On Mon, 26 Sep 1994, Tim Smith wrote:

> >They are indeed stamped "reinforced", but I'll try to verify that they 
> >comply.  I watch the tire pressure pretty carefully, typically running 
> >them at about 36# (vs. the 32# recommended).  I've experimented all the 
> >way up to 40#, the maximum rating of the tire.  
> 
> 
> Reinforced can imply thicker rubber/filler materials in the side walls, and 
> nothing more. For a good example of this try to flex a Pirelli Winter 190 in 
> a size appropriate to vans. These are stiff tires, I highly recommend them 
> for all out winter driving, I use four! BUT they are not C6 or LT rated, and 
> they will squirm a bit in hard dry spring time driving. The fact that you 
> mention that the Michelins max pres. is 40psi means that they are NOT what 
> you want, the tires should max out at 55 psi, and run them at 36-44 psi, 
> pref 36. You want real truck tires, not beefed up car tires. My panel used 
> to be as light a vanagon as possible, and when I put 1500 lbs of concrete 
> block in it, the front 4 ply tire pancaked out, while the rear C6's looked 
> normal. I now have C6 all round.
> 
That makes sense.  The Continentals (non-squirmy/'82 vanagon) were rated 
50# and I ran them about 40-45#.