I am running Goodyear Wrangler Aquatreads.  215/70-14.  Almost 15K milers
and wear is negligible.  I'll be rotating them soon.  Rated 1554 lbs. at
44psi.  They handle excellent and rain traction is impressive.  I have not
had the chance to try them in snow or sand yet.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Tyrone Greene <macpine@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, August 24, 1998 12:04 PM
Subject: Tires....again

>Volks,
>
>I have a question about tires that might benifit others besides myself.
>
>I'm looking for a set(5) of tires for my 87 GL Syncro. I currently
>have/had a set of Cooper P205/70x14 M+S tires. I didn't like the way
>they wore in only a year's time, not to mention that they realy couldn't
>hold a straight bead [or even close] on the road with wind buffeting the
>van though they were quiet.
>
>My 81 L came with Cooper 27x8.50R14 LT which has a "C" load rateing.
>It's a excellent tire for road and field, but for highway travle it a'nt
>too great because the noise [though that hasn't stopped me from crusing
>down the highway with it]. I think the tread pattern is fairly
>agressive, but it wears Great!, even on the highway [about half or more
>tread depth is still there after 5 years - not to mention - they weren't
>new when I bought the van [[haven't done anything but rotate them once
>or twice]]].
>
>I've been saving most of the List's comments and questions about tires
>to read them over again [as well as other's p-mail answers]. Most of
>what I see from the List falls within three camps:
>        1. Yokahama Y356 or Y370  185 OR 195/75R14 "C or D";
>
>        2. Michelin LTX or MXT 185 OR 195/75R14 "C or D" or MX4 205/70R14
"H";
>
>        3. BFGoodrich 27x8.50R14 LT All-Terranes (AT's) TA's.
>
>OK, fine, now what? Some of the posts talk about tire highth, others
>about tire print. Some talk about both and their affects on braking,
>climbability, speed, stability, looks, and how they do in either mud or
>sand. So what is a Syncro to do seeing he'll spend most of hie time at
>the hands of my wife and hauling the tykes and grandfolks about on a
>daily cycle?
>
>As y'all know, I sent a post telling about our blowout experiance. One
>of the things I found damaged by the self-destructing tire is the bottom
>rear body panel got all bent out of shape. So I need something that will
>carry the weight.
>
>Out of curiousity, is there that much difference between a 185, a195, a
>205, and a 215/70[or 75]R14 "C or D" tire? I like the tall wide look,
>but if I cannot get a "D" rateing in the All-T's, what's a Syncro to do?
>
>Tyrone
>Big Pine Key, Fl
>
>87,85,81