My two cents on this issue(fwiw) is the engineers at vw designed the final
drive ratios on our vanagons to complement the horse power and torque of the
engines they put into them. Most of the troubles I've had with my
vanagon(when I was a newbie) came from trying to out think the boys from
Stuttgart. when I settled down and appreciated my westy for the finely
engineered piece of machinery that it is, studied it a bit and played by the
rules, I've had mile after trouble free mile out of my '83 waterboxer with
320,000 km.
----- Original Message -----
From: Horace K. Sawyer <firestream@MINDSPRING.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: March 31, 1999 7:38 PM
Subject: Re: GEAR UP! 15" rims 75 series?

> Thinking about picking up a set of 15" x 6.5 rims for 91 Westy automatic.
>
> The idea being to lower my final drive ratio a bit (is this right
> terminology?) and make the motor turn less revs on the hwy, burn less
fuel,
> etc.
>
> I want the biggest wheel/tire combo in the rear that the world has ever
> seen . . .
> (but I will settle for something that works.)
>
> Will the 15's with 75 series tires fit under there?  Anyone have any
> experience with this experiment?  Been laying awake at night wondering
> about the rev reduction.  Then it's off to dreamland.  Wake back up, it's
> rev reduction hypothefication.  Twisting and turning.  (No pun intended)
> You can see why I need help . . .
>
> Thanks
>
> HK
>