Date:         Sun, 15 Apr 2001 13:34:45 +1200
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: 15 inch wheels
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

> The standard tire for a Vanagon requires a "C" load rating
>or at least a load rating of 1620 pounds per corner. Getting this kind of a
>load rating in a shorter sidewall tire is difficult to do. Generally
>speaking, the shorter the sidewall, the lower the load rating. The tires
>that I chose have a load rating of 1520 per tire. I am trading some weight
>bearing capacity for the "look" I wanted. In my case, this works because
>the van is a weekend warrior and it is unusual for it to carry more than 2
>people.

Low-profile tires ARE available. Heavy cars such as mercedes S-Class roll
on 'em But they are NOT cheap.

>Because the wheel size increased an inch BUT the overall tire diameter
>decreased 1-2 inches, my transmission needs no changes and I suspect that
>my speedo is within 5MPH from where it was with the old tires.

It is possible to go up in wheel size (with the requisite lowering of tire
profile) and keep to more-or-less stock overall tire diameter, as i intend
doing with 16 or 17" wheels. Don't forget, even tires of a given
manufacturer-specified aspect/diameter vary in real diameter. Inflation
also affects height, though this is more at rest than at speed, where a
spinning tire will increase in height by angular momentum (what is usually
miscalled centrifugal "force").


Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin, New Zealand
fax 64 (3) 479-7527
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
www.goingplatinum.com/member/vw1
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VW & Toyota vans, Toyota diesels and Macintoshes rule