Date: Sun, 1 May 2016 09:29:05 -0600
Reply-To: Jon VonOhlsen <jondvo@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jon VonOhlsen <jondvo@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tires! 15" or 14"?
In-Reply-To: <150EA015-3620-47CD-A7F2-BA259EA27C06@comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8; format=flowed
14" tires have limited choices for the correct load rating:
185r14c or 195r14c, these are 82 aspect ratio tires with reinforced
sidewalls, and have at least 1500# load rating.
there are 195r75 tires, but these may not be quite up to the required
load rating.
Finally there are 27x8.5r14 which have a larger diameter and may have
clearance issues, but probably have a useable load rating. These are
almost always an aggressive "off road" tread.
Thus moving to 15" & 16 tires affords more choices. Also, for those whom
have updated the Vanagon front brakes, usually means one has to move
larger diameter.
One issue I have found is the available 16" wheels are actually too
wide. I would rather have 6" or 6.5" width for a narrower tire,
205R65-16 is a popular size, and is available from Nokian in a proper
load range.
Check The Samba for detailed info.
Jon
On 5/1/2016 7:25 AM, Eric Caron wrote:
> Hi Steven,
>
> Add 16 or 17 inch to your considerations, and share the results. I’m stil running 14 inch.
>
> Eric Caron
>
>
>> On May 1, 2016, at 2:37 AM, Stephen Edwards <chibicyclist@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
>>
>> 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
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