Date:         Tue, 4 Oct 2005 11:08:20 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike Collum <collum@VERIZON.NET>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon Tire Guidelines Report
In-Reply-To:  <007201c5c8eb$d76f1be0$0a0ba8c0@RON>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

When I got my '84 (back in '91) it had passenger tires and handled
poorly, though I didn't know it then.  It was hard to steer at extremely
low speeds, too ... like when trying to park (standard steering).

Years later, when new tires were needed, I fitted it with the proper
load range Hakkas.  WHAT A DIFFERENCE!  It felt like it had power
steering, by comparison, and the "Vanagon Dance", when being passed by
large trucks, was greatly reduced.

Later, when I bought my '85 Westy, it had passenger tires and I had
planned to replace them before starting my trip from Virginia, where I
bought it, up to Maine.  However, 280 miles after I picked it up, the
big head gaskets blew and I had to reseal them, along with other needed
work.  The tires would have to wait .... BAD DECISION.  When I was 50
miles from home the left rear tread separated from the tire completely,
bending the metal aft of the wheel flat up against the underside of the
van.  The tires were aired to their maximum rating but still had that
"low" appearance to them and had, in my estimation, been running hot on
the freeway due to sidewall flex.  After getting it home, I put Hakkas
on it, too, and now all is well.  I will never put standard passenger
car tires on either of them again ... that's for sure.

Mike
Houlton, Maine
'84 GL 7 pass
'85 GL Westy