Date:         Fri, 18 Mar 2005 22:42:13 -0500
Reply-To:     John Reddick <SVYOLO@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Reddick <SVYOLO@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Another Stupid Tire Thread..was Re: 15" Wheel/Tire Report -
              Caution

I have had 3 Vanagon's (1 synchro), 2 Bay windows, and 10 sets of
tires. I have had 2 unsafe sets of cheap pax car tires that sucked.  I have
had Goodyear LTX m+s, Michelin X, MXT, XCA, Hydroedge (16"), and one set of
Pirellis that I cannot remember the model.  All of them up to and including
the MXT's made me think vanagons and bay windows were just horrible handling
vehicles.  The XCA's, which I still have and are wonderful (and for sale
cheap) compared to all that came before.  They are only bad in the snow.
The VW van "dance" went away with them.  I then read GOWESTY's tire theory
and could not have agreed more.  I purchased a set of their 16 inch wheels
and Hydroedge tires.
     What a revelation. The van (2wd Westy) is now firmly planted to the
earth, wet or dry or snow.  Great steering feel, and better stability than
even the XCA's.
     Vanagon's, IMHO, require reinforced tires in 14 by skinny wheel sizes.
 Larger and wider wheels coupled with tires removes the restriction for
reinforced tires.  Vanagons, compared with newer vehicles, are very light.
My 2wd Westy SVX weighs probably 3700 lbs empty.  This is less than many mid
size cars.  It is significantly less than any full size car.
     I may try some different tires on my synchro but it will definitely be
in 16" or at least 15 by 6.5.
     The problem is not the tires per se.  It is the rediculous set of
skinny wheels that VW spec'ed for the vans.  Most of the world uses VW vans
as commercial vehicles.  They also have a wide selection of comparable small
commercial vehicles running around on small wheels and therefore have a
better selection of tires available.

     Just my opinion based on 250,000 miles in VW vans,vanagons. 230,000 of
those were on tires that sucked.

     John
     87 Westy SVX (16")
     86 Sycnhro (gonna be 16")
     91 GL (undecided, maybe for sale)