I have often suggested to the list that, next time they get stuck in a
syncro (or a two wheel drive for that matter) that they are likely to
forget the golden path to getting unstuck, which is to air down the tires
in a radical way. Next time you get stuck, think about airing down the
tires *firstI* before you get out your jack or your shovel or your winch or
whatever else you have contemplated.

Now,...I am writing to report data that I have now busted, like, the fifth
tire because I aired down too far, and then drove the van through a boulder
field. (I use the excellent BF Goodrich 27 x 8.50 tires many of us
syncronauts run.)

In this case, I aired the tire down to about 14 psi, and sure enough,
through rough driving I drove on the sidewall and ruined it again. So I am
now recomending that other list members who follow my advice, if they are
driving on rocky trails, to stop at about 17psi and not go much lower. You
can go lower in sand and soft snow--I hear that other four wheelers go down
to 8psi--but in any kind of a bad road this tends to get you in trouble and
to chew up your tires.

________________________________________________________
Derek Drew                              New York, NY & Washington, DC
drew@interport.net
'90 Syncro Westfalia...
...seen off-road at http://www.tiu.net/~des/vw/drew/index.html