Date:         Sun, 1 May 2016 16:49:07 -0500
Reply-To:     Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Ralph Meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tires! 15" or 14"?
Comments: To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY180-DS19BD8F25D896AB7FD23663A0780@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8

I'm happy with my 215/75/15 bfg all terrains. I wanted more ground
clearance and the tire availability of 15"
On May 1, 2016 8:40 AM, "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> If you're going to invest in wheels go directly to 16 or 17. Many more
> choices maintain reasonable diameters and lets you get onto fully modern
> performance tires. 15 inch is very limited as there are only a few tires
> with adequate load capacity unless you are looking to go tall.
>
> Otherwise you can follow what the factory did beginning with the 87 model
> year and go to a 205/70-14 XL. The XL is the imporatant part. You need the
> 98 load index. These are hard to find but there are some good ones
> available especially from some Asian companies.   Amazon has some great
> offerings. 38 psi front and 42-48 rear will work very well with these.
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
> Of Stephen Edwards
> Sent: Sunday, May 01, 2016 2:37 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Tires! 15" or 14"?
>
> 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
>