Date:         Tue, 23 Sep 2003 06:13:19 EDT
Reply-To:     THX0001@AOL.COM
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
Subject:      Re: WANTED: winter tires / Summer Must Be Over
Comments: To: mst@AK.NET
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

In a message dated 9/23/03 1:49:44 AM, mst@AK.NET writes:

<<  195/60R14 will be a slightly lower profile than you currently have, thus
lowering your ride height approx. 12.5mm(roughly 1/2in). Your speedometer will
slightly less accurate, but this is easily an acceptable size to run. >>

The diameter of a 195/60R14 tire is nearly 3 inches less than the diameter of
a 185R14.  Hardly a difference without consequence.  In my experience, the
taller the tire, the better it performs in snow and over the inevitable pot hole
ridden roads of spring.  So, I never use tires with an aspect ratio in their
stated size.

Also, I do not have them studded because the few instances when I could use
studs do not justify the hours that I have to live with their shortcomings.

I totally agree with Mark that the most important ingredient in this mix is
what kind of brain is controlling that foot on the throttle.  In the winter, it
is always amusing to me when I pass a ditched SUV with a soccer mom
frantically calling for help on her cell phone right after she blew past me because I
was holding up her Mission from God.

George