While I agree with you on there not necessarily being an
increase in wear going from 14" to 15" handling may
marginally improve if you get a wider tire. I went to 215/65-
15 Michelin Agilis 51's from stock 185/82-14's. Also since I
keept the same rolling diameter by going to a lower profile
tire my acceleration has not changed, believe me I would know
in an air cooled van.

I have purchased a SA big brake kit but did not need to to
install the wheels. I DID need longer studs in back (you also
need to remove a scre that holds the rear brake drum) and
longer bolts up front. Syncros are a bit different and I
could be wrong but I think if you had stock Alloys you may be
OK.

Thanks,
Chris

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sat, 4 Jan 2003 22:08:23 -0500
>From: Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@MAC.COM>
>Subject: Re: 14" or 15" wheels?
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>??? I'm not sure you are going to get better handling/wear
with 15"
>wheels/tires on a Vanagon. What you will get is a broader
selection of
>tires available to purchase.
>
>The big brake kit isn't necessary for 15" wheels. 15" wheels
are
>necessary for the big brake kit.
>
>Based on my experience, unless you really want larger wheels
for
>esthetics, or need them for ground clearance (i.e. off
road), you are
>probably better off staying with the 14" wheels. Especially
if you have
>the stock alloy 14" wheels, or the 14x6 steel wheels. With
those types
>of wheels you can get 27x8.5R14 All Terrain tires or 195R14
street
>tires.
>
>The 15" (and larger) wheels (because of the larger rolling
diameter)
>are going to slow your acceleration time down (especially if
you are
>running a stock engine).
>
>The fact that I'm upgrading all my Vanagons to 15" wheel
shouldn't
>unduly influence others, as I >DO< need the extra ground
clearance (and
>off road capability.)
>
>On Saturday, January 4, 2003, at 09:51  PM, Jason Weisberger
wrote:
>
>> So, I'm needing new tires and am considering "upgrading"
to 15" wheels.
>>
>> What are the benefits, really? Do I need to do the brake
conversion
>> immediately, or can I just upgrade the wheels to get 15"
tires and the
>> supposed handling and wear improvements?