exactly. I'm shooting for 205/70, 215/65, or 205/65, though i believe a 225
would require me to modify my spare tire pan. the acceleration i'm not
worried about, i'm a bit of a fuel economy nerd, and the braking...i am
planning on larger steel wheels, so we'll see how it goes. i just rebuilt
(and painted to match the bilsteins) my brakes and all my wheel bearings
(new hub/discs)before driving to alaska so if i have to go to SA discs,
someone's getting lucky on ebay...

thanks for the replies, dudes!
-Bob
'83 Vanagon L with the TD heart of a Quantum-Cassidy

On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 9:37 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>wrote:

> Just so you understand shorter sidewalls reduce rated carry capacity and
> drastically increase wheel damage due to road impacts. Now since you also
> want a larger diameter tire a larger wheel will help. Do keep in mind that
> a
> larger diameter tire will reduce acceleration and braking ability. I would
> consider a 215-65-16 tire. This will increase the diameter from the stock
> 25.5" to 27 inch. No fit or rubbing problems. Standard load rating for this
> size is 98 with 102 for XL or reinforced versions. A 225/60 will be about
> 26.5" and slightly wider.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Robert Downes
> Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 8:28 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Vanagon wheels in Alaska?
>
> Basically this. with the turbodiesel, i can tell i could get more speed out
> of 5 gear, and i'm not ready to mess with my gearing so a larger diameter
> wheel is desirable. also, i am a traveler and live out of the van
> off-and-on, so i pretty much always have it somewhat loaded. the extra
> weight really begs the shorter sidewall. not to mention the wider range of
> available tires.
>
> -bob
>
> On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 7:06 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
>  wrote:
>
> > What are your goals for the 16" wheels? Since funds are tight and you are
> > running the Diesel why not jest invest in a good set of 195/80-14 and go
> > with that?
> >
> > Dennis
> >
>
> On Sat, May 22, 2010 at 7:40 PM, Scott Daniel - Turbovans <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
> > I would always encourage moving away from 14 inch tires and wheels on a
> > vanagon.
> >
> > almost any 14 inch tire is going to have more of a 'boaty feeling and
> > handling feel than a good 15 or 16.
> > You just can't 'get there' running a 14 inch wheel and tire..
> > not to the stability you can get to with 15's or 16's.
> >
> > a bit more diameter helps too, gearing wise..and the shorter sidewalls of
> > the larger wheels add handling stability.
> >
> > Scott
> > www.turbovans.com
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
> > To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> > Sent: Saturday, May 22, 2010 4:06 PM
> > Subject: Re: Vanagon wheels in Alaska?
> >
> >
> >  What are your goals for the 16" wheels? Since funds are tight and you
> are
> >> running the Diesel why not jest invest in a good set of 195/80-14 and go
> >> with that?
> >>
> >> Dennis
> >>
> >> -----Original Message-----
> >> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> >> Of
> >> Robert Downes
> >> Sent: Friday, May 21, 2010 3:13 PM
> >> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >> Subject: vanagon wheels in Alaska?
> >>
> >> Hello there, list! this is my first message to what appears to be a fine
> >> community. sorry if i'm long-winded, thanks for being here.
> >>
> >> After acquiring my first VW last year, a 1983 Vanagon L diesel, i made
> the
> >> trip from florida to alaska this spring for a summer job on a
> hodge-podge
> >> of
> >> ill-suited but free tires and stock 14" rims and arrived confident in my
> >> suspension/brake overhaul and all the work i've put into the
> transplanted
> >> Quantum 1.6l TD, but acutely aware of the need for better wheels/tires.
> so
> >> i'm weighing my options for a new set of shoes before i make the trek
> back
> >> south this fall.
> >>
> >> i am very interested in a set of larger steel wheels (new alloys are
> >> slightly out of my price range) but i am having trouble talking myself
> >> into
> >> the cost of shipping them up here. SO, my question is this: anybody know
> >> of
> >> a source for wheels in alaska? the options i'm considering are buying a
> >> set
> >> of these
> >> 16"-ers<
> >> http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1263_341/16_inch_steel_wheel.h
> >> tml>
> >> and
> >> getting someone from a rideshare to cart them up for me; and getting new
> >> rubber for the 14s and trying to re-sell it, probably on this list, when
> i
> >> get down to cali. one blessing is that nokian tires are readily
> available
> >> up
> >> here. so, if there's anyone interested in pre-ordering 4 nice tires,
> >> mounted
> >> and balanced on stock 14" rims with about 4000 miles of wear, available
> >> october-ish, i'd love to hear from you too.
> >>
> >> i know the whole tires/wheels issue is pretty overworked on here but i
> >> thought my own spin on an old favorite would be a good way to introduce
> >> myself. i really appreciate any advice you guys have for me.
> >>
> >> enjoy your weekend! and, seriously, THANK you for participating in this
> >> community.
> >> -bob
> >>
> >
>
>