That is a nice touring tire. Its goal is long life and quiet ride. The
Syncro does make any tire seem better in wet weather traction. Being an 87
Syncro it is likely you are not going as fast or as far as you think even
with these tires being a bit taller than stock. Compare with a GPS. As a
point of comparison a 215/70-14 will be the same diameter and load range as
this size without the expense of wheels. This is just a tad below the OEM
205/70-14XL (97).

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Paul van Dyck
Sent: Wednesday, March 19, 2014 4:24 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: and Wheels - The best laid plans of Mice and Men.....

I've been running the Michelin Defenders 215/65/15 on my Syncro tin top
since they came out. I had the Aqua Treads prior. Occasionally heavily
loaded on multi day trips, etc.. Also live in the NYC/NJ metro area where
70mph+ freeway speeds and frequents lane changes are a given.  Noise is
quiet and side to side is great. No complaints. Stick like glue in heavy
rains. I don't know about snow driving because my niggling rust issues have
me afraid of road salt. I don't believe cost parameters are an appropriate
way to buy tires, which are probable the single most important piece of
safety equipment on our vans-brakes and wipers notwithstanding. If I lived
in a more relaxed area, performance wise, I'd probably have stayed with more
modest tires on my old 14" alloys.

Paul