At 11:17 AM 5/20/98 EDT, Scooter061 wrote:
>Hello Folks,
>
>         I have perused all the threads/messages on the tire issue and have
>been thoroughly convinced to buy light truck tires.  But I have a few
>questions which don't seem to have been asked before.....and with my upcoming
>trip to the Great North (AK), I have some concerns.....here they are:
>
>          1)  Don't light truck tires by their very nature produce more road
>noise?
No, not necessarily. Road noise depends more on the tread pattern than the
sidewall design. There is a variety of tread patterns available in LT tires.

>          2)  With the high pressure and rigidity of the truck tires, doesn't
>the ride
>               comfort suffer?
The van will ride stiffer with LT tires than with soft cushy passenger
tires. But the handling will be much better. Remember, the Vanagon is a
truck--it's not supposed to ride like a Cadillac. Nonetheless, I think the
ride is quite comfortable in my Westfalia with LT tires.

>
>          3)  Being consigned to retaining my 14 x 5.5 inch wheels, what is
>the best
>               size light truck tire to use?
You'll find that there is a somewhat limited selection of 14" LT tires. My
advice is to choose the tire that you want and see if it's available in a
size that fits. You should be able to find something in an LT195-14.

Mark McCulley