Date:         Mon, 14 Mar 2005 11:50:52 -0500
Reply-To:     vanagon-rcampbell@USA.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Campbell <vanagon-rcampbell@USA.NET>
Subject:      15" Wheel/Tire Report - Caution
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Wow, what a discussion -- but that's what we are here for....  But tires
always seem to bring out a debate don't they :-)

Thanks for the info everyone, and I've put these wheels and tires on a CARAT
(non-camper) which is 3800 pounds (as per the local dump scale) with me in it!
 So, I feel pretty safe with this combo.  I do prefer, however, the reinforced
sidewall for anything with this much weight, but I think this setup is fine
for my application.  AND, since GoWesty is "pushing" this setup for the
heavier Westy's out there, I feel even better.  By the way, I replaced the
Yokohama Y356 from tirerack.com with this setup.  Those tires were good, but
the narrow width of these tires doesn't add the ride of the Vanagon.  I see
that BusDepot.com is offering a wider (195) 14" tire, but they won't have the
wider (I think 205 or 215) until late in the year or next year -- this is what
I was told on the phone.

In the two+ years that I have been driving my '91 Carat (every single day),
I've not expierenced any issues with the tires --- except that with 185's on
the van would "wobble in the wind" behind tractor-trailers and it feels like
it would lean more when doing corners (as compared to my new 215's).  Now, you
could say I'm a novice Vanagon driver, but since I'm in my machine daily I've
gotten quite a few hours behind the wheel now.

This setup looks good, and you have many more options with a 15" wheel (the
wheels cost $550 from GoWesty.com).  I love the look and the ride.  If I
experience any issues I'll let the list know.

    -Robert
     '91 Carat, Automatic, 158K Original Engine (but NEW wheels/tires! :-)