On Tue, Aug 20, 2002 at 03:42:02AM +0100, Clive Smith wrote:

   (snip)

>
> On the same note I think its time for some FLAMES about large wide tyre
> sizes.
> Seems a helluva lot of people looking for 205 tyres, why this fascination
> with a little bit of extra width and ridiculous width rims?
>

   Drive on dirt/gravel/sand much?

> If its for looks alone then I can't really argue, do your own thing. But as
> far as unsprung weight, suspension loads, smooth ride, shock absorber loads
> and performance, etc etc etc , all except maybe absolute roadholding forces
> on theoretically perfectly smooth roads I

     I don't think 205's are wide enough. On my '73 westy I had 235/75/15 for
awhile, then put in a tranny with a bit higher final drive and had to drop to
215/75/15. And that's what I'd prefer to run on my '82 diesel westy but after
trying it a bit it seems obvious that the power just isn't there for that tall a
tire. When I get a nice 1.9TD in it I'll put them back on, but for now I'll have
to live with little 205/70/15.

> have always found there is a happy medium and that all the points mentioned
> are rapidly degraded for zero nett gain in roadholding and
> negative impact on handling, suspension wear etc. 15" and 16" wheels are
> heavy enough (many alloys are no lighter than steels), without going to
> extreme widths as well. Think engineering, think mass and the original
> suspension design.

    Think digging those narrow little tires into some mud or loose sand and
you'll be cursing them when you spend two days of your vacation digging and
jacking your way out of some wayback hole on the way to a good fishing spot.
4wd doesn't help a whole lot if you start sinking.

Harmon Seaver
CyberShamanix
http://www.cybershamanix.com