

| Subject: | Re: Aftermarket rim fitment. |
| From: | Andrew Grebneff |
| Date: | Sun, 22 Dec 2002 14:13:24 +1300 |
>Why would you want to run that tire/wheel combination on a Vanagon? It >is 1" shorter than stock and only has a weight rating of 1279 lbs before >deducting 10% as you are using for a light truck application. You will >be forever bending the wheels and it will ride hard. You will need at >least a 225-60/16 to get the proper load capacity (97). This will be ~1" >taller than stock and 1" wider than the 205's. > >-----Original Message----- > >I checked the archives and didn't find anyone that had put 7.5jx16ET30 >rim on a two wheel drive vanagon Westy. will the 7.5 rim width cause a >clearance problem with 205x55x16 tires mounted? Why on earth not? It will result in a van which HANDLES. Using tires rated for a Mercedes S-Class should fit the loading rating OK... those cars are HEAVY. The 16" tires will give about the same rolling diameter as stock 14" tires. I wouldn't have a camoper myself, as I prefer the practicality of a 7-seater or empty van, and I want the handling not available to a heavy unbalanced camper (moose-test failure guaranteed with Westys), so I have better choice of wheel/tire choice, and will go the German Look with 17 or 18" wheels and low-profile tires. Light truck tires will not give good handling, and in an emergency avoidance situtation are likely to KILL you. I cannot understand why people insist on fitting such tires and utterly ignoring handling as THE primary safety thing in any vehicle (chassis dynamics a close seciond, and here our vans shine). Cost of tires ... or (potential) cost of your life? Hey... I have a set of 16x7" CLK alloys with 205/55 Contis for sale... -- Andrew Grebneff 165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand <andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz> Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
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