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What load rating and/or load range do I need? Consider the following questions:
Driving a heavy vehicle, fully loaded, during the summer, at high rates of speed puts much more stress on a tire than light-duty low-speed driving. Light trucks such as the Volkswagen Transporter (Bus and Vanagon) have a fairly narrow track and a high center of gravity. The higher center of gravity tends to put more stress on tires due to body roll and load transfer. This kind of stress is exerted in a horizontal direction. Volkswagen suggests a Load Range of C for its commercial vehicles (Bus, Vanagon, Eurovan). They do so because a 6-ply tire can withstand more side load and will not flex as much under these conditions. [Most manufacturers do not offer 6-ply tires, nor do they document their load range.] You should select the tire with the highest load rating and speed rating (and highest PSI) that you can afford that is in the size needed for your vehicle. Lastly, while a Westfalia has a higher center of gravity, and possibly more weight at the top of the vehicle, other models are lower and do not carry weight above the mid-section of the vehicle. The lower the weight is, the less force will be transferred from side to side when cornering or in heavy cross-winds. Link: Understanding Tire Load Ratings If you stay with your original 14" tires - you will need to do some homework. For that, I recommend Tire Rack, because they include both the specs for the tires - and have a "feedback" section that includes buyer feedback on the tires: The goal is to select a tire that has as high a load index, speed rating and PSI rating as possible. If you can find out the load range - excellent. But if not, ask what the ply-rating is for the tire. And of course we want our tire to perform well in hot and wet weather. Sounds easy right? Well, the bad news is that you'll have very few tires that actually meet those criteria. The other bad news is they ain't cheap. There are a few heavy-passenger tires in the 195/75R14 and 205/65R14 size that will meet the load index and PSI requirements for light-duty use. GoWesty is currently selling the Michelin HydroEdge 215/65R15 which has a 1735 load index at 44 PSI. The other sizes, however, have much lower ratings. For some people, though, they want what Volkswagen would recommend. In this case, a Load Range C (light truck) tire. The Michelin LTX M/S 195/75R14C is a Load Range C tire. This tire has a load index of 1435lbs. at 50 PSI. A bit lower than some people would prefer, but the Load Range is C, which means the tire meets or exceeds the sidewall strength specifications required by Volkswagen. Also, you can lower the PSI marginally and achieve a slightly higher load rating (according to Michelin). - People who have used this tire suggest 38 PSI front and 48 PSI rear. I purchased the Michelin LTX M/S 195/75R14C tires for my Vanagon to sit on the stock rims. They cost a little over $100 each. My only wish was that they had a higher load index and speed rating - or were available in 205 tread width. Hopefully they improve those specifications in the future. Sears apparently sells a Michelin XC LT4 which is similar to the LTX (with a different tread pattern). Some people find the tire too noisy (probably a result of a more aggressive tread pattern). Sears also sells a lower quality Sears Guardsman TrailHandler AP - 195/75R14 - it is a Load Range C tire, with an S speed rating. They are much cheaper, and apparently are more cheaply made. Michelin is still the preferred selection. If you are sticking with European tires, the Vredestein Comtrac is a 14" Load Range C tire - but is sold only from limited suppliers. The company itself does not import into the United States. Check eBay or the Internet for availability. If you have a dealer who sells Nokian tires, the Nokian Hakkapeliitta CQ 205/65R15 for example has a load index of 102/100Q, load range C. Other sizes are also available in the Load Range C neighborhood. Nokian is not sold in every state, and there is not currently a mail order source for the tire. (Nokian, like Nokia - the cell phone manufacturer - is from Finland.) A tire that you might find closer nearby is the Kumho 857 Radial, which is a commercial light truck tire. The tire is a high-mileage tire - but for some people noise and a hard ride is an issue. (The 857 is supposed to a reduced-noise version.) Kumho is a product of China. I learned recently that Continental makes a couple of tires that should work well. The Vanco 8 is available as a 195 or 205R14C. This sounds really nice. The VancoContact is only available in one size: 205/65R15 99T. This sounds like a good candidate for my '65 bus. I have (had) Yokohama (Geolander) tires on my Subaru Forester. With about 25,000 miles, the tread is nearing the end. I will be able to get about 30,000 out of them. Some people like these tires, and some people aren't impressed. Yokohama tires quality seems to be excellent on some lines and not so good on others. Apparently they make a tire called "Super Van" Y371s, which is a load range c tire in the 195/75R14 - but I was unable to find information on this tire on their site. However, it may be available special-order from Discount Tire. Some Type 2 owners say that tires with inflation pressures of 35 feel like "marshmallows" compared to the ride of a 44 psi or 54 psi tire. The higher PSI inflation specification will give you the best mileage - but may result in faster wear. Tires with a lower PSI rating will give you lower gas mileage. Depending on how much highway driving you do (higher PSI is better) or city driving (pot holes, bumps, lower PSI is better), the rating may be more of a seat-of-the-pants preference. The setting is preferred most is 38 PSI front and 48 PSI rear. Obviously, to use this setting you will need a tire that exceeds these specifications. Source: How to keep you and your tires safe... As we learned with the Explorer - keeping your tires properly inflated, keeping at or below the speed limit, and not exceeding the load limit on the tires goes a long way in preventing a blowout.
Are your sidewalls cracked? Cracks can occur due to age - or in situations where the tire is stressed, from fatigue. Tires that do not meet the specifications for your Vanagon may prematurely crack. For whatever reason, tires that have cracked sidewalls are doomed and you are driving on borrowed time. Freeway chatter! Are your tires chattering at freeway speeds? There are only two causes of a chattering tire: iminent tread separation, lost wheel balancer. For either of these, you should pull over and change your tire, or head for the nearest full-service station. I recently had a chattering tire - slowed down, pulled onto the service road, went about two miles and the tire tread seperated at about 20 mph. No problem at that speed - but would have been a problem at 65 mph! Drive Safely! |
