I've been thinking the same thing. Unfortunately it's getting hard as
hell to find the load rating we need in a 14" tire. Took me 2 weeks to
get tires a few months ago and had to settle for a tire that was less
than exciting. I think the next time I need tires I'll be upgrading to
at least a 15" rim just so I can have more choice. Now if I can put in
a chipped TDI with euro injectors etc I won't have to worry about the
power loss.

Everything's a compromise I guess...
Chris
85 GL

On Sep 23, 2004, at 09:57, Dennis wrote:

> An interesting side effect (no pun intended) of larger rims and tires,
> seldom discussed, is rotational inertia.  One of the Canadian autosport
> type shows "Sports Car Revolution", did up a road racing Acura.  When
> they
> fitting larger rims, and lower profile rubber, they stayed very close
> to
> stock rolling diameter.  They found however, an 11 HP loss to the
> wheels
> when dyno testing.  The reason?  The larger rims and brakes added more
> mass, farther from the center of rotation, and thus required more
> power to
> accelerate.  Granted, once accelerated, the main issue is driveline and
> aerodynamic loss, however most of us don't drive very often in a
> steady -
> state situation.
>
> Being that HP is at a premium in most vanagons, it's got me thinking in
> favour of just keeping LT (truck) tires on my 14" alloys.  Food for
> thought?
>