Date:         Mon, 7 Jan 2002 20:01:57 +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: Wider Tires?
In-Reply-To:  <000001c19732$672aed30$141f79a5@hewlett2ih5nie>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"

>What if any advantage is there to going to wider tires on a Westy?  I
>have searched the archives here and other lists and find a lot of
>discussion on various brands and models of tires for a Vanagon or Westy,
>but little discussion on pros and cons of going wider than the 185mm
>width of the original equipment tires.  Most of my driving (in miles)
>will be highway/freeway, rare to drive in the snow, but often in the
>rain. I will be putting new tires on my newly acquired '90 Westy soon,
>probably Michelin Agilis (loved the MXT's I had on my '85, but MXT's no
>longer available) and have been wondering if there is any real advantage
>to going to a wider tire.  Any comments will be appreciated.

I can think of two. Wider tire=larger contact patch=better braking
(in the dry). Also the larger volume of the tire will MAY allow it a
higher load rating (but don't quote me on that last!).

Narrow tires bite through gravel and so are better there than wide
tires, which skate (as they also are prone on water... aquaplaning
and gravelplaning?).