Need feeback of Go Westy 16's on a stock syncro westy

[zippyslug31]

(Sorry for starting yet another wheel thread, but felt this one was specific enough, so.... Mods feel free to toss it in the bit bucket if you feel this is redundant.)

Would love to hear any real world experiences from those running Go Westy's 16" 8-hole alloys w/ BFGs ala these:
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=4303&category_id=370&category_parent_id=

From Go Westy's site:

[Phishman068]

I have 225/70/16 tires on Mefro steel rims. So the offset may make a difference for fitment issues.
I will speak only on driving based things that would be similar.

I LOVED the gearing change. I think it's an IMPROVEMENT. 3rd gear becomes a great cruising gear with 4th as more of an overdrive. If you're on the highway and hit a big hill, downshifting to 3rd allows you to maintain power. Without the big tires, you'd stay in 4th and just loose power.
The handling is great and the look is the best i can ask for.
I have Audi Big brakes, which I think are very necessary with any big wheel/tire combo and they stop the car better than stock with stock wheels.

Keep in mind there may be some additional wear on all systems by having the bigger/heavier combos.
My engine turned into a 3 cylinder 500 miles after I started running these....
To be fair, it was an engine of unknown condition that had just sat for 13 years.... so i can't really attribute it to the wheels/tires.

[Jon_slider]

> currently running factory alloys with BFG 27x8.50R14;

that tire is 5% larger than stock, and makes your gearing that much taller, 5%

> the two GW offerings are fairly close

they are significantly taller than your current gearing, you will be using 3rd gear a lot more on hills than you do now.. That means on the freeway you will risk being passed by semi trucks.. seriously.

Yes, Im biased against tall gearing and weak motor combinations in heavy Vans, such as syncro westies. It might help to know if Phishman068 drives a syncro westy, or just a 2wd hardtop?

the 215x70x16 is 10% taller than stock, that is usually the limit of what people tolerate in terms of gearing performance loss, in order to gain some ground clearance

the 225x70x16 is 12% taller than stock
a 5.43 ring and pinion is 12% shorter than a stock 4.86

that is why GoWesty is telling not to do the 225 with your 4.86. Listen to GoWesty, they know what they are talking about.

I believe stock gearing is best, especially with a stock motor, and even more especially if you drive in mountains, or above 5000 feet

You are already at the biggest tire you can fit in the stock spare clamshell, have you thought about where you will put your spare wheel, if you go to 16" rims?

[86syncrowesty]

215 and Mefro's, stock gearing with Sub 2.5L. I noticed a changed at high-altitude (10K plus) here in Colorado. But a recent trip to Texas I was able to pull 75 mph (speed limit) very comfortably up to 4-5,000 ft ele.
_________________
1986 Vanagon -- Syncro, Westy
2.5L Subaru

[Jon_slider]

stock waterboxer 95 horsepower
subaru 2.5L 165 horsepower

in gas motors torque numbers are almost identical to horsepower numbers

so the 2.5 Subaru has 73% more power than the 2.1 Waterboxer

the 215 tires cost 10%, so the subaru 2.5 with 215 tires has 63% more power than a stock waterboxer with stock tires.

but the stock waterboxer also loses 10% with the bigger tires, so it ends up at 85 horsepower, while the subaru is kicking it with 155 ponies

each 1000 feet of altitude costs 3.5%, so at 5000 feet, you lose 17.5% of your power, and at 10000 feet you lose 35%

so a 2.5 subie at 10000 feet with 215x70x16 tires is handicapped by 45%, putting it at about 91 horsepower.. weaker than a stock waterboxer at sea level, on stock tires..

the OP has a stock motor, I think the 215x70x16 is a bad idea, and the 225 even worse

[Phishman068]

I have an '87 sunroof syncro with a full westy interior and constantly fully loaded. It weights at least what a westy weights.
Factory engine.
As I said, I substantially prefered the gearing.

[zippyslug31]

[j_dirge]