There are 5 Mercedes wheels like mine on Seattle Craig's List right now for
$80/all.  That's a real bargain.

See mine at http://subyjake.googlepages.com/

On 9/26/07, Scott Daniel - Shazam <scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
> Alloy wheels always are slightly better for ..
> Less unsprung weight,
> Sometimes more offset that gives you a slightly wider track, which is
> slightly better for cornering stability.
> And they are a half inch wider and may help provide more tire stability.
> I'd say up to a 10 % improvement overall in vehicle dynamics, maybe 15 %.
> You 'll notice all performance/modern cars have alloy wheels.
>
> Steel wheels are easier to deal with for getting tires mounted and
> balanced,
> Less attractive from a theft viewpoint,
> And generally cheap and durable.
> I'd run the factory alloys over aftermarket ones generally - they are true
> 14 inch factory alloy wheels specifically designed for vanagons.
> Scott
> www.turbovans.com
> now...if I could just find a good deal on 5 decent 15 inch vanagon
> wheels...( I got the good tires - Aggilles ) and not Audi or Passat ones
> with too much offset, and not 140 bucks each new, and not heavy like the
> Rhein alloy 15 inch vanagon wheels.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Todd Last
> Sent: Wednesday, September 26, 2007 5:37 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Which Wheels
>
> I'd vote for keeping both sets.
>
> Use the steel wheels for a set of good winter tires, and the alloys for
> some
> nice summer tires.
> (Since it looks like you live somewhere that would see snow or wet
> winters.)
>
> Given average driving, I don't think you are going to subject either wheel
> to enough distress to have any problems.
> I'd say the tires you are running will make more of a difference than the
> wheels. You did not say how much wider the alloys are or their offset.
> There
> is a possibility that they might add some small degree of stability -
> again
> depending on the tires you are running.
>
>
> Todd
> '88 Westy
>
>
>
> Interesting that your pop-top has no opening vent - I thought they all had
> one. (I can see the cut-out for it.)
>
>
>
>
> -------------- Original message ----------------------
> From: Jonathan Poole <jfpoolio@GMAIL.COM>
> > I am having trouble making a decision between two sets of wheels.  One
> > option is a set of BBS alloys that I have had sitting around for a few
> years
> > and the other option is a set of stock alloys.  Both are 14" although
> the
> > alloys run wider tires (205s are on them now).  I thought that I was a
> steel
> > wheel purists and have never even mounted the bbs wheels but when I put
> the
> > alloys on my old van in preparation to sell it I have decided that I
> like
> > the way they look.  Currently I am thinking that steel is more reliable
> > and/or easier to fix and that the stock tire width will perform better
> and
> > am therefore probably not going to keep the alloys, but maybe it is time
> for
> > a change?  What does the collective wisdom of the list have to say?  Any
> > obvious reasons to go either way that I am overlooking?  Any flaws in my
> two
> > reasons stay with steel?
> >
> > Photos of the two wheel sets can be found here:
> >
> > http://poolio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26
> >
> > <
> http://poolio.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=26>
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Jonathan Poole
> > '82 AC Westy's
>

--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/