Date: Tue, 24 Apr 2007 08:40:42 -0700
Reply-To: Jeff Michal <jeffmichal@YAHOO.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jeff Michal <jeffmichal@YAHOO.COM>
Subject: Re: Tires, just this one brand, not the whole thread...
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ascii
Don,
I have a 90 GL. When I got it, I found the previous owner had some crap passenger car white walls on it. I ditched them for Hanook 185R14's from BusDepot (BusDepot rocks). Sure it is a pain to order tires and have them installed, but the right tires at the right pressure made all the difference. If it is VERY windy (a week ago it was gusting to ~60mph here) I still get knocked around a fair amount, but so does everyone else in wind like that. I also have not been out on the road for a long trip, but it seems to do ok around big trucks, which I found was a serious problem on the old tires. It would shudder left and right really fast if I got too close to the back of a big rig. I am far from the most experienced person on this, but I would say to get correct load group d rated stiff wall tires and inflate them to the correct pressure (I use 37 lbs front, 44 lbs rear). Tire pressure may be your problem on your Wildcats. When I had the Hanooks installed, the garage
inflated them to 30 lbs, which is far far too low. The other consideration is adverse weather conditions, and I will say these Hanooks handle water and light snow fairly well. Whatever you do, make certain to get the correct load rating or you'll need one of those "if you can read this, please flip me over" bumber stickers that you see on Jeeps.
Jeff
90 GL
----- Original Message ----
From: VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Monday, April 23, 2007 2:19:27 PM
Subject: Re: Tires, just this one brand, not the whole thread...
Don,
A good friend of mine has those tires on his '85. We go out to the desert
all the time (think high winds) and he's never had any problems. Perhaps
the tires are not your problem...
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Don Hanson
Sent: Saturday, April 21, 2007 11:13 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Tires, just this one brand, not the whole thread...
Everyone who's commented (off list) on what I perceive as supersensitivity
to cross winds with my Vanagon says "Tires". But then they always
say..."but check the archives, that topic has been beat to death.." Well,
yeah, I guess there are lots of opinions about tires in the archives, for
sure. What I got from it (all the tire posts on the archives) was "you need
a stiff sidewall" "You need the proper weight load rating" and "Vanagons
are very particular about tires"...So when I got new tires, I carefully
wrote down all the specs from my bald Michelin M+S LTXs and went off to the
tire store, looking for identical numbers...Got some at Les Schwab, perfect
match on all the numbers...Should be good, right? Not so, apparently..
I guess I should have been a little leery when the guy behind the counter
said "Hey, I will sell you an almost brand new set in just that size for 1/3
off the list price, and give you a full new tire guarantee"..Hmmm, wonder
why he had a 'very slightly used' set of those on the racks?
Wildcat M+S LT radials..I have tried all kinda different pressures and
they are still like trying to "herd a pig" down the road when the wind is
gusty from the side..And on a grated bridge deck? Whoooie, scary as can
be....
I think I may have to test out that famous "satisfaction guaranteed" claim
by Les Schwab...maybe that guy will take em back and try to sell two
slightly used sets of vanagon-sized tires to the next sucker...Or am I just
being weird thinking an overgrown shoebox ought to not "careen down the
road" when it is windy?..I don't recall behavior like that with the old
Michelins..or at least not such alarming behavior that it makes driving on a
windy day a real chore rather than still somewhat fun..Gives new meaning to
"white knuckle driving" trying to keep between the lines on a windy, trucky,
crowded road..
Opinions? Comments?
Don Hanson
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