Date:         Thu, 8 Jun 2000 09:14:37 -0700
Reply-To:     Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject:      Re: tire pressure
Comments: To: byard <bluedove@kfalls.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Let's be careful here about calling Joel's 80% an '80% rule'.
As far as I know it is not a rule.
We're talking a safety issue here and people may be reading these posts for
years to come...
If you want to know the minimum pressure, ask the tire dealer ... not for
his idea... but for the manufacturer's chart of pressures vs. wieghts... ask
to see a print out.

BTW, I have been close to the minimum pressures for years (tires with
recommended or better load range) and have had no problems or blow outs... I
like the comfort and feel better about less jarring to all those van parts.

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "byard" <bluedove@kfalls.net>
To: "Bill Davidson" <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>; <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 9:12 AM
Subject: Re: tire pressure


> I like the "80% rule", but I usually go to 85%.
>
> Maybe it's not what one is "supposed" to do, but I've been told the "book"
> pressures are a compromise between comfort and performance, and I've
always
> found the "book" pressure resulted in heavy handling and an admittedly
> softer ride.
> I prefer the feel of higher pressures, and I've never had a tire problem
in
> 40 years of driving this way.
>
> ----------
> > From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: tire pressure
> > Date: Thursday, June 08, 2000 8:28 AM
> >
> > > It is, as Joel says, a matter of intelligently adjusting based on what
> > feels
> > > good for that particular tire.  Les Schwab, the chain I bought my
Kumho
> > 852s
> > > at, filled them all to 35 psi, which felt too loose.
> >
> > Larry,
> > Feel is important... to a point... and that is the minimum allowable
tire
> > pressure. If you want to know that number the tire dealer should be able
> to
> > provide that information. I had some tires on my SUV and it felt too
> > stiff.... the dealer brought up the information on his computer (or
> called
> > the tire distributor, I forget which) and he gave me a chart the listed
> tire
> > pressures for the weight of my vehicle.... this method of determining
> > minimum pressure may be more accurate that Joel's suggestion of 80% of
> > maximum pressure listed on the tire's side wall.
> > Bill
> > 90 Westy Syncro
>