Hi all,

Can someone point me to a concise explanation of the pros and cons of 14” versus 15” wheels & tires? 

Having lurked on this list for years, I know there have been many discussions about this, and I don’t mean to start a whole new one, but I’m having difficulty navigating the archives (there are such a LOT of them!) and TheSamba’s tire threads tend to be either uber-technical or just unsupported opinion, with not enough in between to be really helpful.

I’ve always run either 185 or 195 R14’s, and gotten decent mileage and handling, but on the highway the ride is hard and unforgiving. My wife and I are planning some very long trips after she retires (including, we hope, from here to the other end of Canada’s famous Dempster Highway, as well as some logging roads in Northern Ontario) and I’m wondering if it’s time to invest in some 15” wheels to soften the ride.

Thanks,

Steve Edwards - currently running a 91 GL with Subaru 2.2 engine, rolling on Nokian Hakkapellitas in Chicago, IL