Date: Sat, 4 Jun 2011 14:44:35 -0700
Reply-To: Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Schwaia <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Wheels upgrade
In-Reply-To: <BAY152-ds12CC707E6E2B3121143509A07E0@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Hey Dennis,
Does the center cap fit on those wheels when mounted on a 2WD Vanagon
(front)?
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Dennis Haynes
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 11:00 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Wheels upgrade
I now have a source for 17" wheels which combined with 225/55-17XL tires
makes for an ideal combination for the Vanagon. AT type tires are typically
less than ideal for the 2wd Vanagon. This 17 tire size has many options for
the extra load rating we want and high performance summer, all season, and
dedicated winter tire options. These can also use the factory alloy lug
nuts/bolts but Tuner Spline hardware is a better fit due to socket clearance
and they will bolt right on. The offset is 25mm and load rating is 2,200
pounds. If you want to Google the wheel is an American Racing AR95T.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jonathan Edwards
Sent: Saturday, June 04, 2011 1:28 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Wheels upgrade
OK - first off, I've searched the archives, read thesamba, talked to someone
at GoWesty, so I've done my homework. Just looking for a little more advice.
I want to upgrade my '85 weekender's (2wd) 14" wheels. I currently have a
recently rebuilt 1.9 (less than 10k on the motor) which runs great. Long
term plan is to go suby (2.2 or 2.5, but that's another topic). But that is
probably several years off. For now, it seems going to bigger wheels would
be an instant noticeable upgrade, right? I'd also like to go with bigger AT
tires for more clearance, improved off-road and winter conditions (I live in
MT). My concern is that going too much bigger than stock will be more than
the 1.9 can handle. So should I just wait until I do the engine conversion,
or is there a wheel/tire combo I could go with now that will improve highway
driving (shorter sidewalls, less "sway" in the wind) but keeps close to my
current tire outside circumference. Then, down the road, when I've got a
motor that can handle it, I'd like those same large wheels to be able to
accomodate bigger AT tires (like the BFGs everyone raves about). And yeah, I
might need a slight lift then too, but I can deal with that then.
I saw that GoWesty currently has a special on 15" wheels with Michellin
Harmony Tires for $899, but they warn that the offset on the wheels (ET40)
is not ideal for bigger tires. Details here:
http://gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23381&category_id=334&category_par
ent_id=
Is that something that longer studs and spacers could correct if down the
road I want to go with larger tires? Or should I consider a different
wheel. Or is this even possible? I don't want to buy wheels twice!
Thanks
Jon
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