The recommended wheel width for the 185 tire is 5 to 6"
The 5.5" wheel is limited to a 215 width tire. The 6" can take a 225.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jeff Palmer
Sent: Monday, January 7, 2013 3:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: 14" Alloy and 195R14

The original rims that came with the van (that I still run) were 14x5.5,
right?  Best suited for a 185?
I always ran Michelin 195s on my stock wheels.

Maybe the alloys are 14x6?  That would be pretty tight for 185s.
Jeff

> Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2013 11:29:37 -0800
> From: syncro@GMAIL.COM
> Subject: Re: 14" Alloy and 195R14
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
> Dave,
>
> The 14" choice by VW's engineers was probably more due to the tire
standards at the time of manufacture. Even my 3.5 ton VW LT35 has 14" tires.
Albeit six of them.:-)
>
> Later LT's like the later T3's (Vanagons) moved to a larger wheel as tire
technology improved and as consumer taste in wheel design and size changed.
>
>
> BenT
> sent from my electronic leash
>
> On Jan 7, 2013, at 11:04 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET> wrote:
>
> > Well, that is the wheel that the automotive engineering staff at VW
thought was proper.