Well, first I was following someone.  Second, one summer, I was on my way to
Lake George and my needle was at about 75 when I looked at a Corvette with the
top down doing 68 ( on digital display) and slowly passing me.

I presently have 205/70 R14.  Would the VW recommended size (185/80 14) have a
longer diameter than any 70 14 tire?  Would that difference be so much that it
give ten over the actual speed?

Nate El Great
85 GL 179k mi

        ----------
        From:  Joel Walker[SMTP:JWALKER@UA1VM.UA.EDU]
        Sent:  Wednesday, April 15, 1998 3:50 PM
        To:  Lebron, Nathan (GEP, Contractor)
        Subject:  Re: Thanks for Speedometer help

        On Wed, 15 Apr 1998 13:43:23 -0400 you said:
        >Now, how do I get it to stop reading 10 miles more than the actual
speed?

        oh, yeah?? and just HOW do you KNOW it's 10 mph over??? :)

        but if you really think it is, check the tires you've got on the bus.
        the speedos are calibrated for 185/70R14's ... even a 195/70 is bigger
        and will mess up the speedo. but 10 mph OVER means you've got SMALLER
        tires (actually going less rolling distance than the speedo thinks you
        are). i'd get a stopwatch and go check it with ten miles of mile
markers
        (which aren't all that accurate, but over ten miles, it averages out).

        if you determined that your speedo is "off" by someone following you,
        hell, THEIR speedo can be off. :)  speedometers are legally allowed to
        be as much as 4 percent in error. go figure.

        good luck.
        joel