Dennis

        While that may be a very important condition to watch out for, I'll
have to say

that I do not have any handling issues with this configuration ~ I
have been running

those Wheels & TireSizes for 6.5yrs & 67000mis & I am a fairly
AggressiveDriver. A

substantial chunk, possibly the majority, of those miles were @
HiwaySpeeds 65-80

& when I go driving I look for the CurviestRoads ~ in fact some of
those miles since

'09 when I put an EJ25 BelowDeck were done on the heels of a
MiniCooperClub group

that a M'C'Driving friend of mine is a member of ~ in the mountains I
couldn't keep

but I always gave it my best shot & was never very far behind ~
another large chunk

of those miles I had a RaftTrailer in tow &or a CanoeOnTheRoof & even
in that config'

the only significant issue I had with wind was if it was InMyFace as
those BigRears do

rob some power ~ But it sure is nice cruisin @ 75mph@3400RPM gettin
22MPG, even

with a Canoe on the roof ~ but they don't cause much drag when they're
on straight.

                                                        ORR ~ DeanB

On 5 Dec , 2012, at 11:04 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> Running larger tires in the rear can cause an over steer situation
> especially during emergency maneuvers or a tire failure. 25.5" front
> and 29"
> rear is substantial. You should have the front caster angle adjusted
> to
> compensate. I once bought a van that was rolled over. I used the
> parts to
> repair a camper that has an engine fire. It was also an 85 with
> oversized
> tires on the rear! I was  recall the front went just over the edge
> of the
> road and he just couldn't recover it. Rolled and laid over on its
> left side.
> The drivers only injury was a broken arm, he had it laying on the
> door edge
> with the window open. The body twisted  blowing out the windshield.
>
> Dennis
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf Of
> OlRivrRat
> Sent: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 10:47 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Need recomendations for new shocks for an '85 Vanagon
>
>                Mark
>
>        I April2011, about 20K miles ago, I put Monroe GasMagnums on my
> 90Westy & so far I have not
>
> encountered any reasons to feel anything but good about them. Right
> now @
> RockAuto they are $24.79
>
> for the Fronts & $32.79 for the rears.
>
>        By the way ~ I run 15"EuroVan SteelWheels on Westy with
> 225/60r15
> Fronts & 235/75r15 Rears ~
>
> I do use Spacers with these wheels for better clearance ~ 1/2"Front &
> 3/4"Rear (SlidingDoor clears by 1/16")
>
>                                                        ORRDeanB
>
>
> On 5 Dec , 2012, at 5:50 AM, Mark Carrig wrote:
>
>> Putting a set of the Go Westy 15" alloys and Michilins on as well
>> as a
>> new set of four Go Westy Progressive springs, 0" lift.
>>
>> Westy has the Bilsteen shocks offered, but they are awfully pricy.
>>
>> Are there any recomendations for a very good set of shocks that wont
>> break the bank ?
>>
>> Thanks !
>