Date:         Thu, 29 Mar 2001 07:37:49 -0500
Reply-To:     Tim Hannink <THANNINK@MASTEC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Tim Hannink <THANNINK@MASTEC.COM>
Subject:      FW: Ronal 16" Rims---Offset
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

A key measurement for wheel clearance on a 2wd Vanagon is the distance
between the upper control arm and the inside edge of the wheel. This will
change with offset and with wheel diameter. I have a set of 14" x 6.5" ET-22
wheels and I have 3/8" of clearance between the upper control arm and the
inside edge of the wheel. My stock 14" x 5.5" ET-35 wheels had the same
amount of clearance, as did my 14" x 6" ET-30 alloy wheels.

A 14" x 6.5" ET-30 wheel would have close to "0" clearance between the
control arm and the inside edge. A 14" x 7" wheel would need to have an
offset of 15-18mm to provide enough upper control arm clearance.

When you go to 15" or 16" wheels, the amount of distance between the upper
control arm and the wheel increases so the amount of offset can also
increase.

Tim Hannink
Winter Park, Florida
Goldibox - 1987 Wolfsburg Edition Westfalia Camper






-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Raul Cisneros
Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 1:14 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Ronal 16" Rims---Offset


In a message dated 3/27/01 5:14:54 PM, Jay.L.Snyder@USA.DUPONT.COM writes:

<< The "correct" ET will change with rim width.  You can only add wheel
width
to the outside, so the ET will be less as the wheel gets wider.  ET is the
off-set from wheel center-line?   I would agree 7 or 7.5" wheels are
probably too wide for the Vanagon.
                                                        Jay >>

This is my understanding of offset as well, except that I think a 7 inch
wide
wheel will work fine.
I figure if you use the VW approved rim from South Africa in a 6.5 inch
width
with an offset (in millimeters) of +30, the inside rim edge should be about
112.5mm (4.42 inches) inboard of the face of the rim where it contacts the
wheel hub. (6.5 inches =165.10mm divided by 2 = 82.55mm gives centerline of
wheel, PLUS offset of 30mm = 112.55)

So assuming 112mm from the contact face to the inside edge of the rim is
where you should be, then for a:

5.5 inch wide rim you should have an ET of +43 (what does it actually read
on
the stock 14 x 5.5 steel rims or who has a 16 x 5.5 steel Syncro rim to
see?)
6 inch wide should be ET +36 (what does it say on the 14 x 6 carat alloys?)
6.5 inch wide should be ET +30 (this is what it is for VW SA Sunburst 6.5
x15
alloys)
7 inch wide should be ET +24
7.5 inch wide should be ET +17
8 inch wide should be ET +11

Any one else see it this way or does math differently??

Raul
Nyack, NY
87 Syncro Westy