Date: Wed, 8 Sep 1999 23:03:37 -0600
Reply-To: "BILL V." <billv2@PRODIGY.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "BILL V." <billv2@PRODIGY.NET>
Subject: Re: Disappointed with Yokohama Y370 Tires
In-Reply-To: <000701befa0b$88adac20$c0aca895@esc.state.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I am very pleased with mine. M&S tread pattern is what I needed. Handling is
good. I am not experiencing the problems you seem to be having. I am,
however, disappointed with KYB shocks. And when I have a headwind, I wish I
had more HP. :-)
Bill V. "I'd Rather Be Hiking The
'82 CA Westy [FreeBird] Greater Yellowstone"
"Famous Potatoes"
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Bill Knight
> Sent: Wednesday, September 08, 1999 9:05 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Disappointed with Yokohama Y370 Tires
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I've driven my 84 Westy about 100 miles now on the new Yokohama
> Y370B tires
> and am still disappointed in the handling. I was so excited that these
> tires came available again because of all the raving comments I
> had seen on
> the list, but now I wish that they had stayed discontinued. Just to be
> sure, I double checked the sidewalls and they say Y370B, LT195/75
> R14, load
> range D, max load 1710 lbs at 65 psi. I ordered part number
> 37047 from Tire
> Rack. Those are the ones, right?
>
> The tires I replaced were Pirelli 6000 passenger tires size 205/70 R14.
> They weren't really too badly worn, but I replaced them anyway because of
> all the concerns about wrong load ratings. I wish I still had them. They
> served me well, I drove cross-country last year on them with nary
> a problem.
> Handling and stability were great.
>
> The Yokohama tires have ZERO crosswind resistance. I constantly have to
> keep correcting the steering as I drive, especially at highway
> speed. When
> there is even the slightest wind, I'm all over the road, and quickly get
> fatigued from constantly having to keep concentrated on staying
> in the lane.
> I first thought it was the tire pressure, so I pumped them up to the list
> recommended 44/52 lbs. and that improved things a bit, but not enough. I
> had an alignment done when the tires were installed and I started
> questioning the alignment. I knew it couldn't be the tires! So this
> morning I dropped the van by the VW dealer and specifically
> requested Jimmy,
> the head mechanic, do an alignment. I explained my problems to him and he
> proceeded to do the alignment. He found the alignment to be
> correct, so he
> checked all the rest of the suspension and steering. Everything, as I
> expected, was in perfect order (I've replaced everything). He also test
> drove the van and concurred with my complaint. He looked at the tires and
> said the problem is the tires. "They are supposed to be sidewall
> reinforced", he said, "but they are safe to continue to use because they
> have the proper load rating".
>
> So now what? Do I eat the $300 that I spent on these new tires
> and get some
> reinforced ones or live with the terrible handling? I used to be able to
> get on the road and sit back and cruise in a very relaxed state, but now
> that is not possible and makes the van miserable to drive.
>
> Sorry for the rambling, but I'm disappointed and I'm happy to
> have this list
> to vent my frustrations!
>
> Bill
> '84 Westfalia Wolfsburg (new name "Sloppy"?)
>
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