Date:         Fri, 24 Dec 1999 16:29:43 +0100
Reply-To:     Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Per Lindgren <lindgre@ONLINE.NO>
Subject:      Re: traction, transmissions
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Woody Halsey wrote:

> Dear Great and Wise List,
>
> Recently I have heard my mechanic say two things which do not seem to be
> backed by either the List or Common Sense. I am curious to know our
> thoughts.
>
> 1) He told another customer, "Narrow tires have better traction in snow
> than wide tires with the same tread, because there is less surface to slip
> on." Is that counterintuitive fact, or just plain wrong? This reminds me of
> a friend in France who insisted that her little 2CV (Deux-chevaux) was
> great in the snow because it was so *light.*  I never figured that out
> either (always thoguht "heavy over the powered wheels" was what you
> wanted), but I do know that my Beetle is pretty good and my Vanagon is
> pretty bad when the snow flies.

This is true, the narrower tire gives better grip in the snow, both because
there is less surface and because it cuts through the snow easier. You know,
the weight on each wheel is the same, no matter what kinda tire you got on
there. The narrower tire has less surface, and thus the pressure in each square
cm is higher. Agree?

>
>
> 2) He told me when my transmission gave up the ghost last year that VW
> waterboxer transmissions were designed in such a way that they can NOT be
> rebuilt. Yet I have seen references to rebuilt transmissions here. What is
> the scoop?

Of course they can be rebuilt. That is pure BS!

Seasons greetings,

PerL
87 Syncro 112i