> In any case Dennis, I'll stick with opinion that higher sidewalls offer
more
> protection for your rims when you are driving on rough unpaved roads.

They do. A short sidewall is easily damaged not only by rough roads, but
even the occasional big pothole that you encounter on normal roads. And it
is not just the tire that is at risk; your rim can also be damaged. The "boy
racer car" trend toward big rims and low profile tires has been an absolute
windfall for tire and wheel retailers, who get to sell replacements whenever
someone hits a nice sized pothole. 

Quoting TireRack:

"While taller profile tires can be damaged by the more severe impacts with
deeper potholes and sharper curbs, low profile tires mounted on large
diameter wheels are the most susceptible to this type of damage. The driver
of vehicles equipped with low profile tires should make special efforts to
avoid potholes, curbs or other road hazards."

Quoting the L.A. Times (and Volkswagen):

"Engineers and safety experts say low aspect ratio tires -- which have
shorter sidewalls -- are more vulnerable to road hazards, such as potholes
and other obstructions that can test a tire's ability to flex at high speed,
than their standard counterparts. Officials from Goodyear, Michelin and
Bridgestone -- the three largest tire makers -- all acknowledged in
interviews that their low aspect ratio tires are more likely to be damaged
by impacts in normal driving.  "They are more susceptible to pothole
damage," said Bill VandeWater, Bridgestone's consumer tire products manager,
in Nashville. "They don't have as much give before the tread contacts the
rim. There isn't as much deflection capability as a taller tire."  
What can you do about it? Well, advice from manufacturers can be kind of
silly. Take, for example, Volkswagen's suggestion. "Avoid driving on roads
with potholes, deep gouges or ridges," it tells owners of cars equipped with
these tires. In other words, keep the car in the garage."

A normal sized but appropriately stiff (in other words, sufficiently rated
for a Vanagon) sidewall provides a good combination of handling, ride
comfort, and protection against blow-outs and wheel damage.

- Ron Salmon
� The Bus Depot, Inc.
� www.busdepot.com
� (215)� 234-VWVW

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