Date:         Tue, 11 Feb 2003 10:16:26 EST
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Yokohama 356 LT opinions
Comments: To: earthboy@ROGERS.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 2/11/03 8:40:52 AM, earthboy@ROGERS.COM writes:

<< Yokohama 356 LT 185/75 R14's.  . . .   Are they correct for the vanagon?
Handling? Wear? >>

I've used the Y 356 tires in the straight 185R14 size three times; once in
the C load range and twice D rated.  I ran the D rated tires on a 2WD and a
Syncro and the C's on a Syncro.  All were suitably rated for Vanagons.
Although the C's were a bit better, they all proved to be very harsh riding.

I was not impressed with the mileage they provided because every one wore out
much too soon on the edges while still having plenty of tread in the center.
When I first noticed the wear pattern, which is typical of an overinflated
tire, I took great care to make sure that they were always inflated properly.
 It made no difference.  Perhaps, dropping the pressure to less than the VW
spec would have helped but, I don't second guess the factory on these matters.

If you plan to use then in ANY amount of snow, forget about it.  On a 2WD,
they are a whore's nightmare at best and, while they will allow you to creep
through the white stuff in a Syncro it is with a great deal of uncertainty.

I became less than enamored with the task of changing tires with the seasons,
so, my solution was to run Hakkapeliitta's year round on a Syncro.  I can get
2 winters out of them even with running them on dry roads most of the time
and they are not at all bad on dry roads.

George