"In my experience, the taller the tire, the better it performs in snow and
over the inevitable pot hole
ridden roads of spring.  So, I never use tires with an aspect ratio in their
stated size."

Huh?
A tire with an aspect ratio specified in its stated size can be taller,
shorter, or (roughly) the same as a tire without the aspect ratio listed.
For example, a 205/75/14 tire is slightly taller than a 185R14, while a
195/75/14 is  very slightly shorter.  I believe the 185R14 is actually an 82
aspect ratio.  It's just an older and different way of stating dimensions.

Cary

----- Original Message -----
From: George Goff <THX0001@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 5:13 AM
Subject: Re: WANTED: winter tires / Summer Must Be Over

> In a message dated 9/23/03 1:49:44 AM, mst@AK.NET writes:
>
> <<  195/60R14 will be a slightly lower profile than you currently have,
thus
> lowering your ride height approx. 12.5mm(roughly 1/2in). Your speedometer
will
> slightly less accurate, but this is easily an acceptable size to run. >>
>
> The diameter of a 195/60R14 tire is nearly 3 inches less than the diameter
of
> a 185R14.  Hardly a difference without consequence.  In my experience, the
> taller the tire, the better it performs in snow and over the inevitable
pot hole
> ridden roads of spring.  So, I never use tires with an aspect ratio in
their
> stated size.
>
> Also, I do not have them studded because the few instances when I could
use
> studs do not justify the hours that I have to live with their
shortcomings.
>
> I totally agree with Mark that the most important ingredient in this mix
is
> what kind of brain is controlling that foot on the throttle.  In the
winter, it
> is always amusing to me when I pass a ditched SUV with a soccer mom
> frantically calling for help on her cell phone right after she blew past
me because I
> was holding up her Mission from God.
>
> George
>
>