Date: Wed, 21 Apr 1999 07:54:40 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: Tire thread - my mechanic disagrees
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
My suspicion would be that it's liability. The US is such a litigious?
society that anything manufactured for us is labeled well under its true
ability. If a tire is capable of holding 1500 lbs, some idiot will push it
to 1600 and sue when it blows.
BTW, I think most of the posts on the tire issue are missing the boat. My
concern on the LT, C, and D rated tires vs. passenger rated tires is not
that they catastrophically lose a sidewall and kill us all (it could happen,
but probably won't). We have a ton of anecdotal evidence that folks use
passenger tires on their Vanagons (even Westy's) and have survived.
My concern is much more one of the feel of the van as I'm driving down the
highway and especially in twisty, turny roads. With passenger tires I ill
advisedly had installed many, many miles ago, The van never felt very
secure; kinda like a tuna boat with loose cargo. Now, with LT tires, the
van goes where I point it with no squirming.
Is safety an issue? Of course, but ride comfort and security is just as
important a reason to have the right tires for the vehicle.
Karl Wolz
-----Original Message-----
From: Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Wednesday, April 21, 1999 7:32 AM
Subject: Re: Tire thread - my mechanic disagrees
>I stopped by my tire dealer to check if they had anything for my Syncro,
but
>that's another story. While waiting for service, I noticed a poster from
>Uniroyal, which explained all the different markings on the side of the
>tires. There was one interesting thing about load and pressure. Example:
>
>>I have Goodyear Wrangler Aquatred 205-70 14
>>The tires are rated at 1554 lbs. .
> What this Uniroyal poster claimed was: 1554 lbs. is a US standard (for
this
>tire), it was not applicable in Europe, European cars can go lower.
>
>>with a maximum air pressure of 44lbs
>Furthermore, the max pressure of 44 lbs was another US standard (for this
>tire), not applicable in Europe, European cars can have higher pressure.
>
>What does this mean?? We do drive at the same speeds, can it be that the US
>roads are worse than Euro roads?? Don't think so! Or maybe the US have a
>higher middle air temperature than Europe?? If anybody has some opinions,
>now is the time to speak!! :-)
>
>PerL
>88 Syncro (with unknown tires)
>Arendal, Norway
>
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