Jerry,
I believe they're lighter. This means that the suspension travel is less
dictated by the weight of the tire/rim, and more about the object creating
the travel (bump, pot hole, etc.). What that translates into is the tire
tends to stay on the traveling surface while loaded with the weight of the
vehicle, rather than spending more time "unloaded", due to the bounce-effect
of the higher tire/rim weight, when it reacts to what it has hit. Results in
more control and is particularly noticeable on washboard conditions on dirt
roads, or on asphalt that has gotten hot and "rippled", or bunched up due to
braking forces.
Also, and this is what I've particularly noticed with my current 7 1/2" wide
rims, the wider the rim, the less the sidewall flex/sway, especially when
that kind of stability is needed most during quick maneuvers.
just my $0.02
bob

----- Original Message -----
From: "Gerald Masar" <azsun99@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 13, 2005 10:54 AM
Subject: Re: vanagon alloys, question re

> I was following this thread with interest, because I have a '88 Westy with
> OEM alloys
> which I want to swap over to my '90 Westy which has steel wheels. The '90,
> even though
> it has 166K miles Vs the '88 with 53K miles, will be the long-time keeper
> and
> long-distance hauler.
>
> So my question is, other than looks, are there actual advantages to alloys
> over the
> steel wheels?
> Jerry
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "John Runberg" <jrunberg@MAC.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, March 12, 2005 9:36 PM
> Subject: Re: vanagon alloys
>
>
> > Thanks to everyone for the posts. Somewhere along the line my wires got
> > crossed
> (again). Alloys from my Carat are now on, using alloy nuts / bolts, and
> WHAT a
> difference. Old tires were Michelin MTX - van turned like a cow. Alloys
> had new
> Michelin Agilis on them and things turn much better.
> >
> > BTW, if anyone needs anything off the Carat (or wants the whole thing)
> > p-mail me for
> details. Runs, drives, decent condition, missing now it's alloys and
> bumpers.
> Everything else is there (although the p-windows have ben gone awhile
> now).
> >
> > john
> >
> > > Maybe I'm missing something here, but if these are OEM 14" wheels, why
> > > would
> > > you need longer studs? If they're the stock factory alloys, just use
> > > the
> > > special lug nuts/bolts designed for this. The studs are the same.
>