Date: Sat, 29 Jul 2023 16:41:58 -0700
Reply-To: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: David McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Friday privilege
In-Reply-To: <BL0PR05MB491606D6E59F83A63BE1D484A007A@BL0PR05MB4916.namprd05.prod.outlook.com>
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I have AAA, and have used it for tire changing at the roadside. It is more
time consuming than changing it oneself, but that big tow truck parked
there is a signal to oncoming traffic, perhaps. Interestingly, the owner's
manual for the ID.4 mentions in a number of different places the included
big orange triangle to post at the roadside for safety. But there wasn't
one in mine, and so I asked the dealer about it. He'd never heard of it.
I am going to ask at a higher level, since the owner's manual makes it
sound like one comes with the vehicle. I have two of those in my camper,
and have used them on more than one occasion, though never for a flat tire
-- never had one.
The ID.4 comes with roadside assistance, no charge. Did I say that? No
charge is a specifically covered free tow, or if within a certain distance
to an "Electrify America" charging station (free for 3 years) a free
roadside quick charge to get you to the station. I still have not charged
the battery myself, but will try that out later today. mcneely
On Sat, Jul 29, 2023 at 4:07 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
wrote:
> I had a 79 Porsche 924. The spare was collapsible. Inflated it was near
> full size and worked quite well.
>
> Cars not having spares is a combination of weight space, and of course
> cost. Next is safety. Roadside tire changing can be dangerous and it is
> restricted in many areas. A few years ago I was stopped changing a tire on
> the expressway. Had to have it towed off. With todays tires except for the
> smallest of punctures in the tread area they are not readily repairable.
> Driven any distance inflated they are quickly damaged. Plug and go is not
> an acceptable repair anymore. Dismount, inspect and internal plug-patches
> the best chance.
>
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> *From:* David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Saturday, July 29, 2023 6:50 PM
> *To:* Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> *Cc:* vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> *Subject:* Re: Friday privilege
>
>
>
> Yes, of course Dennis, I just put the wrong numbers in. 135 and 155 would
> be REALLY small tires for this beast! I will be talking with the VW dealer
> very soon about a spare. One problem with that is there is no stowage that
> would fit a spare. I might look into an aftermarket carrier, if that is
> possible. The car came with a "kit" to inflate a damaged tire with some
> goop that is supposed to seal. But the instructions say to drive no more
> than 50 miles with it, and then to get a new tire, discarding the damaged
> one. Kind of an expensive flat. Ironically, the car comes with free
> roadside assistance (3 years), and the roadside assistance description
> states that the assistance provider will replace a damaged tire with "your
> spare," but there is no spare.
>
>
>
> Well, I will have to get used to the "no rotation." I have always done
> it, learning from my father back in the 1950s, and from tire dealers ever
> since. In fact, many tire warranties REQUIRE periodic rotation and balance
> to maintain the warranty. The tires on the car are Kumho tires. I once
> had that brand on my Vanagon. (Got in the required mention!) The
> treadwear numerical value on these tires is 580, pretty high, but of
> course, that is just a number that the manufacturer assigns, and cannot be
> used to compare across brands.
>
>
>
> Ah, sorry for the long verbage. Thanks for your comments. mcneely
>
>
>
> On Sat, Jul 29, 2023 at 9:40 AM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Think you have a type, should be 235-55R19 front and 255-50R19 rear. For
> the most part these tires are the same diameter, (29”). Your rims are
> probably different widths. This is known as a “Staggard” fitment. For a
> spare you should be able to get a tire-wheel combination to match the
> diameter yet narrower width. Note that this vehicle is a bit heavy so tire
> fitment just like the Vamagon has to address the load carrying
> requirements. Note that while this a low series tire at 29” it is quite
> large with plenty of crush space to the rim. My truck is running
> 305/45-22’s. Just under 33” diameter.
>
>
>
> As for rotation to extend tire life I am not a staunch supporter of the
> concept. The down side is that there is a cost both in labor and the cost
> of consumables, the wheels and mounting hardware can only handle some
> number of cycles. Some vehicles you just plan on nut and stud replacements.
> Also, rotation can mask bad suspension design or condition. Trucks and
> busses don’t get tire rotations. You deal with each axle set as needed. As
> your car is primarily rear wheel drive the wider tires may offset the wear
> so they all get replaced together. Here in NY we have requirements for tire
> set replacement. If the difference is tread depth is more than 4/32 the
> new pair go on the back.
>
>
>
> Dennis
>
>
>
> *From:* David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> *Sent:* Saturday, July 29, 2023 11:36 AM
> *To:* Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> *Cc:* vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> *Subject:* Re: Friday privilege
>
>
>
> So Dennis, the tires are: Rear 155-50R19; Front 135-55R19. How much
> larger are the rears? I have never driven a car with different sizes front
> and rear before, Hand I always thought rotation was almost essential to
> produce even wear. Directional tires, so that full 4 wheel rotation
> wasn't possible originally surprised me. On my Vanagon, and always on cars
> when it was still possible, I stayed with a full sized spare, and rotated
> all 5. I even did that with a 1996 Honda even though the full-sized spare
> created a slight stowage problem in the trunk (tire too wide for the well
> it went in). Where am I wrong on these tire matters. Oh, and the thin
> sidewalls of today's tires give me pause when driving off pavement or on
> potholed city streets. I am not given to high speed cornering, so lean --
> supposed to be a reason for skinny sidewalls -- doesn't seem to affect my
> cars and me. mcneely
>
>
>
> On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 4:12 PM Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com>
> wrote:
>
> Congrats on you new vehicle. Yes a lot to get used. In a short time you
> will appreciate some of the driver automation and realize at some point how
> valuable some of it is even becoming dependent. My truck has actually
> changed some of my driving style and reacted to near misses before I even
> saw them.
>
> There are many reasons and advantages to the wheel/tire sizes with the
> rears being larger to prevent spin outs. The larger wheels with smaller
> tires reduce control loss after tire failures and allow for larger brakes.
> Larger brakes reduce maintenance and improve effectiveness for some of the
> automation including collision and skid avoidance.
>
> Have fun and enjoy!
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> On Behalf Of David
> McNeely
> Sent: Friday, July 28, 2023 2:28 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Friday privilege
>
> Well, there IS a shifter. One can choose between D or B, D being regular
> drive, and B being to activate regenerative braking. The B REALLY makes a
> difference, such that in normal street driving, the brake pedal is almost
> irrelevant. And of course, there are neutral and reverse positions. The
> "no key" is just like my Prius -- an electronic, keyless entry and start
> transmitter in a fob. All those options are things I have only begun to
> examine and try to understand. Lane control, choosing among "Eco,"
> "Comfort," "Sport,' or "Custom" driving modes. In eco, acceleration is
> somewhat curtailed. In sport, it is "Whoa, baby!" Comfort gives what to
> me with having experience with the Prius is a "normal" feel. Lots of
> things, some I haven't even read about yet. I really don't even know yet
> how to call up all the menus. Oh, interior "mood" lighting is kind of
> crazy, one of those things that VW must have stuck in to appeal to the
> youth. One can have soft or harsh lights of one's choice of colors. My
> wife chose blue, and that is comfortable. Some are almost like being at a
> rock concert.
>
> No spare tire, but I intend to get one. No jack, but instructions in the
> owner's manual for how to use one. What to me are crazy big wheels (19").
> I don't like having different tire sizes front & rear, can't be rotated.
>
> Lots to get used to. mcneely
>
> On Fri, Jul 28, 2023 at 11:00 AM kenneth wilford (Van-Again) <
> kenwilfy@comcast.net> wrote:
>
> > I drove one a few months ago and put my experience on my YouTube channel.
> > It seems like a good car if you want to not feel as alien as a Tesla.
> > Like VW went out of their way to make it seem familiar to VW drivers,
> > but at the same time, it is strange not having a shifter of any kind,
> > no key, very quiet, not crazy acceleration, and lots of options in menus
> on screens.
> >
> > Enjoy,
> >
> > Ken
> >
> > On Fri, Jul 28, 2023, 12:50 PM David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> >> I just bought (got it yesterday) a VW ID.4. It wasn't my first
> >> choice electric vehicle, that was the Hyundai Ionic5. But that one
> >> does not carry the $7500 tax rebate, and the ID.4 does. For those
> >> claiming that electric vehicles are not available, the dealer here in
> >> Spokane (Autonation) had 17 on the lot this week. I got my first
> >> choice of all trims and so on.
> >>
> >> Wow! This vehicle comes with a very high learning curve. Luckily
> >> for me, it is driveable without turning on all the "assists," as
> >> getting accustomed to them will take a lot of getting used to. But
> >> as I drove it home yesterday, I sure enjoyed passing by the gas
> >> stations and noting what I won't have to do. Not changing oil is
> >> another biggy. Oh, and I paid well under MSRP. The dealership had
> >> already put an "incentive" on the price, and readily accepted my
> >> substantially lesser offer.
> >>
> >> I still want a Buzz, and will perhaps get one if I can see my way to
> >> converting it to a camper, and the range increases to make that
> practical.
> >>
> >> mcneely
> >>
> >
>
>
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