Date:         Sat, 9 Dec 2006 15:01:00 -0800
Reply-To:     BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BenT Syncro <syncro@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wheels and Tires
Comments: To: Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY106-F34A4D91879A212D2688238A5D20@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 12/9/06, Bob Stevens <mtbiker62@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> Look at the back side of the wheel for the ET #. This is the offset and
> stock is 30, mine are 23 and fit very well, and are 16". As BenT has said,
> I
> think you can use up to 45 without problems. As Chris suggests, a
> 215/65-16
> (the size I'm using) is a good sized tire for the 16" set up. It usually
> results in about a 27" diameter, which is about 1.3" over stock so it does
> "hit" your power/torque. Essentially changes the gearing at the road and
> this is noticeable on 90hp motors.
> Some pix here of the van/wheels:
> http://groups.msn.com/BobsPhotoShare/87westysyncro.msnw
> Bob Stevens



Bob,

I just wanted to add that the info I gave you was for Syncros. The front end
pieces on a 2wd such as Jack's 84 Westy would have clearance problems in
anything over, let's say... ET38 at wider than 6 inches. As Evan was
pointing out, you also need to consider how wide your rims are. For example,
a stock wheel of ET32 at 6 inches wide when compared to an ET23 at 7 inches
wide yields, a wheel which will stick outward 9mm. Since the wheel is then
an inch wider (half inch on in and half out), you will need to add 12.7 mm.
So it will out farther than the stock wheel by 21.7mm (9mm+12.7mm). Inwards
it's minus 9mm plus 12.7mm. That comes out to 3.7 mm or practically
negligible in this application IMHO. You might have too much tire hanging
past your wheel arches in this scenario unless you like that early American
conversion van look. Math is not my strong suit but you get my drift?

BenT