horse pucky.  regardless of what volkscafe says, my merkur scorpio rims
(15" x 6.5", ET38 but with 1/4" spacers that bring it to about ET31.5)
wear 215/75/15 bfg atko rubber, and have no rubbing, etc. up front.
especially now with my new SAGP shocks and syncro.org springs.

unless i misunderstand what you mean by "Actually 205/65-15 is about as
big as you can get up front."

b

On Friday, January 17, 2003, at 11:42 AM, 80 Westy Pokey wrote:

> Hi Mark,
>
> Actually 205/65-15 is about as big as you can get up front.
> Whith some minor modification you should be able to get
> 215/75-15, in fact VolksCafe is on the verge of introducing a
> kit:
>
> http://volkscafe.com/projects.html
>
> My initial post mentioned something about (assuming you don't
> care about storing the tire in the stock location). But
> Admittedly I did not mention it in my most recent post (which
> has of course changed anyway). My newest question (courtesy
> in part to Tom F) is:
>
> (Assuming you dont care about storing the spare in the stock
> location) What is the maximum diameter tire size that people
> have been running with chains, unmodifided trailing arms, and
> syncro.org springs? Please state if you are running stock
> gearing.
>
> I find this thread VERY interesting because each time someone
> replies I am learning that there is something else to
> consider.
>
> Thanks,
> Chris
>
> ---- Original message ----
>> Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 11:23:03 -0800
>> From: Mark Drillock <drillock@earthlink.net>
>> Subject: Re: [Syncro] 16" Trailing Arms / BIG 15" Tires
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>
>> AFAIK, 215/75/15 is the largest tire that is practical to
> use on the VW
>> SA 15" wheels without other modifications. I refer to
> Syncros here but I
>> think it also applies to 2wd models.
>> This is also the largest tire that can be made to fit in the
> spare tire
>> area up front though mods are needed to make it go in there.
> Different
>> brands have slightly differing dimensions. My numerous
> fitments of this
>> size on Syncros and 2wds were all Michelin.
>>
>>
>>
>> Mark
>>
>>
>> Forhan, Thomas wrote:
>>
>>> Chris,
>>>
>>> I would not start by looking for looking for max width.
>>>
>>> If you don't want to get into heavy vehicle upgrades, the
> first thing you
>>> need to find out is the maximum tire diameter that people
> have been running
>>> with chains on unmodfied vehicles.
>>>
>>> As a starting data point, regular chains worked fine when
> my Syncro was
>>> stock and I was running the BFG 27x8.5x14s, which have a
> diameter about
>>> 26.5".
>>> Anybody done better than 26.5" ? Chime in now and help
> Chris out!
>>>
>>> Once you have a maximum diameter established, go to the
> tire catalogs and
>>> find 15"  tires that meets vehicle load specs, are at or
> below the diameter
>>> requirement, and fit on your rim width.
>>>
>>> Finally, within that universe, you can further limit it
> down  by picking the
>>> widest of the batch.
>>>
>>> Hope this helps
>>>
>>> Tom F.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>