Date:         Wed, 26 Sep 2007 18:12:02 -0700
Reply-To:     Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject:      Re: Which Wheels
Comments: To: rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET
In-Reply-To:  <092720070036.10114.46FAFB0F000C9848000027822207003201979A09019B0E0D9A9D@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

Alloy wheels always are slightly better for ..
Less unsprung weight,
Sometimes more offset that gives you a slightly wider track, which is
slightly better for cornering stability.
And they are a half inch wider and may help provide more tire stability.
I'd say up to a 10 % improvement overall in vehicle dynamics, maybe 15 %. 
You 'll notice all performance/modern cars have alloy wheels.

Steel wheels are easier to deal with for getting tires mounted and balanced,
Less attractive from a theft viewpoint,
And generally cheap and durable. 
I'd run the factory alloys over aftermarket ones generally - they are true
14 inch factory alloy wheels specifically designed for vanagons.  
Scott 
www.turbovans.com 
now...if I could just find a good deal on 5 decent 15 inch vanagon
wheels...( I got the good tires - Aggilles ) and not Audi or Passat ones
with too much offset, and not 140 bucks each new, and not heavy like the
Rhein alloy 15 inch vanagon wheels. 


-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Todd Last
Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:37 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Which Wheels

I'd vote for keeping both sets.

Use the steel wheels for a set of good winter tires, and the alloys for some
nice summer tires.
(Since it looks like you live somewhere that would see snow or wet winters.)

Given average driving, I don't think you are going to subject either wheel
to enough distress to have any problems.
I'd say the tires you are running will make more of a difference than the
wheels. You did not say how much wider the alloys are or their offset. There
is a possibility that they might add some small degree of stability - again
depending on the tires you are running.


Todd
'88 Westy



Interesting that your pop-top has no opening vent - I thought they all had
one. (I can see the cut-out for it.)




 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
> I am having trouble making a decision between two sets of wheels.  One
> option is a set of BBS alloys that I have had sitting around for a few
years
> and the other option is a set of stock alloys.  Both are 14" although the
> alloys run wider tires (205s are on them now).  I thought that I was a
steel
> wheel purists and have never even mounted the bbs wheels but when I put
the
> alloys on my old van in preparation to sell it I have decided that I like
> the way they look.  Currently I am thinking that steel is more reliable
> and/or easier to fix and that the stock tire width will perform better and
> am therefore probably not going to keep the alloys, but maybe it is time
for
> a change?  What does the collective wisdom of the list have to say?  Any
> obvious reasons to go either way that I am overlooking?  Any flaws in my
two
> reasons stay with steel?
>
> Photos of the two wheel sets can be found here:
>
> http://poolio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26
>
> <http://poolio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26>
>
> Thanks
>
> Jonathan Poole
> '82 AC Westy's