Date:         Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:16:45 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Significant improvment: Less wind deflection
Comments: To: Mark Drillock <drillock@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To:  <46EB013C.4020102@earthlink.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

RE: Tires Pressures
I'm going to jump in with Mark on this one also.  I realize I'm responding
late, just back from three weeks on the road, 2600+ miles, on a brand new
set of tires.
I ran a set of Agilis 185R14's for better than 30k miles on my '90 Westy,
just replaced with a set a Nokian Hakkapilita CS in 185R14.  Only replaced
early because those new tires are usually out of stock by the 1st of October
here in the US but were available in August.
When I got the Agilis nearly six years ago I experimented with various
pressure combinations for the first two months I was driving on them.
Surprise, the factory recommended 43 front and 53 rear gave the best ride
and handling.  After 30k miles w/rotation every 3-4k the wear was even
across the tread on all four.  So, I set the new Nokians at 43 front and 53
rear then set off on a three week trip,  Virtually every mile on secondary
roads, about 10 mountain passes in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana
(went to Glacier).  Surprise, the handling was superb, the ride great.  And
I drove the length of the Columbia Gorge and all over eastern Washinton.  If
you want to test in cross winds you should have been along.  Again,
surprise, stable as all hell.  You feel the wind but very controllable.
Gee, should I think that those German engineers might actually know
something about the vehicles they design and build?  Yes, I think so.....