Dear David,

Actually, using the "stock" Vanagon 14" 5.5" rim with 35mm offset with a
195R14 tire, its outline WOULD FIT ENTIRELY *INSIDE* THE OUTLINE OF THE
205/75 14 WITH 6" RIM (indicated in grey on my diagram)!!!!!

In other words -- VW engineers determined that when using a wider width
rim, moving the tire towards the OUTSIDE was acceptable/preferable to
allowing the tire to move towards the inside, even a little bit.

This is why the "ideal" offset matrix for the Vanagon would be:

5.5" rim -- 35mm offset (195mm-205mm tires)

6.0" rim -- 31mm offset (205mm-215mm tires)

6.5" rim -- 27mm offset (215mm-225mm tires)

7.0" rim -- 23mm offset (225mm-235mm tires)

NOTE that the above offsets are INDEPENDANT of the diameter of the rim!!

It applies equally true to 14", 15" and 16" rims!

Cheers,

MJS

At 07:02 PM 2/14/00 -0800, David Marshall wrote:

>>>>

<excerpt>Michael,

</excerpt>Neat diagram, FYI the stock 16" Vanagon wheel is ET 35mm and
5.5" wide...  not that we approaching Audi or MB wheel offset (ugh!) but
it is an interesting point to bring up.

<<<<<<<<

<bold>Michael J. Sullivan

</bold>Marshfield Hills, MA

Central America 2001 or bust!

'87 VW Vanagon GL Syncro Westfalia "Sunny" (soon to be TDi-powered)

'89 Audi 200 Turbo Quattro Wagon "Wizard" (soon to be for sale)

'96 VW Passat TDi "Teddi" (46mpg)

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