Yes, this is what I have found also. All Syncros I have driven have
wildly optimistic speedometers when fitted with stock 185R14 and
205/70/14 tires. All Vanagons are optimistic but the Syncros have a
different speedo and are worse.

Mark

> BRENT CHRISTENSEN wrote:
>
> That speaks to my point precisely.  I am thinking that with the 27"
> tires the speedo is actually accurate now.  :-)
>
> Brent Christensen
> '89 GL Syncro Westy
> Santa Barbara, CA
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On
> Behalf
> > Of Per Lindgren
> > Sent: Friday, May 05, 2000 3:28 PM
> > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > Subject: Re: "True" speed with BFG 27 x 8.5 tires
> >
> >
> > I have passed on of these twice, first time I was traveling
> > 70 km/h, it
> > showed 59. The second time I did 80, it showed 69. I was so
> concerned
> > keeping accurate speed, I was hardly looking at the road. THe Syncro
>
> > runs 185R14 tires, which clearly are too small for the speedo.
> >
> > PerL
> > 87 Syncro 112i
> >
> >
> >
> > BRENT CHRISTENSEN wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >
> > > I have always wondered about the accuracy of the Vanagon speedo
> > > regardless of tires, so when I passed one of those portable radar
> > > wagons that the police use to display your speed (as a
> > warning) I had
> > > to turn around and drive past it a few times.
> > >
> > > I ran past it 4 or 5 times at speeds of between 25 and 45
> > mph, with no
> > > other cars aroun d.  In each case, my indicated speed on the radar
>
> > > wagon display matched my speedo within 1 mph or so.  I am
> > running the
> > > 27" BFG tires, so I was surprised by this.
> > >
> > > Anyone have any hard or anecdotal data that refutes this finding?
> > > Anyone have any comments on the accuracy of the police radar?  (I
> > > assume that with such a large frontal area the Vanagon produces a
> > > pretty clear radar image)
> > >
> > > Brent Christensen
> > > '89 GL Syncro Westy
> > > Santa Barbara, CA
> >