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-- 18lbs regular factory alloy rim
-- 21lbs the new "perfect 16" wheel" I found (reference http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/8672)
This compares with recent weights posted to the list of
-- 23lbs South Africa 15" steel wheel (according to John Wessels)
-- 23lbs South Africa 15" alloy wheel (according to Eric Abercrombie)
-- 28lbs Factory 16" Steel Wheel (according to Eric Abercrombie)
The weights above compare with a weight estimate of
-- 35lbs for a Stockton steel wheel in 16" size (www.stocktonwheel.com)
Meanwhile, just for the heck of it, I also weighed a BFGoodrich 27x8.50/14 tire and it came in at 26lbs. I called BFG and asked about weights, and they said the tire is rated to weigh 29.64lbs. Mine was worn, so this made sense. Interestingly, BFG said their 245/75/16 tire weighed 46.6lbs, an increase in weight of 17 lbs on each wheel over the 27 x 8.50/14 size. That's a BIG increase.
What does all this data show? Well, for one thing, I think that 35lbs for a steel wheel is pushing it. You don't need all that extra weight on the unsprung side of your springs with all these lighter weight options around. For another, that old factory alloy 14" wheel is starting to look pretty good weight-wise.
Also, it shows that the tire can contribute *much* more weight than the wheel. There is nothing much you can do about tire weight. 16" rims could theoretically cut down slightly on the rubber by shaving some of the sidewall off the tire, but this effect seems to have been lost in the case of the 245/75/16.
So from my own standpoint I am now looking at an increase in wheel/tire weight of about 50%, as follows:
--14" Alloys + 27x8.50/14 BFG: 18 + 29.64 = 47.64lbs (Eric Abercrombie reports his weighed 45lbs. so he must have had a slightly worn tire too)
--15" SA alloy with 215/75/15 Michelin LTX = 51lbs (Eric Abercrombie reports)
--16" factory steel 5.5" rims plus BFGs = 60lbs (Eric Abercrombie reports)
--16" Alloys + 245/75/16 BFG: 21 + 46.44 = 67.44lbs MY PLAN
--Stockton 16" steel wheels + 245/75/16 = est. 84lbs (including steel inner spacer)
Note that in looking through the old posts, I felt that Eric Abercrombie was our best wheel weigher (more weighing and more wheels).
I have no way to guess right now what shock will be suitable for an increase in wheel weight from 48lbs to 67lbs. Tim Smith warns us on this about ill effects of extra unsprung weight upon the shock valving. Possibly as Steve S. always says, it is time for us to investigate the M or N Boge shock or some other odd thing from South Africa.
As an aside, I measured the actual height of my 27x8.50/14 tires and the actual height of my 245/75/16 tires and came up with 26.5" and 30.5" respectively, a difference of 4". The actual ground clearance increase from the larger tire, then, (which is the point of the whole thing) is exactly 2 inches.
For a look at what the 16" wheel with 245/75 looks like, see http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/wheelandtireonvanwithhubcap.jpg. That shows the wheel mounted on the front of my van so yes, it is possible. For two more pictures, see http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfectwheel16s.jpg and http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfect16wheel.jpg Information about how to get one of these 16" wheels will go out after I have had a chance to test fit them on a 2WD tomorrow. After that, I will make a longer post regarding some of the technical issues with selecting a 16" wheel, comments about when to go with a 15" vs 16" wheel, and comments about suitable tire sizes. For those who have sent me wheel inquiries in the last two weeks regarding joining the 16" wheel purchase or 15" wheels, I will be emailing you the information in about a day or so and will provide technical information to the list. If this subject interests you and you have not yet emailed me, do so now.
________________________________________________________
Derek Drew New York, NY & Washington, DC
derekdrew@...
Email me for viscous couplings
'90 Syncro Westfalia...
...seen off-road at
http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/Syncro_Madness_Area.htm
Note: most valuable Vanagon sites on the planet (for owners) are:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/cgi-bin/wa.exe?S1=vanagon
http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro
http://www.vanagon.com
http://www.syncro.org
My refrigerator article:
http://www.vanagon.com/info/articles/Refrigerator/Reefer_Madness.htm
My article that shows how to deal with insurance companies:
http://gerry.vanagon.com/files/auto-insurance-madness.html
To view Wolfgang's incredibly informative wheel article
http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/fitbigtiresonvanagon.htm
To view Tim Smith's incredibly useful gearing calculator
http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/syncrotireandgearratios.xls
To view two articles about how to think about improving your gears at transmission rebuild time
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7207
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Syncro/message/7221
To view some 16" Trailing Arms that enable much larger tires see
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/syncro-org/files/Wheels%2C%20Tires%20%26%20Gearing/Wheel%20%26%20Tire%20Photos/16_Inch_Trailing_Arm.jpg
To view the only perfect 16" rim for T3 Vanagon Syncro see
http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfectwheel16s.jpg
http://users.rcn.com/derekdrew/vanagon/images/perfect16wheel.jpg
IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ALL SYNCRO OWNERS WHO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD:
You only get to change your ring and pinions once every 10 or 20 years
because that's how long the average syncro
transmission goes before its next rebuild. Start planning for 6.17 gears NOW!
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