Date: Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:45:46 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel - Turbovans <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Subject: Re: WAS: $15 steel wheel source-how about some 15" steelies?
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
reply-type=original
re the spare tire space under the front ..............
where width of the tire is concerned..............there are two versions of
the spare tire clamshell that I am aware of.
On vans that originally could take 205/70 R 14's ............such as an 87
Wolfsburg, or a 90 Syncro Westy.........
those clamshells have a 'drop down' bracket at the front .........about an
inch and half's worth - those will accomodate a wider tire.
When putting 15's on a customer's SVW Syncro Westy, I chose the Michelin
Agilles 205/65 R 15 specifically because I always heard that was a great
vaagon tire, and I figured it's diamter would fit in the spare tire holder/
clamshell , and the later type clamshell is perfect. ( won't fit with an
early style clamshell though - but you could use a longer bolt and spacers )
I'm running those tires and van cafe 15 inch wheels on my 85 Wolfsburg
Weekder now...........they're awesome, and the size, offset, and how they
look and feel, and how the spare fits under the front are all perfect. It's
not a winter tire, but otherwise,, just perfect.
They expensive for a non-alloy all right, but they are new .........and they
are truly 'vanagon wheels' made for vanagons.
I call them them 'cop car wheels' ........becasue what you see on many cop
cars are black 15 inch steel wheels and probably H speed rated tires.
There are no bumps on these van cafe SA wheels for a smaller center chrome
hupcap though. Guess I'll have to use some 15 inch full size hup cap
eventuaully if I want any sort of hubcap.
Diamter wise, as far as putting a spare under there........a limiting factor
is when the tire rubs on the steering shaft that goes right by there.
Another minor thing to consider about extra big tires..............even if
you keep a smaller spare tire on a 2WD vanagon.......is if you get a
flat.......
that huge flat road tire will have to go inside the van. ( or on the roof )
And if you have family or passengers or whatever.........that would be an
inconvenience for sure.
At least carry a large garbage bag or tire plastic bag to keep the spare in
in case it's dirty, muddy etc. unless you figure to put it on the roof until
you can get it fixed.
Seems to me that that 225/75 R 16's would be rather large diameter-wise.
And I don't want anythign rubbing, or being very close to an upright or
anything like that. I had some Benz 190E wheels once............and even
when they were one eight inch from the upright in front..........going
around corners there was enough flex to make them rub anyway. The right
offset , not too wide or narrow a track, all that's important in my book
anyway.
what fun we are having !
scott
turbovans
----- Original Message -----
From: "George Wietor" <wietorg@YAHOO.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2008 12:56 PM
Subject: Re: WAS: $15 steel wheel source-how about some 15" steelies?
>I have not seen any reasonably-priced 15 inch steel wheels for our
>Vanagons.
> The advantages include greater LT tire availability, but I am not sure if
> the diameter is a problem with fender/brake clearance or the storage in
> the front spare tire clamshell.
> IIRC the overall diameter increase is neglible.
> VanCafe has some,I believe, but they are only slightly less expensive than
> alloys.
> New alloys on a fixer-upper Westy may not be the the best way to upgrade
> to 15's.
> Any ideas? TIA
>
> George in snowbound Grand Rapids, MI.
>
> Considering that a 215/75R16 has occassional rubbing issues
>> on Westy
>> Syncros and my Passenger Syncros. I would rate 225/75R16 as
>> a
>> problematic tire size for a stock vanagon Syncro.
>>
>>
>>
| 
