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