Date:         Sun, 17 Jul 2011 11:39:48 -0700
Reply-To:     Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA>
Subject:      Re: understanding tire sizes
Comments: To: mcneely4@COX.NET
In-Reply-To:  <20110717135837.9J2WN.1106354.imail@eastrmwml37>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Dave,

you have that info in your manual? Even for the 16" syncro?

must be a different manual than I have. 

alistair
On 2011-07-17, at 10:58 AM, mcneely4@COX.NET wrote:

> Of course, this information is available in your owner's book (if you have it) and on a tire information placard on the door jamb, also.  I notice that the information you posted does not include the 2WD Campmobile (Westy to most of you).
> 
> mcneely
> 
> ---- Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote: 
>> if you want to know what VW recommends (as of 2002) for tire sizes for stock wheels for 2wd, 14" syncro, and 16" syncro, I've posted a german pdf doc on my blog.
>> 
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2011/07/17/vanagon-stock-wheel-and-tires/
>> 
>> But hey, it's only VW, and we just love to second guess those guys :)
>> 
>> But seriously, I believe the VW info in the document is referring to factory wheel/tire specs approved by the TUV (pronounced sort of like "toof").
>> 
>> alistair
>> 
>> 
>> On 2011-07-17, at 7:02 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>> 
>>> Tire sizes noted by diameter and width in inches are known as "Floatation"
>>> tires. These are more designed for the off road stay on top of sand + mud
>>> and the number often inflate the actual tire size. Side by side a 27 X
>>> 8.50-14 stands as tall and wide as most 215/70-14's.
>>> 
>>> Dennis
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
>>> craig cowan
>>> Sent: Sunday, July 17, 2011 9:06 AM
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: understanding tire sizes
>>> 
>>> lets make things more fun and more confusing....
>>> Go with the 195R14 size hankooks! (I have and greatly prefer them to the 185
>>> size).
>>> 
>>> Others may be able to explain better than me, but I believe there are
>>> several different standards of measure for tires size. LT size is generally
>>> measured as 27x8.5x14 (an example), using actual measurements in inches.
>>> Pmetric is  measured as 215/75/15 (an example), using cross section, percent
>>> of cross section as sidewall height, and rim size (rim size is apparently
>>> the only measurement in inches)
>>> 
>>> I believe that the system of 185R14 and 195R14 simply rely on a fixed ratio
>>> for sidewall height, say 75. Thus, a 195 is a bit taller and a bit wider
>>> than a 185.
>>> 
>>> -Craig
>>> '85Gl turned WESTY
>>> BOSTIG in the back
>>> '87 SUNROFF Syncro
>>> 
>>> 
>>> On Sun, Jul 17, 2011 at 8:27 AM, Harry Hoffman
>>> <hhoffman@ip-solutions.net>wrote:
>>> 
>>>> Hi All,
>>>> 
>>>> So, I'm thinking that I'll go with the 185R14 Hankooks given that my
>>>> current tires are probably a danger to me and others on the road.
>>>> 
>>>> I'm trying to understand a few things, just for my own betterment.
>>>> 
>>>> It seems, and maybe I'm wrong, that when referring to the 185s they
>>>> are generally referred to as 185R14 just describing the width of the
>>>> tire and the rim size.
>>>> 
>>>> But when talking about the 205s, they are usually referred to with a
>>>> ratio: 205/70R14.
>>>> 
>>>> Does this ratio somehow become unimportant in the 185s? Or is there
>>>> only one ratio offered and that's why the shorthand?
>>>> 
>>>> Cheers,
>>>> Harry
>>>> 
> 
> --
> David McNeely