Date:         Thu, 17 Jan 2013 20:19:52 -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: 16 inch tire size
Comments: To: SESRating@AOL.COM
In-Reply-To:  <9df.968fedd.3e2a113b@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

I really like 65 series tires.
75's are kinda tall and big to me...

in 2wd drive I like a slightly larger/wider/stiffer tire in the rear, by
far.
You can't rotate tires front-to-rear anymore ..
but done right the handling gain is worth it.
   in 2WD the spare can work on either end without damage if it's not
exactly the same size.
Not for weeks on end ..but for 100or so miles, no problem.

my personal 2WD set up is 205/65 R15LT's in front..
and one size larger in the rear,215/65 R15's ....those happen to be H
speed rated which are a little stiff..
but with careful tire pressure tuning, I am ecstaticabout the ride, the
straight line tracking, turn-in and conering stabiilty.

Many of the vans I drive 'jump around' a little on bumps, requiring
continual minor corrections with the steering .
On really good cars just quide themselves, go right where you point them
in almost all conditions of road surface ..
and don't take much conscious effort to keep tracking right  down the
road nicely .
Tires and wheels are a big factor ..but also suspension health, shocks,
alignment , front and rear, etc.

215/65 R 16's sound like a nice size to me.
I totally hate tires rubbing on bumps, dips or turns ..
no manufacturer would ever offer a production car that does that.

'bigger'is not necessarily better in tires always.
scott


On 1/17/2013 6:45 PM, Pat Patterson wrote:
> I have Nokian 215 65 16 tires on the front of my van and on the rear I have
>   Uniroyal 215 75 16's  I like the rear size but they rub in the front
> during  braking turns.  I do not want to cut out my fenders.  I would like the
> same size all around so I can have a spare that will work front or rear.
> I'm thinking 215 70 16 maybe a radial TA  I want a high load rating a an
> easier tire to find than  a continental or Nokian.  I have a 2 wd with  Go Westy
> lift springs.  Hit me with suggestions.
>
> Pat
> 86 AW 2.5 Subi 2wd weekender
> in SC near Charlotte NC
>