Date:         Tue, 4 Oct 2005 15:24:58 +1300
Reply-To:     Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Tire Guidelines Report
In-Reply-To:  <20051003132810.53145.qmail@web30213.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset=us-ascii

>--- Andrew Grebneff <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
>>  Your Vanagon is a car, Larry.

That wasn't me, that was a snip from the posting I was agreeing with.

>My testimonial is that when I bought my 91 syncro westy, it had
>passenger tyres on it.  The was
>very squirmy on the road, especially corners and cross winds.  When
>I switched to LT tyres, it
>handled much better, to the point that when my PO mechanic drove it,
>he thought that I'd re-done
>the suspension and added anti-sway bars.  LT tires made a big,
>positive difference in my (and
>larry's ?) 5,000 lbs syncro westy.  Malcolm (Halifax)

There are different passenger-car tires. Why assume that one type
will be the same as all? Poor-quality tires will give oddball
handling. This may not be due so much to sidewall flex (though
high-profile tires will flex more than low-profile) as to poor tread
design and/or grip... again, poor-quality tires may last a long time,
but will slip under accelerations of any kind.

Fit GOOD-quality car tires with suitable load rating and see the
difference! Best are low-profile with larger-diameter wheels, say
plus-2 (16" or plus-3 (17")... not everyone will want to go to plus-4
(18"). Again, good-quality low-profile tires need not cause a harsh
ride.

Of course those who want to go up 4WD tracks would need to be careful
where they put the tires... or stick to truck or offroad tires...
with, of course, the serious compromises both engender. My Hiaces
have had LT tires, and the handling is uninspiring to say the least.
If I need to replace them, guess what I'll be fitting? (and yes, on
occasion I do go way up 4WD tracks and crosscountry in the search for
fossil sites).

>This should dispel any myth that larger wheels or newer tires obviate the
>need for an extra-load tire on a VW van.

No myth. There are car tires of low profile with the correct load
rating. These are more than fine for any van. And they virtually
eliminate sidewall flex/tread squirm.

>What we need is input from our South African friends as to what THEIR
>Vanagons/Caravelles/Transporters/Microbuses had as recommended tire
>pressure. Especially on those equiped with the 15" wheels. After all
>those were made up till 2002.

And all those enthusiasts in Germany running fast hot T2s with 18"
wheels with 30%  CAR tire profiles.

>  > This is now, and tire's have come a long way in construction,
>compounds,

Exactly.
--
Andrew Grebneff
Dunedin
New Zealand
Fossil preparator
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut

HUMANITY: THE ULTIMATE VON NEUMANN MACHINE

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