Date:         Mon, 23 Mar 1998 19:41:13 -0600
Reply-To:     Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Budd Premack <bpremack@WAVETECH.NET>
Subject:      Re: 87 West is unstable in wind
Comments: To: brad horner <crud@DNET.NET>, Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

I just finished a 4500 mile trip MN-CA in my 86 Syncro and agree that
crosswinds and truck turbulence are a real bear!

The trip was taken with new 185 R14 Bridgestone light truck rated tires, 6
ply, at 52 psi.  They are high and narrow, but my tire guru indicated that
they are the factory original size for Vanagons.  They seemed to be more
sensitive to crosswinds than my old (undersized) 185/70 R 14 Michelin XZX
treads (although I had not taken the Syncro across the windswept prairie
previousy).  The front end, shocks and other suspension components of my
Syncro are all in fine shape.

Am I just expecting too much lateral stability in a high sided vehicle, or
would other tires likely have done better in crosswinds of 20-40 mph.
Maybe my arms and shoulders just got tired fighting the winds after 100-200
miles of severe crosswinds.
(If you only drive out East, you likely do not face these winds for such
extended periods.)  Replies from Listees in the Great Plains or Alaska are
particularly solicited.

It should be noted that I had no stability problems with headwinds or with
sustained cruising at 75+ mph in those areas where crosswinds weren't an
issue.

Budd Premack
87 Wolfsburg, 84 Vanagon (son's),  86 Syncro (for sale?)
73 Super, 64 Bug
Minneapolis, MN