In a message dated 27/09/2005 11:18:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time, LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes: Actually, a 185R14 is suitable for a 5.0-6.0 rim width. The stock steel Vanagon wheel is 5.5, the alloy 6.0, so a 185R14 is equally appropriate = for either wheel. But a 185R14 has some advantages over a wider tire. A = wider tire will generally provide better dry-weather traction (all things = being equal), but on the flip side it is more prone to hydroplaning than a narrower tire and can have worse traction in snow. To me, these = negatives offset the positive. A 185R14 will tend to do better in poor-weather = driving conditons, which is when I am most worried about safe handling. Dry = weather handling is predictable, and you can easlily learn your vehicle's (and tire's) limits. Poor weather handling is less predictable. I fully trust = my Vanagon on dry roads. It's when I'm gripping the steering wheel driving = down a dark highway during a pounding rain (or snow) that I really need to = count on my tires to grip the road. This is where a narrower tire excels, and that's why I use 185R14's on my own Vanagon with alloys. A side benefit = is the cost savings; a 185R14 is generally significantly cheaper than a comparable 205-70R14.=20
EXACTLY ! Thanks Ron ! One more point also is that the narrow tires eat up less HP - - less friction ! Cheers, Frank Condelli Almonte, Ontario, Canada '87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg (Forsale) & Lionel Trains Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley _Frank Condelli & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html) _Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) 1 _BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm) a VW Camper camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11, 2006 |
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