Actually by "up front" I meant the spare tire area not the
wheelwell. But I see how my post was poorly written.

Thanks,
Chris

---- Original message ----
>Date: Fri, 17 Jan 2003 11:58:03 -0800
>From: Bill Kasper <dragonlist@ipmts.ucsc.edu>
>Subject: Re: [Syncro] 16" Trailing Arms / BIG 15" Tires
>To: 80 Westy Pokey <pokey@VANAGON.ORG>
>Cc: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>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.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>