Date:         Sat, 19 May 2001 21:45:42 EDT
Reply-To:     JKrevnov@aol.com
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@aol.com>
Subject:      Re: Tires, Load Range and Pressure
Comments: To: andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
Content-Type:  text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 5/19/01 8:09:22 PM, andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz
writes:

<< Manufacturers' rated pressures are usually set for what they believe people
will consider comfortable. Which is normally rather less than ideal for
handling.  >>

There is a point of diminishing returns with everything.  Yesterday I had new
rubber mounted and an alignment on my Syncro.  Since I try to stick with the
manufacturer's specs, I told Jimmie-the-alignment-guy to put 40 psi in the
front and 48 psi in the rear.  This morning I checked the tire pressures and
found 50 front, 62 rear!  That explained why I felt like I was an ant riding
atop a ball bearing while I was driving home yesterday.  One side benefit of
those few extra pounds of tire pressure was that I didn't have to steer; I
would just look in the direction I wanted to go and the car would go there on
its own.

Rich