Date:         Sun, 16 Apr 2000 11:58:10 -0400
Reply-To:     John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Anderson <jander14@WVU.EDU>
Subject:      Re: tire pressure for BFGs on Syncro Westy
In-Reply-To:  <b6.3d18052.262a9564@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

>I run 44 psi fronts/48 rears with BFG AT/TA 215/75/15 s on my Syncro
>Westy(Wolfsburg-slightly lighter than GL)

Well, I'll be a dissenter, as the 27x8.5 is WIDER than the 205 and
much wider than a 185, and as I don't see the load having changed
in any of these vans, I run my 27x8.5 Firestones at about 36/44, more
than the VW recc for the 205 was (lower than the 185 recc) and more
than enough for me.  This is not in a Syncro Westy though.

As I've mentioned before the van handles "like it was on rails" and
the tires have worn beutifully.  I occasionally bump them up a bit
if I have heavier loads, I notice no undue heating of the tires and
believe me, sidewall bulge is no way to judge pressure (many, many
moons ago on my first car a '78 diesel Rabbit I filled the fronts to 70
psi when I had no gage to get the "bulge" where I thought it looked
right by eye.)  I don't think comfort would be affected by higher pressures
but they get a bit noisier IMHO and don't handle as well from my POV.

John
jander14@wvu.edu