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Date:         Mon, 13 May 2013 21:54:42 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: Tires and Wheels-The Tread continues!
In-Reply-To:  <BAY152-DS91083FF0F32ECB2DB36D8A0A10@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252

All other things equal, taller sidewalls will give your rim more protection when on rough roads. Not many 4x4 trucks working up here on logging roads running 55 series tires.

alistair

On 2013-05-13, at 9:20 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> While tall sidewalls give some feeling of protection from impacts the benefit is not that great. The taller sidewall has more room to give and allow the tire sidewall to fold over and get damaged internally. The problem is you don’t see the damaged until a bubble appears or worse the tire has that blow out on the highway. To be honest I have only seen one tire in this size get damaged from running into a curb. Even though a "55" series this is still a fairly tall tire size. If you hit a large enough tire or some other obstacle something has to give. Tire, rim or some other suspension part. On my Syncro I just upgraded to the 235/55-17 Nokian WR-G2 with a 103 Load Index. Completely changed the personality of the van even from the 215/65-16's I was running. I can’t wait to try these bad boys in winter. > > Dennis > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Dave Mcneely > Sent: Monday, May 13, 2013 8:56 PM > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM > Subject: Re: Tires and Wheels-The Tread continues! > > Dennis, how do 55 profile tires hold up on back roads with potholes and obstacles? That's where I do my camping when possible. Seems like that low sidewall is just asking for damage from road hazards. Thanks, mcneely > > ---- Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote: >> If I was to invest in new wheels I wouldn't bother with 15's unless

>> you want to drastically increase the diameter. There are fewer choices >> near the original diameter than the 14's. I would go right to 16 or even 17's. >> 225/60-16 is an extremely common size and even in standard load rating >> will meet or exceed the OEM 205/70-14XL. This will be about 1" taller

>> than stock which makes for perfect tuning. There are also some tires

>> in that size that are XL rated as was used on the final Eurovans. My

>> choice as of now is 225/55-17XL. There are a lot of really good tires

>> at reasonable prices. The American Racing AR95T wheel fits the Vanagon >> perfectly and is rated at 2,200 pounds. This tire size provides some

>> outrageous road holding and the reduced rolling resistance is noticeable especially with automatics.


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