Tires! |
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Tires are usually named with a series of codes. For example, one of the recommended tires for Vanagons is the 'Yohohama Y356 LT 195/75 R14 (load range D)'. The latter part of this (195/75 R14) is a uniform code assigned to tires. This section tells you how to intepret this code.
Speed Rating
Sustained speed rating is designated by a letter code. Vanagons require a minimum speed rating of 'R'. (Don't be confused with 'R', though. In '195/75 R14', the 'R' is means 'radial' and is not a speed rating.)
99 mph 160 kph R 106 mph 170 kph 112 mph 180 kph T 118 mph 190 kph 124 mph 200 kph 130 mph 210 kph V 149 mph 240 kph W 270 kph Y 300 kph 149+ mph 240+ kph (I'm not sure why 'H' is in there, except that some person thought it would be cool if 'H' stood for 'high speed'.)
Tire widths
Wheel diameters are usually in inches and tire width in millimeters or a letter designation. In our example of '195/75 R14', '195' is the tire width in millimeters, and '14' is the wheel diameter in inches.
mm letter inches 80 MH 3.00 90 MJ 3.25 100 ML 3.50 110 MM 4.00 120 MP 4.50 130 MT 5.00 140 MU 5.50 150 MV 6.00 Shoulder heights
The shoulder height is stated as a percentage of the tire width. For example, in '195/75 R14', the shoulder height is 75% of the tire width (195mm), or 146.25mm.
Load index
The load-index figure denotes the maximum load capacity of a tire when driven at maximum speed. Note that you have four tires, so you should multiply the load index value by approximately 4.
Vanagons & Syncros need a load rating of at least 97, while Syncro 16" need a load rating of 104.
Load index kg Load index kg Load index kg
65 290 83 487 101 825 66 300 84 500 102 850 67 307 85 515 103 875 68 315 86 530 104 900 69 325 87 545 105 925 70 335 88 560 106 950 71 345 89 580 107 975 72 355 90 600 108 1000 73 365 91 615 109 1030 74 375 92 630 110 1060 75 387 93 650 111 1090 76 400 94 670 112 1120 77 412 95 690 113 1150 78 425 96 710 114 1180 79 237 97 730 115 1215 80 450 98 750 116 1250 81 462 99 775 117 1285 82 475 100 800 118 1320 119 1360 Miscellaneous codes
P Passenger LT Light Truck R Radial B Belted
Here's a table of tire diameters by width and profile, for your speedometer correction calculations. Eurotire, a nice-to-deal-with tire distributor in NJ, used to include this info and more in their catalogs.
| 14 inch wheels: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 60 | 55 | |
| 165 | 622 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 175 | 634 | --- | 606 | --- | --- | --- |
| 185 | 650 | 631 | 624 | 596 | 578 | --- |
| 195 | --- | 651 | 636 | 605 | 590 | --- |
| 205 | --- | --- | 652 | --- | 602 | 582 |
| 215 | --- | --- | 665 | --- | --- | --- |
| 225 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 626 | 604 |
| 245 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 650 | --- |
| 15 inch wheels: | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | 75 | 70 | 65 | 60 | 55 | |
| 165 | 646 | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 175 | 660 | --- | 632 | --- | --- | --- |
| 185 | 674 | --- | 648 | 621 | --- | --- |
| 195 | --- | --- | 656 | 635 | 615 | --- |
| 205 | --- | 681 | 669 | 647 | 627 | 607 |
| 215 | --- | 692 | 682 | 661 | 639 | --- |
| 225 | --- | 694 | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 235 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 663 | 639 |
| 265 | --- | --- | --- | --- | 687 | --- |
Diameters are in millimeters, with tire installed on narrowest rims approved for that tire size. Wider rims would give slightly smaller diameter.
Tony Peet writes:
Reinforced sidewalls are extremely important for Vanagons because their high center of gravity and narrow track puts excessive forces on the sidewalls! (Stand up and lean to one side and then imagine what would happen if your bones/ligaments etc were "mushy"!)
Some list members reported 'cracks in the sidewalls' -- that is why it happens. The folks at Michelin have had more than a few of the wrong tires on Vanagons returned to them with cracked sidewalls, which can (and I don't want to be alarmist here, but just inform) lead to what they call something like 'bead failure' (the inability of the bead to keep the tire on the rim I think) and resulting 'catastrophic blowout.' Not a pretty picture, not likely to happen, but a possibility in cases of extreme wear and something the list needs to be more aware of in my opinion.
This is why Michelin corporate was so adamant about the Agilis on the phone with me. One tech guy was not quite, but nearly, hysterical.
I hope this helps, and please, let's be more conscientious about informing people - especially new list members/owners -- about the sidewall considerations in tire shopping/purchasing -- irrespective of what brand they chose.
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Note: |
The tires recommended below are based on the general concensus of the Vanagon mailing list. You should take care to select a tire which fits your needs. I haven't checked whether the tires listed below come in reinforced-sidewall versions. |
Douglas Fitz-Randolph writes "The 205 - my current tire - has virtually eliminated the effects of crosswinds."
This tire replaces the Yohohama Y370 LT 195 75/R14, which is no longer being manufactured. Supposedly the only difference is the tread pattern, which isn't as good for bad weather. There are reports that you can still get this tire, which is part number #37047.
Several list members recommend the Y370, inflated to 45 psi front and 52 psi rear. Harry Yates writes "It almost seems that Yokohama made this tire exclusively for the Vanagon... they are that good!"
Make sure you get the reinforced sidewall version of this tire. You might have to convince your retailer that the tire exists.
These 8-ply snow tires have gotten a very good recommendation on the Vanagon mailing list.
This is a high performance snow and ice tire that should not be used for long periods of time on dry pavement. It has a special tread compound that is designed to sort of crumble off to give you traction in adverse conditions. It has a fairly short tread life as it is, and trying to use it as an all season tire would kill it in short order.
