Date:         Mon, 24 Apr 2006 12:20:17 -0600
Reply-To:     William Manley <william.manley@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         William Manley <william.manley@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      tire and wheel report: Nokian Hakka CS and CV-900 16" alloys
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

Dear Volks:

I write to provide a tire and wheel review:  Nokian Hakka CS tires and
CV-900 16" alloys (on a '91 syncro westy).  Bottom line:  they're
great!

I previously had the stock-option 14" alloys with 27 x 8.5 R14 BFG TA
tires (with a diameter of 26.6", somewhat larger than stock approx.
25.5").  This set up was good, especially for off-road, but I wanted
something that would be better for the interstate and mountain paved
roads -- better handling and easier driving for the 3 to 6 hours or
more it takes to get me to dirt roads and occasional four wheeling of
choice.  Additional pluses:  grip on snow and ice, and less sway in
high winds.

After researching the issue for months, I decided to go for it, and
got the "Derek Drew" wheels and the Nokian 205/65 R16 Hakkapeliitta CS
tires (with diameter of 26.5").  See:
<http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/All_About_16-Wheels_And_The_CV_900.htm>
<http://www.nokiantires.com/>
The wheels are nice and light, with appropriate specs (ET, rim width,
bolt pattern, etc.) to be "bolt-on".  The tires are "all purpose" van
tires, and are very strong (2150 lbs -- appropriate for heavy
westies), good on snow but can be used year-round with good wear
supposedly.  This set up is not exactly cheap.

I was preparing myself for possible subtlety with the switch.  But I
really noticed improvements!  The van is definitely easier to drive: 
more stable, better handling, easier to turn and corner.  Though I can
still feel strong winds pushing it sideways, the van seems to sway or
"wallow" less.  Noticeably quieter, and "smoother" overall.  No loss
of clearance, with nearly the same overall diameter as before (the
Nokian's are about 1/4" larger diameter as measured from the van
height).  I'll be able to put on bigger brakes at some point.  They
look great.  Plus, the spare fits in the stock clamshell (this is
pretty much the biggest tire you can put in there).  I've had the
combo now for 5000 miles.

BTW, with these directional tires, I decided to go with some advice
from folks to have the spare mounted same as the driver's side, and
thus rotate three on the left side and two on the right, which makes
some sense given the heavier load on the left.  I might remount left
to right at some point.

One thing I hadn't expected:  there seems to be less rolling
resistance, such that it moves more "smoothly" now, with a perhaps 10%
increase in apparent power.  This doesn't make total sense inasmuch as
apparent "power" should relate mostly to tire diameter.  But in this
case there seems to be something to the tread and tire design, or
wheel design.

I might have lost a tad bit of off-road capability, with the switch
from all terrain tires to snow and all-around good tires.  But it
still seems plenty capable with 4WD, and clearance is the main issue
for me anyway.  I'm convinced now that it was the right decision for
me.  BTW, there are sizes for 14" and 15" rims that should be good
too.

Cheers,
Bill
Boulder, CO
'91 Syncro Westy w/ 2.5 Subie engine