in the kit). These have a
>> slightly
>>> different size, too, so I have a different wrench for them.
>>> 
>>> In my jack bag - still have the original plastic bag that came with the
>>> van, which seems incredible to me that a plastic bag would last 34 years
>> -
>>> I keep a set of the old nuts (from the rear, which was always studs) so
>>> that I can use my old steel spare.
>>> 
>>> …r
>>> 
>>>> On Apr 2, 2021, at 9:29 AM, Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> I keep a tire puncture repair kit handy, as well as a compressor, and
>>> have never had to put my spare on since I bought my van in 1987!  I've
>> put
>>> over 120k miles on it.
>>>> 
>>>> The only tire issue I had was in 1992, when I hit ice on the highway,
>>> was blown off the road, and my tire was knocked off the rim and deflated.
>>> Needless to say, a tow truck was needed, and the tire was remounted and
>> was
>>> driving again using the same tire.  The HD multi-ply tires tend to hold
>> up
>>> very well.  Frankly, I'd rather keep a 185/R14 in the clam shell, for
>>> safety and short drives.
>>>> 
>>>> I've upgraded to 16" rims, and as Dennis said, the diameter is close
>> and
>>> I have 2WD, so I'm glad to have it set up this way.
>>>> 
>>>> Jack R.
>>>> 84 Westy
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
>>>> Behalf Of Chris S
>>>> Sent: Thursday, April 1, 2021 8:33 PM
>>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>>> Subject: Re: Spare tire location
>>>> 
>>>> I recently engaged in same conversation on FB Vanagon group because I
>>> thought so too. I’m not so sure now because there does not seem to be a
>> lot
>>> of structure behind the spare.  After 21 years of Vanagon ownership put
>> me
>>> in the “plausible” club.
>>>> 
>>>> Chris.
>>>> Wysłane z iPhone'a
>>>> 
>>>>> Wiadomość napisana przez Rob <vwrobb@gmail.com> w dniu 4/1/21, o
>> godz.
>>> 18:05:
>>>>> 
>>>>> The vanagon spare tire laying flat right up front like that is there
>>>>> to absorb energy when you run into something.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Rob
>>>>> Vwrobb@gmail.com
>>> 
>> 
> -- 
>   1989 Swedish Tristar with Aluminum gates and Atiwe 16" Wheels.
>    Oldest son is an Eagle scout.