Somehow those tires on a Syncro seem a bit self-defeating. The Altimax is a
205/70-14XL.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Richard A Jones
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 4:28 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 14" Alloy and 195R14

>   Also
> the Tread Width would increase from 5.1 to 5.5

Harold:

I had 185R14 Hankooks on my Syncro Westy.  I didn't like it at all about 60
mph.  I then went to 15" and put on 205/65-15 Nokians.  They were about
8/10" wider.  That change--tire and width--is the single best improvement
I've made.  I have cruised I-10 in west Texas at 80mph.  (Well, the Subaru
2.5 helped with that....)

I just put the Altimax 205/75-14s on my '81 air-cooled 7-passenger Vanagon
based on the recommendation of Dennis.  I haven't got any miles on them to
make any statements about them.  They replaced the Hankooks which had been
handed down to the '81.
But one thing I liked about their spec is the greater width.

Anyway, I would go with the 195 to get the extra width.  I think it will
make an improvement you will notice.

Richard