Date:         Wed, 21 Jun 2000 17:45:04 -0400
Reply-To:     "Michael J. Sullivan" <sullivan@openmarket.com>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Michael J. Sullivan" <sullivan@openmarket.com>
Subject:      Re: BIG tires
Comments: To: Lawrence Johnson <larry_avery.johnson@sympatico.ca>
In-Reply-To:  <394EAE71.9B253DF0@sympatico.ca>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Dear Lawrence,

Wow -- that's an unusual setup!
Who on earth makes those ET5mm wheels?

FYI, I run 235/75 15 Michelins (28.9" diameter) on 7"x15" ET23 rims and the
fit is just fine. I have calculated that the "optimal" offset for this
width rim/tire combo would be ET29mm, which is approx 1/4 closer to the
trailing arm than what I have. However, no one to my knowledge makes such a
rim.

Your wheels seem a bit "too far out" for me not to worry about significant
wheel-bearing wear.

pix at: http://www.haywood-sullivan.com/vanagon/doublecab/welcome.html

Cheers,
MJS


At 07:36 PM 6/19/00 -0400, Lawrence Johnson wrote:
>When I bought our Syncro Doublecab this past January, it came with BIG
>tires/wheels. I took them off even before I took delivery. Today I
>finally got around to looking at them.
>
>The wheel is 8 inch wide by 15 inch diameter with an ET 5 mm for offset.
>The tire is 225/75R15 102S with 1874 lb. load capacity.
>
>According to what I've read on the List, this tire should not fit. But
>it does. What should I look out for to determine if they are safe to
>drive on: rear trailing arm clearance, front turning clearance?
>
>I'm not going to drive on them until I'm sure that they are safe.
>-Larry

Michael J. Sullivan
Marshfield Hills, MA
Central America 2001 or bust!

'87 VW Vanagon GL Syncro Westfalia "Sunny" (soon to be TDi-powered)
'86 VW Syncro Doublecab "Claude"
'96 VW Passat TDi "Teddi" (46mpg)

*********************************************
work:       http://www.openmarket.com
my vanagon: http://www.hsdesign.com/vanagon
scan tips:  http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning
*********************************************