if you want to know what VW recommends (as of 2002) for tire sizes for stock wheels for 2wd, 14" syncro, and 16" syncro, I've posted a german pdf doc on my blog.

http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/vanagon-stock-wheel-and-tires/

But hey, it's only VW, and we just love to second guess those guys :)

But seriously, I believe the VW info in the document is referring to factory wheel/tire specs approved by the TUV (pronounced sort of like "toof").

alistair

On 2011-07-17, at 7:02 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Tire sizes noted by diameter and width in inches are known as "Floatation"
> tires. These are more designed for the off road stay on top of sand + mud
> and the number often inflate the actual tire size. Side by side a 27 X
> 8.50-14 stands as tall and wide as most 215/70-14's.
> 
> Dennis
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> craig cowan
> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 9:06 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: understanding tire sizes
> 
> lets make things more fun and more confusing....
> Go with the 195R14 size hankooks! (I have and greatly prefer them to the 185
> size).
> 
> Others may be able to explain better than me, but I believe there are
> several different standards of measure for tires size. LT size is generally
> measured as 27x8.5x14 (an example), using actual measurements in inches.
> Pmetric is  measured as 215/75/15 (an example), using cross section, percent
> of cross section as sidewall height, and rim size (rim size is apparently
> the only measurement in inches)
> 
> I believe that the system of 185R14 and 195R14 simply rely on a fixed ratio
> for sidewall height, say 75. Thus, a 195 is a bit taller and a bit wider
> than a 185.
> 
> -Craig
> '85Gl turned WESTY
> BOSTIG in the back
> '87 SUNROFF Syncro
> 
> 
> On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 8:27 AM, Harry Hoffman
> <hhoffman@ip-solutions.net>wrote:
> 
>> Hi All,
>> 
>> So, I'm thinking that I'll go with the 185R14 Hankooks given that my
>> current tires are probably a danger to me and others on the road.
>> 
>> I'm trying to understand a few things, just for my own betterment.
>> 
>> It seems, and maybe I'm wrong, that when referring to the 185s they
>> are generally referred to as 185R14 just describing the width of the
>> tire and the rim size.
>> 
>> But when talking about the 205s, they are usually referred to with a
>> ratio: 205/70R14.
>> 
>> Does this ratio somehow become unimportant in the 185s? Or is there
>> only one ratio offered and that's why the shorthand?
>> 
>> Cheers,
>> Harry
>>