At 02:24 PM 9/14/2009, Dave Mcneely wrote...
>Hmmm.  So, what I'm hearing is that 15" or even 16" wheels were stock
>on the vehicle, yet to make wheels of that size fit, one has to modify
>the wheel, since the hub doesn't accommodate it.   That would suggest
>that not just the wheel but the hub was different for some markets
>than others.

No, you're just not following along, or are being deliberately obtuse
and pedantic. If one had OEM VW wheels, they would fit just fine.

Besides the overall diameter, wheels have a number of different
specifications. Bore diameter (for hub centric wheels, which Vanagons
don't have), # of bolts, bolt circle diameter, bolt seat, rim width,
offset.

The discussions here revolve around finding suitable wheels from other
vehicles, which might be readily available. Sometimes, minor changes
need to be made which don't have any effect on safety, like using
different bolts, or boring the hub to a larger diameter.