Date:         Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:52:08 -0400
Reply-To:     Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Lieb <jlieberie@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: 15" alloy wheels with a 14" steel spare (?)
Comments: To: Oxroad <oxroad@gmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <CANHuMVhwW49qdvdT5ZZsBPaWumxOTFAiVJLnF0gftH_jZ_HWCw@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

That exact thing happened to me last week. I have 15" GW alloys with
Michelin Agillis's and a 14" Continental spare. Had a blowout 50 miles from
home. Slapped on the spare continued 40 miles to my destination and then 90
miles back home. Have 4 new Hakka C's on it now. The Michelin's were all
cracked and dry-rotted. Love the new Nokia's.

On Wed, Aug 10, 2011 at 3:35 PM, Oxroad <oxroad@gmail.com> wrote:

> As a spinoff on the discussion of alloy wheels today: What is the list
> wisdom on this configuration:
>
> Upgraded to 15" South African VW alloy wheels and tires BUT still a 14"
> steel wheel with 185 R 14 in the spare tire holder.
>
> Say you're running the the Michelin Agilis 15"  205/65/15 on the alloys
> On the spare steel wheel you have the Michelin Agilis 185 R14
> Apparently they have the same rolling radius. The 205 is obviously wider
> than the 185
>
> Andrew makes a good point on the previous thread that the lugs will be
> different for the alloys as opposed to the steel so you'll have to
> accommodate that.
>
> The 205s won't fit in the 1983 spare tire tray which on the earlier busses
> is set up to accept the 185 tire and not much more.
>
> To upgrade the spare tire tray I believe you'd have to change the coolant
> hoses that pass by and
> then install a later model tray. That's a PIA.
>
> So how safe/ unsafe would it be to roll on a 3 of the 15" tires and one of
> the 14" in a situation where you had to mount the spare?
>
> Best,
> Jeff
> 83.5 Westy
> LA,CA
>



--
Jim in NW Pa.

"...And the person who writes to the list might be inexperienced, lazy, or
stupid, BUT they drive a Vanagon. That makes them, for better or worse, one
of us, and we would do well remember the spirit of community which brought
us here in the first place" J.Kupcinski


Member: PVC Pittsburgh Vanagon Club
1987 Westy "MobyD" the Great White Westfalia
Member: TLCA #15764
1982 FJ40
2007 FJ Cruiser