Date: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 23:34:56 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes57@EMAIL.MSN.COM>
Organization: Microsoft Corporation
Subject: Re: Different view on the15" wheel subject
I been watching this tread for a while and now feel I must add input from my
experience. If all VW wheels are over engineered, then why do they get bent
up and knocked out of round when used on the vehicles they are designed for?
particularly the allow wheels. I had a 5000 turbo with the alloys. Yep,
most wheels bent. Always had front end shimmy problems. Just replaced all
the wheels on my 91 Passat. Wow, what a difference! Wife's 90 Jetta,
getting ready for set #3. You get the point. Granted I live in New York, but
if those wheels bend on those vehicles, I can't imagine what may happen on a
fully loaded Vanagon. Sure those cars use small diameter tires making the
wheels more subject to impact damage. But I've never hit anything hard
enough to blow the tire off the wheel, (seen it done though). All wheels
have weight ratings. They are also classified for passenger or Light Truck
use. I would think that using the wrong wheel could make the installer
extremely liable in the event a failure causes an injury. Wouldn't want to
find out.
Dennis
----- Original Message -----
From: David Marshall <vanagon@VOLKSWAGEN.ORG>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 11:52 PM
Subject: Different view on the15" wheel subject
> Not that I want to fan the 15" wheel flames here but there are a few
things
> to consider when it comes to wheel loading and if a Audi / Passat wheel
can
> take the weight of a Vanagon or not. So, not that I am pro or against the
> Audi / Passat wheel, but here are some bonifide questions to ask about 15"
> 5x112mm wheels in general.
>
> - Are the 15" Audi / Passat wheels the same part number as the Audi A6
> wagon or the A8? If so, what is the GVWR of these cars? Is it the same
as
> a Vanagon?
>
> - Most things are over engineered - it is the ultimate CYA. When I was at
> school to learn electronics we were always told to get a resistor or a
> capacitor that can handle at least 20% more than you will ever throw at
it.
> I would suspect the same is true for wheels if not more so... as it has
> been pointed out on previous posts "would you trust your life with it?" -
> you may, but Volkswagen sure isn't - read "law suit"! This is why I think
> the wheels are over engineered so there is NO chance of them deforming on
> the car they were intended for (let go air born, hit a curb, massive pot
> hole etc). You may be getting closer to the "real" tolorances with the
> Vanagon - is it a safe thing to do - perhaps, perhaps not.
>
> Now on to my *guess* (usual friendly disclaimers apply here) to weather a
> Audi wheel would be safe for a Vanagon:
>
> Weights of my vechicles (measured at local truck scales)
> 1988 Syncro Double Cab GVWR = 2500kg
> 1987 Audi 5000S Quattro GVWR = 1960kg
>
> Each wheel at rest on the Vanagon would support 625kg
> Each wheel at rest on the Audi would support 490kg
>
> 625 / 490 = 1.275
>
> So, if you had my Audi 5000 Quattro wheels on a fully loaded Vanagon you
> would be over by 27.5% - Is this good? Well you be the judge of that one.
> It is also interesting to not the maximum axle weights:
>
> Vanagon 1300kg = 650 each wheel
> Audi 1040kg = 525 each wheel
>
> 650 / 525 = 1.238 or 23.8% greater load if installed on a Vanagon.
>
> Personally, I would tend to think twice about putting the wheels from my
> Audi on to my Vanagon unless I found out that they are the same wheels for
> a heavier A6 or A8. According to one web site the Audi A6 Avant (wagon)
> has a curb weight (empty) of 1650kg, my Double Cab weights 1800kg. If
> they are the same wheels on all Audis then I would have to say that they
> could be compatible with each other seeing that the curb weights are
within
> 150kg of each other.
>
> Just my $0.02 Canadian worth!
>
>
> -- David Marshall - - Quesnel, BC, Canada --
> -- 78 VW Rabbit, 80 VW Caddy, 84 VW Westie, 85 VW Cabriolet --
> -- 87 Audi 5000 Quattro, 88 2.0L VW Syncro Double Cab --
> -- David's Volkswagen Home Page http://www.volkswagen.org --
> -- Fast Forward Autobahn Sport Tuning http://www.fastforward.ca --
> -- david@volkswagen.org (pmail) or vanagon@volkswagen.org (list) --
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