Date: Wed, 25 Dec 2013 20:01:16 -0800
Reply-To: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Scott Daniel <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: Tire observation
In-Reply-To: <BAY406-EAS1148576B9D8DA2661CF1C7BA0C20@phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
lol..
you should drive a 59 Corvette then.
I took care of one for an older couple for a number of years.
'the very worst' steering you could imagine..
high effort , vague etc.
That retro-fit 'add on' electric PS system from the UK I mentioned in
another post would probably help.
you did write 'last breed of vehicle' ..
you didn't say non-sports or massively abundant production numbers , you
said 'vehicle' and that's a huge generalization I think is worth
objecting to,
as readers with less car overview might believe it like it's gospal.
I'm sure thouasands of Porsche owners would object to being classified
'a limited few purists.'
tell me ..what car has been in continuous production and development
longer than any other car model or type on the planet ?
( not to mention countless racing victories...endless variations of the
type...even customer dedicated track versions )
The Porsche 911 ..first appeared in 1963 I think . Didn't they just
celibate the 50th Anniversary of the 911 ?
They did actually.
that hardly qualifies as 'a few limited purists.'
you have an 88 Fox ? ...I am so sorry !! lol :-)
I'll put my 88 up against it any time.
Inga is a 740 volvo turbo sedan of that year, a true factory hot rod /
performance special version.
Oh .............AND Inga is far happier, and much less
too-tall-geared, and more nimble handling in every way with the
Studdless Winter Blizzacsk I got for her in winter, size 185/65 R 15
...than she is with the 195/60 R15 H rated tires that are stock.
the car sucks with 195/60 R 15 tires on ..too harsh, and silly high
geared. Might be all right for going 100 mph ..but for 65 to 75ish mph
range they suck. l
the smaller ones though, without such a high speed rating....much better
gearing, and far more nimble handling.
Night and day difference.
The winter tires are just great. Better ride, everything is better.
I know bigger tires are attractive and fun ..and I've done it too,
and they can help in some ways sometimes.
Bigger is not always better though.
Bigger tires in rain hydrplane easier ..with more surface area they want
to ski on top of the water more easily.
A narrow tire with smaller footprint ( but same weight on it ) would
resist hydroplanning better than a larger tire with a bigger footprint,
generally speaking.
if you want your car to ski on top of puddles on road surfaces ..which
still happens sometime..
put on bigger tires with a larger contact area.
and hey...it'll steer easier too ! ( with the smaller tires ..less
tendency to ski on top of water, easier steering ..sounds good to me ! )
I don't know man.
S.
On 12/25/2013 5:35 PM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
> Let's not compare a "purpose" built vehicle destined for a limited few
> purists to main stream market vehicles. There are folks that still pull all
> the accessories out of sports cars including Camaros and Mustangs. I have an
> 88 fox and anyone who drives it complains about the lack of power steering
> when the have to park it. Yes my fault for upgrading the tires from
> 155/80-13 to 185/60-14. However no way will I go back to the original size
> for highway use especially in wet weather. My wife and I have use the
> "Armstrong" power steering system.
>
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> From: Scott Daniel [mailto:scottdaniel@turbovans.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, December 25, 2013 6:41 PM
> To: Dennis Haynes; vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tire observation
>
>
>
> How long did the Porsche 911 go in production before they finally put on
> power steering ?
>
> it's easy to search.
>
> from Wikipedia .
>
> The first 964s available in 1989 ..................
> Power steering and ABS
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-lock_braking_system> brakes were added
> to the 911 for the first time; both were standard.
>
> The 911 did without PS uo to 89.
> The majority of Vanagons had power steering by 1985.
>
> Vanagons "amongst the last breed' ...sure, as fair statement.
>
> if you keep the original type tires on a non-PS vanagon ..
> which can be tallish 14 inchers...they'll do pretty wellout the PS.
>
>
>
>
> On 12/25/2013 11:46 AM, Dennis Haynes wrote:
>
> In general a low traction-rolling resistance tire will also require less
> steering effort. The two attributes do work together. There are exceptions
> especially with the change to higher performance low profile tires. Here
> they can increase traction and handling and also reduce rolling resistance.
> However wider tires can still increase steering effort. The Vanagon is
> probably amongst the last breed of vehicle available without power steering.
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Don Hanson
> Sent: Tuesday, December 24, 2013 1:05 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Tire observation
>
> I recently swapped my 14" tires. I put my older Nokian Hakkapelitta C mud
> and snow on the front, replacing Hankook RAO 8s that were even more worn
> than the hakkas. This greatly increased the effort to steer at parking
> speeds. I have no power steering. I have decent arm strength, but I now
> find it quite a chore to turn the wheels without any movement of the van,
> where with the RAO 8s, it was much easier. I have about 43psi (dunno how
> many Barrs that is) in the tires. Once rolling and at higher speeds, the
> Hakkas steer and track just fine.
>
