Date:         Wed, 22 Sep 2004 09:40:58 -0400
Reply-To:     Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Walters <sam.cooks@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Tire Question  / low profile tires
Comments: To: Calle Fallberg <calle.fallberg@TELIA.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <009f01c4a076$ef876730$764ae251@Calles>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Calle,

Your post supports my point 99% - it is the tires that provide the
stability whether there are 14" rims or 15" rims.

Improper tires = mushy ride with either size.

Proper tires = good stability, cornering, tracking, etc. with either
size.   Yes, all other things being equal, lower profile tires will give
better cornering, but as you pointed out, with a sacrifice in ride quality.

However, the initial  poster says the ability to go offroad is his main
concern so low profile tires should be out of the question.

The goal here should be to answer the initial poster's question.
Therefore, to start a discussion of low profile tires which you and the
person whose post I questioned are doing, is not responsive to that
inquiry.   If a van is to be used a 100% on good paved roads, then low
profile tires might make some sense.   But certainly with dirt roads and
probably  in an area with bad, pot hole laden paved roads, low profile
tires make much less sense, especially when proper tires with good
cornering can be had without sacrificing ride quality, i.e., with
regular profile tires.

Low profile tires off road not only will give an overly bumpy ride, but
they are more likely to result in a blowout as has been reported with
use of the lower profile GoWesty package offroad.

I know about cars, such as sports cars, and their low profile tires, how
this improves cornering, etc.,  see them all the time.  I was answering
a question about a vanagon that the owner wants to take off road.  You
don't get that improved handling from putting on the larger rim, but
from putting on the lower profile tire, assuming it has the proper
construction.

But it is still true that changing rim diameter alone does nothing to
improve stability and cornering.  It is the characteristics of tire that
determine this.  Put an improper tire on a 15' or 16" rim and the van
will drive and ride terribly.

Sam

--
Sam Walters
Baltimore, MD

89 Syncro GL
85 Westy Weekender


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