I like what Bob is saying.
Personally I run 205/65 R 15's for a summer and rain tire and love them for
road use.
( michelin agilles...a 150 dollar tire, but man do they make a vanagon track
well down the road ) .

the idea of large AT's for winter ..
and something for reasonable use with a 1.9 wbxr for now are conflicting
requirements.
So nix the large AT's  for now I say.

what I do have that I just love for my winter rear tires ..
and four would be better of course..
are studless winter tires in 205/65 R 15..
and the ones I have to run in the rear are D load rated, where the michelins
are C load rated..
and running that compb in 2WD ...D load rating in the rear, and C laod
rating in the front..
is nigh perfect..
straight line tracking is enhanced, turn-in is nice, cornering stability is
good , and steering feel in the steering wheel, and lack of harsh feeling
from the front tires , is very nice.
Even VW recomends that combo on late syncro's ..
on the tire door jam sticker ..D load rating rear, C front.  It works.
I think C's front and rear is ok ..
but D's front and rear, can't stand it. The feeling in the steering is too
harsh.

so what i recomend is either 15 or 16 inch wheels with a 'reasonable' road
tire.
I recently installed some 205/70 R 15 tires with Van cafe silver steel
wheels..
and they are a bit big to run with a 1.9 wbxr for sure.
 But 205/65 R 15 is just right.

and then ...have a whole other set of winter tires ..
and make those as knarly as you want.

scott
www.turbovans.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Stevens" <mtbiker62@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 12:16 PM
Subject: Re: Wheels upgrade

On Jun 4, 2011, at 11:27 AM, Jonathan Edwards wrote:

> 'd also like to go with bigger AT
> tires for more clearance, improved off-road and winter conditions (I live
> in
> MT).  My concern is that going too much bigger than stock will be more
> than
> the 1.9 can handle. So should I just wait until I do the engine
> conversion,
> or is there a wheel/tire combo I could go with now that will improve
> highway
> driving (shorter sidewalls, less "sway" in the wind) but keeps close to my
> current tire outside circumference.

You seem to me to have the "right idea" regarding the benefits/payoffs AND
hazards (read: negative consequences to engine poop/power). Lots of volks
here currently (me in the past) use Nokian CS tyres (Hakkapellitta) in about
205/65-15 size which keeps the revs-per-mile and diameter, stock, so no
loss of power, but a HUGE/significant improvement in road-ability, drive
ability
handling in all conditions.

bob=