All else equal the more rubber you have on the road the
better your handling. Wider tires generally tires mean
better handling.

However as I said handling improves with more rubber on the
road. If you went from bald 185 tires to an aggressive tread
on a 205 tires your handling might not improve in dry
weather... because gaps between the tire treads decrease the
amount of the tire that touches the road (less rubber for
the width of tire)... this is why racing cars use slicks.

In fact a well worn tire will give you better braking and
handling than the same tire brand new. This only applies
however in dry weather. If it is wet, you need those treads
to shed water, handling on slicks in the wet is close to non
existant.

Thanks,
Chris

---- Original message ----
>Date: Sun, 5 Jan 2003 13:26:17 -0800
>From: Jason Weisberger <jweis@WHY.BOTHER.COM>
>Subject: Re: 14" or 15" wheels?
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>So the stuff on GoWesty saying 15" wheels will help with
handling is not
>true?
>
>
>On Sun, 5 Jan 2003, Kim Brennan wrote:
>
>> Right. I don't have a PDF file for the Agilis. Gotta get
one. The
>> 215/65R15 would be a good choice for my Tristar as the
wheel flares on
>> it narrow the wheel well opening just enough to
occassionally rub with
>> the 215/75R15's I'm currently running. I just haven't
found a 215/65 in
>> LT form (which is why I grabbed all those PDF files...
>>
>> On Sunday, January 5, 2003, at 09:30  AM, 80 Westy Pokey
wrote:
>>
>> > 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.
>>