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You can see the wheels and the awning in it's storage position.
The wheels are 15" X 7" steel wheels purchased from Go-Westy. When we purchased them we were under the impression that they were 15" steel wheels made for the Vanagon. They really consist of the original 14" steel wheel centers that are removed and then welded into a special 15" inch rim that is made for this conversion. They are as strong as the original wheels, but because they use a special rim there is not enough clearance behind the wheel to use the big brake kits available for the Vanagon (bummer!). We wanted to use steel wheels for four reasons:
1. Steel wheels will bend with impact, but not break like alloy wheels.
2. With stock-type rims you can change the look of your van by
buying 4 new wheel covers.
3. If you rub a curb it's not such a big deal or expense.
4. Steel wheels are generally cheaper to buy.
The tires are Michelin Cross Terrain SUV tires size 225/70R15 that were purchased at Sam's Club (special order, but they had the best price). The tire technicians at Sam's Club agreed to mount and
balance the tires, but refused to install them because they weren't an approved size for our van. We had used The Tire Rack's website to thoroughly research these tires (size, load capacity, wet and dry
performance, wear rating, recommended rim size, etc) so we knew they would fit. We mounted them and they are probably the best tires we could have ever purchased for our van. They ride great with little road noise, and have very little sidewall flex in high crosswinds so the van tracks much straighter.
Needless to say, we are quite pleased with them and would highly
recommend them to anyone. When looking for tires on a Westy, load rating is very important. You shouldn't use car tires on a Westy
because they aren't made for the loads that they exert on a tire's
sidewall (lots of weight up high).
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