Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 23:41:08 -0500
Reply-To: rrecardo@WEBTV.NET
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Robert Cardo <rrecardo@WEBTV.NET>
Subject: Re: Tire Technology vs Actual weight of loaded Van
In-Reply-To: "Larry Chase" <roadguy@roadhaus.com>'s message of Tue, 4 Oct 2005
20:37:51 -0700
Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII
<<<I certainly agree that Tire technology has changed in the last 14
years.
The Spec's VW defined and I have tried to present in an understandable
way, is about choosing a tire that will handle a fully loaded Vanagon's
weight.>>
Absolutely.
<<What a fully loaded Vanagon weighs now is the same as it weighed 14
years ago.>>
I agree
<<Contact a Tire Engineer, Experienced Tire technician ... any
knowledgeably
person in the Tire Industry.
Give them the actual loaded weight data of a Vanagon. >>
I did that.
<<Show them the data on the OE tires VW used and ask them to recommend
safe replacement tires.>>
I did that too, and have two sets of more than adequate, road hugging,
load supporting tires.
As I have mentioned several times in the past, I am using Kelly
Springfeild built for Discount tire 225 x70 R14's, rated for 1640 lbs.
each @ 40 psi.
They are 4 ply on the top and two ply of the sidewalls.
I take off ramps at 65 mph, and there is no wiggle, n feeling of losing
the Van into the boonies.
They take the ramps like the vehicle was on rails.
Excellent wet pavement traction, and they do well in the snow.
<<These are relatively heavy, narrow wheel base, tall Light Trucks.>>
OK--I agree or a top heavy station wagon wold be in order.
<<They need a tire that can handle 1580 lbs minimum with a stiff
sidewall.>>
Ok--I have more than that requirement, and I'll pass on the breaking my
back and the suspension truck tire's.
Been there already, and hated the ride, the handling, and the tire's
were actually a short lived venture.
The harder the tire, the worse wet pavement traction.
I might as well have had 4 ball bearings for tires in the wet or the
snow.
<<If you know of passenger car tires, with a reinforced sidewall that
can handle a minimum of 1580 lbs after application of the 9% rule ....
please share.>>
I did that already.
<<I'm not willing to ignore many years of VW research, accepted Tire
Industry and DOT guidelines and hard data for the sake of theory.>>
No theory here Lar.
I must think that these hoops warranted me to buy two sets of them.
They work well, and I'm very happy with all of the charactoristics of
the tire.
<<Please give us specifics, facts, data we can all understand.>>
I did that already.
Tires are like the difference between Charmin , and Kleenex toilet
paper.
What one product will do for one guy, it won't for the next, and visa
versa.
It's all personal preference regardless what that door sticker
publishes.
I have always run two or 3 sizes larger tires on any vehicle.
Not wheel size, tire size.
Why?
The larger the hoop the slower it turns, the better ride you get, ( more
cushion for the pushin' ) and the the handling of the vehicle I found to
be much better.
Radials were made to have the sidewalls flex to better the cornering
characteristics of the tire, and improve the overall ride, by taking the
shock load off from road and not transferring back on the chassis, and
the occupants.
After having a set of 8 ply tires on my Westy one time, and after
replacing all the gold crowns in my back teeth, the thrill was gone.
( and so were the tire's)
I really believe that there is a solution between a junk flexible flyer
K-Mart tire, and a high quality high spec'd automobile tire that will do
the job well without going to the LT 8 ply extreme.
This is my honest opinion.
