Vanagon EuroVan
Previous messageNext messagePrevious in topicNext in topicPrevious by same authorNext by same authorPrevious page (April 2000, week 1)Back to main VANAGON pageJoin or leave VANAGON (or change settings)ReplyPost a new messageSearchProportional fontNon-proportional font
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
Comments: To: Chris Radcliffe <chrisrpb@PACBELL.NET>

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


Back to: Top of message | Previous page | Main VANAGON page

Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!


Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com


The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.

Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.