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
>>
>