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Date:         Mon, 19 Apr 1999 19:01:24 -0400
Reply-To:     Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tire thread - my mechanic disagrees
Comments: To: Helen Amerongen <hma@U.ARIZONA.EDU>

Helen,

Let's give your mechanic the benefit of the doubt. 1400 pounds MAY be enough to carry the weight of your van around 35 psi. I don't know the tire figures off the top of my head, but I think it is marginal, and doesn't give you much weight-carrying latitude for luggage, or picking up fat hippies from the side of the road.

The heavier tires don't give a considerably rough ride, but do improve the steering and overall handling of the vehicle so much, that any increase in roughness is completely offset by a substantial increase in performance.

We drove for almost a year on Yokohama passenger tires on our van. I knew the whole time that I was pushing my luck with a safety issue, (having a blowout). What I didn't realize until I put the reinforced side wall tires on the van, was that the passenger car tires handled like a flat bottom boat in a sea of chocolate pudding.

It was amazing to feel the driving difference with the reinforced side wall tires (Yokahama 356-D). Cross winds that used to blow us lane-to-lane on the Highway, were now barely noticeable. Off ramps that required us to reduce speed to 35 mph, could now be handled at 50 and above.

I cannot urge you strongly enough, to purchase the correct tires for your van If money is no object, the Michelin MXT load range D. is perfect. If money is tight, and you don't go off-road, or encounter much snow, try the Yokahama 356. Either way, purchase the correct tire and inflate it to the correct pressure.

Best of Luck,

G. Matthew Bulley Bulley-Hewlett & Associates www.bulley-hewlett.com Cary, NC USA 888.468.4880 tollfree

-----Original Message----- From: Helen Amerongen [SMTP:hma@U.ARIZONA.EDU] Sent: Monday, April 19, 1999 12:53 PM To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM Subject: Tire thread - my mechanic disagrees

The listmembers who responded to my tire question last week (thank you very much) were unanimous in saying that I need at least Load C tires on my 82 Westy. I asked my mechanic the same day I asked the list - he's been working on VWs for the last 25 years and is as far as I can tell, well-respected in Tucson. He said that my tires (max load 1400 lbs; max pressure 35 psi) are fine and that "nobody buys the heavier tires because they give such a rough ride". He seemed quite confident about it. So is he just out to lunch on this one? Does everyone on the list with a vanagon have load C or better tires? Is it really a much rougher ride? BTW, does it do anything to the gas mileage? I haven't got the new tires yet but am planning to get them before my next trip.

Helen Amerongen 82 Westy


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