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Tire codes

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.)

Q		99 mph		160 kph
R		106 mph		170 kph
S		112 mph		180 kph
T		118 mph		190 kph
U		124 mph		200 kph
H		130 mph		210 kph
V		149 mph		240 kph
W				270 kph
Y				300 kph
Z		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

Tire Diameters

1. What is the diameter of a tire?

   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.

Recommended Tires

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.

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.

Vanagon normal usage:


• Michelin MXT 205/70R14 R

  Douglas Fitz-Randolph writes "The 205 - my current tire - has virtually eliminated the effects of crosswinds."

• Michelin LTX 195/75 R14 (LT version)
   
• Yohohama Y356 LT 195/75 R14 (load range D)

  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!"

Vanagon off-road (Syncro) usage:

• BFGoodrich Radial All-Terrain T/A 27 X 8.50 R14 LT
   
• Michelin LTX 195/75 14
   

EuroVan tires:

• Michelin MXL 205/65 R15 (reinforced sidewall)

  Make sure you get the reinforced sidewall version of this tire. You might have to convince your retailer that the tire exists.

• Nokia's Hakkaapelitta No. 10 195/70/15C

  These 8-ply snow tires have gotten a very good recommendation on the Vanagon mailing list.

• Bridgestone Blizzaks

  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.

Tire suppliers

• Tirerack
       High performance tires and alloy wheels.

• Discount Tire Direct (800) 589-6789

Related links:

• National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - Uniform Tire Quality Grading System