Date:         Tue, 26 Feb 2002 17:08:10 -0700
Reply-To:     "Richard A. Jones" <jones@COYOTE.COLORADO.EDU>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Richard A. Jones" <jones@COYOTE.COLORADO.EDU>
Subject:      Re: Tires one more time.
Comments: To: developtrust@COX.NET
Content-Type: TEXT/plain; charset=us-ascii

William Polowniak wrote:

>>It would be a waste to change new tires now and they will obviously last for
>>years @ about 10,000 miles per year.

William:

Think harder!  ;-)

As I wrote after the Baja Syncro Safari, if you are blasting along
Highway 1 at 60+ mph and you have a blowout, or even a flat, you'd
pay anything to turn back time and put better tires underneath you.

See: http://coyote.colorado.edu/jones/Baja/pix/roll1dx-9a.jpg
to remind yourself that Baja roads have no shoulder, no place to
pull off, no margin for error--and no AAA.  You've been there
and know that.  Any the potholes are probably worse now, anyway.

One thing I DIDN'T worry about in Baja was tires since I had 5 newish
Michelin Agilis 51s--185R14.  They are smooth, solid, and quiet.
I drove my Syncro all summer and fall on Goodyear Eagle GT IIs
and the sidewalls were taking a beating on backroads because they
are not stiff enough and flex too much.  I think they are LI 93
and the Agilis are 99.

Easy driving around town is one thing, but if you want a trouble-free
trip far from home, you have to prepare for it.  By far from home I
mean http://coyote.colorado.edu/jones/Oct2001/Oct01/roll1dx-25.jpg.
Remember Murphy's 3rd law: nature always sides with the hidden flaw.

                                Richard A. Jones
                                Boulder, Colorado
                                '81 Vanagon  Mr Bus
                                '87 Syncro Westy   El Jefe