Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 19:35:49 -0500
Reply-To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
Subject: Re: 14" or 15" wheels?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
That comment about the sidewall roll is also true. Lower
profile tires handle better. But as was said earlier it is
the tire characteristics that improve handling not the shift
in wheel size.
Thanks,
Chris
---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 14:53:02 -0800
>From: Jason Weisberger <jweis@WHY.BOTHER.COM>
>Subject: Re: 14" or 15" wheels?
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>Directly from their website... I am having a hard time
finding 14" wheels
>in SF that have been reviewed well in this message board. I
am wondering
>if the 15" set here from GoWesty will do me better.
>--
>
>Wheels and Tires
>From the early 1960's through the end of the Vanagon
production run, the
>VW Type 2 went through many changes. During that time the
vehicle nearly
>doubled in weight, while the wheel size remained at 14"
diameter by 5.5"
>wide (6" for the Vanagon alloy). Consequently, the tire
requirements for
>the vehicle became extraordinary! Anyone who's shopped
tires for their Bus
>or Vanagon knows there are few choices left - the best
tires are
>specially-designed with reinforced sidewalls and cost
roughly $135 each,
>and even with those one could expect no more than 30,000
miles of wear and
>less-than-ideal handling. The solution? Switch to a 15"
diameter wheel,
>and get these benefits:
>
>
>Click here to see our new mud flaps and other wheel trim.
>
>1. commonly-available 215/65-15 tire size - choose from
many brands at a
>lower cost (half in some cases)
>2. improved handling - 15" wheels means tires with shorter
sidewalls,
>reducing side-to-side tire roll
>3. longer tire life (double in some cases)
>4. slightly-larger rolling radius improves speedometer
accuracy
>5. great looks - your vehicle looks like it should have to
begin with!
>
>GoWesty has several wheel choices for your Bus or Vanagon:
>
>Our 15x7" Alloy Wheel and Tire Package employs a 15"
diameter by 7" wide
>cast alloy wheel made to fit the Bus and Vanagon. We
figured out the
>correct offset, center cap and fasteners so these wheels
simply bolt on.
>The package includes Michelin Rainforce MX4 215/65-15 tires
mounted and
>balanced, center caps, all new hardware and instructions.
>
>Got a Syncro Vanagon? Our 16x8" Alloy Wheel and Tire
Package includes
>Michelin Rainforce MX4 tires mounted and balanced, center
caps, all new
>hardware and instructions.
>
>Our 15x7" Steel Wheel is a 15" diameter version of the
stock VW wheels.
>Painted silver like the originals, they allow you to retain
the OEM look
>with your own chrome center caps (Vanagon hub cap will not
fit) while
>using better-performing and easier-to-get 215/65-15 tires.
Prices listed
>are for exchange (see product screen for more info).
>
>
>On Sun, 5 Jan 2003, Kim Brennan wrote:
>
>> I haven't seen exactly what they say. 15" wheels with a
low profile
>> tire that has sufficient load capacity for the Vanagon
would
>> potentially give better handling than stock 14" wheels
and tires.
>> However, I don't think there are all that many (save
perhaps the Agilis
>> tires.)
>>
>> Larger wheels, in and by themselves aren't going to
improve handling.
>> It's what tires you can mount on them that will determine
your handling
>> characteristics.
>>
>> On Sunday, January 5, 2003, at 04:26 PM, Jason
Weisberger wrote:
>>
>> > So the stuff on GoWesty saying 15" wheels will help
with handling is
>> > not
>> > true?
>>
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