Date: Sat, 1 Apr 2000 23:32:39 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Choosing Tires for 15" Wheels
I'm nearly as much in the dark as you are, but I'll offer up my thoughts
anyway.
The nice folks who designed our vans probably knew what they were doing, and
there are 14" LT tires available. There's nothing wrong with staying with
the original tire/wheel combination. When you go to an oversize tire, you
are effectively raising the final drive gear ratio, allowing the van to go a
bit faster at a given rpm (this will not show on your speedo, since it only
reads the revolutions of the wheels, not actual speed). You will also lose
a bit of power, since you are losing a bit of mechanical advantage. What
you lose when going bigger is sidewall stiffness, simply because there's
more sidewall to flex. If you increase the wheel diameter, you're regaining
at least some of that stiffness, hence better cornering and stability in
sidewinds.
I'm considering going to 15s, and would most likely use the wheels from Ken
if I do. The main reason for me going to 15s is the Michelin Agilis tires,
which are supposed to be hot stuff. Great lateral stability, good traction,
and they'll make you peanut butter sandwiches if you're hungry (or something
along those lines). I am having my rack replaced next week, and I'll know
better then whether I want the added stability of the Agilis tires. I used
to be quite happy with my 14s, and am hoping to be so in the future.
Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Chris Radcliffe" <chrisrpb@PACBELL.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, April 01, 2000 9:44 PM
Subject: Choosing Tires for 15" Wheels
> I'm considering buying new 15" alloys, but am confused about tire choices.
> I've recently purchased a'90 Westy Automatic with *incredibly* crappy
> Uniroyal Tiger Paw passenger car tires mounted on the stock 14" steel
> wheels. This vehicle is pretty much a highway cruiser to get me to the
> beach.
>
> There is a fair amount of info in the list archives regarding 14" tire
> choices and parameters, but not much regarding 15", and nothing really
fresh
> for either.
>
> I've seen references on this list and elsewhere to the 15" Sunburst Alloys
> offered by Ken Wilford at http://www.vanagain.com. I'm considering buying
a
> set of these wheels, but remain confused about tire options.
>
> It seems to me that the rationale for 15" wheels is that one should
attempt
> to mount lower profile tires, and thus achieve better lateral stability
> while preserving some semblance of the original overall wheel/tire
> circumference. Say, within 10%. Agree?
>
> Ken has pointed me to www.tirerack.com , but that doesn't really help:
There
> just doesn't seem to be much (anything) out there in, say, an LT215/60R15.
>
> Can you help? Am I full of it? Should I just buy some 14" Michelin
D-rated
> LT's and get on with it? Some other combination?
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> Chris
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