In a message dated 7/17/2003 2:08:44 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
j_rodgers@CHARTER.NET writes:

> I have often thought I would like a tire/rim combination that would give
> my van a wider stance on the road. Something modest, not radical, yet
> allow me to run a 14 or 15 inch tire. I read somewhere about the
> Projekto (spelling) rims being a rim that did this, but you needed to
> add a longer swing arm to the sliding door to allow it to clear the
> wheel on the right side when the door was opened. Have wondered where to
> get the longer door swing arm, as well as sources for the rims. Anyone
> know about these??

John,

I have run about a dozen different combinations of wheels from various makes
on my Vanagon. At one point, I even had a rear swingarm extension fabricated
for clearance. That's when I found out that you need more than just the
extension. The rear latching point on the later vans also need to be relocated. I
have not looked into what is needed in an earlier van.

Anyway, Detlev from Vanagon Projekt (Livermore, CA) sells the extensions in
the US as well as have access to Projektzwo wheels. Ken Wilford at VanAgain
(NJ) sells the same parts too. Just to name a couple.

The widest wheel I was able to fit to my 2wd is a 15" X 8" ET23 wheel front
and back. The back just clears the rear door w/o scrapping. The fronts slightly
overhang the fenders. It would have been better to fit 7" wide ones in the
same offset. It's just I wanted to have as much tire patch in front as possible.
I love hanging around those corners.

You can easily go to a 16", 17" or even larger wheel if you are willing to
give up some comfort and tire protection in the process. Of if you have the
fender clearance that I have in my 16" Syncro, you can get really tall tires. I
successfully installed 265/75/16 tires in my unmodified 16" and still have room
to fit my fist between the tire and the rear suspension swingarm.

Anyway, it's too much to rehash on the list. You view some of this info on my
Alternative wheels page. Or send me a pmail with your intended application
and type of Vanagon and I can try to see what can fit your van.

BenT