Been there done that too.  Loosen the tire carrier bolt by 3/4 inch and the
rubbing problem should be solved.  You may also want to line the hold down
bars with rubber hose to keep them from digging into the side of the new
tire.  As for the viscous coupling needing to be coddled, any "full time"
four wheel drive has this problem.  The windage of different tire speeds has
to go some where and the viscous coupling eventually turns this speed
difference into heat.  Too much heat and something will fail.  The coupling
is somewhat forgiving but it's limits must be respected.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Cory Zumbrennen <Benjita@AOL.COM>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Friday, May 29, 1998 11:05 AM
Subject: Spare Tire Interference

>Hi all,
>
>After having the fear of god instilled in me I went to great lengths to get
a
>5th alloy and a BFG A/T 27 x 8.50 14 so that my spare would match up with
my 4
>rolling tires so that I could actually use the spare without risking damage
to
>the Viscous Coupling. (BTW I am sick of my viscous coupling.  Don't do this
or
>you'll hurt the viscous coupling, don't do that or you'll hurt the viscous
>coupling.  It's shocking how much coddling these viscous couplings need.
I've
>never heard about this with other AWD vehicles)
>
>Anyway,  it seems that the tire rubs against part of my steering linkage.
Has
>anyone else had this problem?  There have to be some people here who have
>BFG's on alloy wheels.  Is there a remedy to this propblem.  TIA
>
>Cory
>'86 Syncro Westfalia