Date:         Tue, 3 Nov 1998 02:34:29 EST
Reply-To:     SyncroHead@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Davis <SyncroHead@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Wheels, once and for all....
Comments: To: Westys4evr@aol.com, vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

In a message dated 98-11-01 16:19:11 EST, Westys4evr@AOL.COM writes:

> The main problem with using 14 inch wheels on a Syncro is that you are
> limited  to using 27x8.5s as the largest tire available. And there aren't
many
> choices  of tread designs in that size. Going to 15s opens up a plethora of
new
>  possibilities! I plan to upgrade to 15s very soon myself.
>  Karl  ' 87 Syncro Westy 'OTTO'

There are two primary problems with using larger diameter tires.

1. As many have said, before this causes a decreased torque which can be
delivered to the pavement which decreases acceleration and reduces your
ability to climb a grade in a reasonable gear.  I hate needing to shift into
secon on mountain highways!

2. For the same reasons larger tires increase your overall gearing and
diminished acceleration, it also has an effect in oppisite circumstances.
When decending steep off-road hills, I find that the Low gear in the Syncro is
already too high and allows for much too fast a decent in my opinion.  This
requires too much reliance on the brakes to maintain a slow decent speed.
Larger tires increase your rate of travel down a steep hill and thus increase
you need to use the brakes.  The only way to cure this after deploying larger
tires would be to change the transmission gearing or the ring and pinon gears
in BOTH the differentials - a very expensive prospect.

Regards,
Jim Davis