Date:         Tue, 20 Aug 2002 20:41:47 +0100
Reply-To:     Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Subject:      Re: SURVEY - Tyre widths - mea culpa
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

OK, I've heard enough, my flames were wrong.
  I can see that on sand especially, 205's and wider are
going to be better. Of course the rally boys like narrower tyres for some
surfaces to avoid gravelplaning,
and maybe in snow or ice they can be better at cutting through to a good
surface.
There's probably a big difference between flying across surfaces where you
want some sideloads
for steering and negotiating soft surfaces slowly.


P.S. My 195 15's are :

KUMHO (Korea)
195 R15 1005 Powerguard AT
1764 Lbs 44 PSI Max

Do you think they are rated sufficiently?
They were quite inexpensive and look strong with little apparent tyrewall
flex
I've driven the van at an AUW of about 2.5 tons and the steering got
heavier,
of course, but they didn't look like they were suffering.

Clive
'88 Syncro

----- Original Message -----
From: "mark drillock" <drillock@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 3:59 AM
Subject: Re: SURVEY - I need a metal fab. project


> Clive, where are you finding 15" tires in 195 widths that have a
> sufficient load rating for Vanagon Campers?
>
> As for the quest for robust 205/70/14 tires here in NA, that is the
> stock original size many of our Vanagons came with.
>
> Mark
>
> Clive Smith wrote:
> >
> > A kit to allow 15" x 6" wheels with 195 tyres to fit under the front,
like
> > where they should for better mass distribution.
> > I understand reading around that provided the tyres are not greater than
> > about 205 width , this can be done.
> >
> > On the same note I think its time for some FLAMES about large wide tyre
> > sizes.
> > Seems a helluva lot of people looking for 205 tyres, why this
fascination
> > with a little bit of extra width and ridiculous width rims?
> >
> > If its for looks alone then I can't really argue, do your own thing. But
as
> > far as unsprung weight, suspension loads, smooth ride, shock absorber
loads
> > and performance, etc etc etc , all except maybe absolute roadholding
forces
> > on theoretically perfectly smooth roads I
> > have always found there is a happy medium and that all the points
mentioned
> > are rapidly degraded for zero nett gain in roadholding and
> > negative impact on handling, suspension wear etc. 15" and 16" wheels are
> > heavy enough (many alloys are no lighter than steels), without going to
> > extreme widths as well. Think engineering, think mass and the original
> > suspension design.
> >
> > OK FLAMES over, so I know my Kunho 15" 195's will fit under the front
with a
> > neat job done on the frame, and cross-wind handling will
> > be improved a little too, no rear tyre carrier and more room inside.
> >
> > Think about it chaps, aren't you all making a rod for your own backs
going
> > to 205's and larger?
> >
> > Clive
> > '88 Syncro Transporter
>