In a message dated 27/09/2005 11:18:32 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Actually, a 185R14 is suitable for a 5.0-6.0 rim width.  The stock  steel
Vanagon wheel is 5.5, the alloy 6.0, so a 185R14 is equally  appropriate =
for
either wheel. But a 185R14 has some advantages over a  wider tire. A =
wider
tire will generally provide better dry-weather  traction (all things =
being
equal), but on the flip side it is more  prone to hydroplaning than a
narrower tire and can have worse traction in  snow.  To me, these =
negatives
offset the positive. A 185R14 will  tend to do better in poor-weather =
driving
conditons, which is when I  am most worried about safe handling. Dry =
weather
handling is  predictable, and you can easlily learn your vehicle's (and
tire's) limits.  Poor weather handling is less predictable. I fully trust =
my
Vanagon on  dry roads. It's when I'm gripping the steering wheel driving =
down
a  dark highway during a pounding rain (or snow) that I really need to  =
count
on my tires to grip the road. This is where a narrower tire  excels, and
that's why I use 185R14's on my own Vanagon with alloys. A side  benefit =
is
the cost savings; a 185R14 is generally significantly  cheaper than a
comparable 205-70R14.=20

EXACTLY !  Thanks Ron  !  One more point also is that the narrow tires eat up
less HP - - less  friction !

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa  Valley
_Frank Condelli  & Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust  Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm) 1
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 08 ~ 11,  2006