Date: Fri, 10 May 2002 03:23:14 -0500
Reply-To: "Terry K." <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Terry K." <CTONLINE@WEBTV.NET>
Subject: Re: wind blown blues (was tires)
In-Reply-To: Mark Dorm <mark_hb@HOTMAIL.COM>'s message of Fri, 10 May 2002
00:21:49 -0700
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=ISO-8859-1
Yep, The Air Lift's do help a bunch, and I also have them on my
Westy--as well as on my GL.
In a matter of fact the Air Lift addition, was one of the first things I
did to the Westy, other than change the oil---
You have to understand, that these flat, slab sided, rolling billboards,
catch every small gust of wind, be it from mother nature, or
Peterbuilt------
Stiff tires help, good shocks help, a good alignment helps, Air bags
help, any suspension modification will assist in causing the Van to go
straight--but there is just so much a guy can do to correct an inherent
design misgiving-----especially in inclement driving conditions---
I loaded up both my vans with all that I could possible do to correct
this flaw---but the truth of the matter is---there is just
so much you can do to, and that's it----
They never will handle like they are on RR tracks-----especially in a
cross wind.
Later,
Terry
E-mail message
I've taken this out of the archives, Terry, where I read that you had
your air lift connected
Item #141626 (22 Feb 2001 11:01) - More on Air Lift Kit
From: Gary Stearns <gstearns@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: More on Air Lift Kit
Hi-
My recently installed Air Lift kit seems to be helping the "wind blown
blues" of us Vanagon owners. I was pretty sure that the list wisdom was
that the only way to reduce this problem was with even heavier LT tires.
Well, I'm here to tell you... the almost March winds in the Northeast
that used to have me say " nah, let's take the Jetta, it's too windy",
won't be doing that anymore. I still feel the gusts for sure, but they
don't blow me half into the next lane as they used to. Haven't figured
out the physics yet but it's a nice improvement. Don't connect the left
and right side plumbing into one!! You lose all of the roll stiffness
benefit!
>From: "Terry K."
>
>Let me tell you this-----
>
>I don't care if you had solid struts for shocks---and tracks for the
>Van----
>
>If a Mack blew past you at any speed, it would try and suck in the
>rolling 4x8 plywood box---
>
>I have all new shocks--had a all wheel alignment,and running the Yoko
>356-D's--and the thing still blows around---
>
>Had one hell of a wind here today--and the Westy still blow's around in
>gust's-----
>
>Just about the same as my GL with jipo Cooper's on it--
>
>Not quite as bad--but close---
>
>I think the HD tire thing is a fallacy---
>
>E-mail message
>
>
>Almost forgot... how are these in a wind? Or when Mack Trucks drive
by
>you?
>
> >From: CTONLINE@webtv.net (Terry K.)
> >
> >I'm sure the D rating has to be a heavier duty tire than the C
> >rating----
> >
> >I believe its the way the steel cord's are woven that make's a big
> >difference---
> >
> >I went to Costco last weekend and their brand X tire's were more than
>the
> >Yoko's, and were only C rated---
> >
> >I don't know how many miles the Yoko 356 D's-- 185's that are
presently
> >on the Van have--but it's due--and I ordered them from Discount
> >tire---and they matched Tire racks price of $61.00, and their store
is
>3
> >blocks from me---so no big deal for getting them mounted and
balanced--
> >
> >I like what's on the Van now----I just went up one size----I wanted
> >225's, but the tire isn't available in that size---so 195's will have
>to
> >do----
> >
> >Yep--I like them much better than Florida---
> >
> >Have you ever heard of Armstrong tire's?
> >
> >I think they are kaput---but I had several vehicle's with them on
--and
> >I'll tell you they were the best tire's for ride, milage, and all
> >weather handling I have ever had----
> >The Yoko's are second to them---
> >
> >I just can't locate them anymore---
> >
> >
> >Later,
> >
> >Terry
> >
> >
> >E-mail message
> >
>
> >That's funny you should say that cause I just saw
>
>http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Compare1.jsp?startIndex=0&vehicleSearch=true&width=185%2F&ratio=0&diameter=14&sortCode=34200&minSpeedRating=R&ratio=&width=185%2F&diameter=14&minLoad=Reinforced&search=true&pagelen=20&pagenum=1&pagemark=1&manufacturer=Continental&manufacturer=Michelin&manufacturer=Yokohama
> >and I was noticing there are three different yokohama options of the
Y
> >356:
> >C, C with RBL, and D (where RBL is raised black lettering).
> >And then I noticed the big price difference between them and the
> >Michelin Agilis...
> >So you like them better than Florida? I wonder if the D have a
tighter
> >turn than the C?
> >
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