Date:         Fri, 12 May 2000 04:45:52 -0700
Reply-To:     Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Doktor Tim <doktortim@ROCKISLAND.COM>
Subject:      Re: ANOMOLY ALERT-Michelin Tires
In-Reply-To:  <000e01bfbbec$181ea240$c3a308d0@home>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 01:28 AM 05/12/2000 -0700, you wrote:
>A few bones to pick with the good Doktor...........
>
>A single set of tires is not a good statistical sample, personal knowledge
>or not.

Agreed. That's why I checked with some local tire dealers and found they
had been seeing some problems as well. It is also why I called this an
anomoly. It stands out in great variance with the norm. I know this for a
fact. I cannot advise the use of Michelin products anymore without causious
consideration of this new evidence.
>The first set of Michelins I ever owned were fine tires, made in France, to
>a European spec, TUV approved and all.  A great tire.......as long as the
>roads stayed dry.  As the good Doktor well knows, from personal experience,
>roads in the Pacific Northwest are rarely dry for too long.  With a bit or
>rain on the road surface driving became a, shall we say, interesting
>experience.

I have Michelins on my Mercedes. I have never had the sleightest impression
of a problem on wet roads. But I am not in the rat race anymore and drive
with a light foot and Mozart.

>
>Move forward five years to when the Camry needed new tires.  I only
>seriously looked at three brands, Conti, Yoko and, yes, Michelin.  All were
>considered because of past personal experience, reputation, price,
>recommendations etc.......  In the end the Michelins got put on and I've
>been very happy with them.
>
>My point is facts are based on information.  In my case, a poorly performing
>small sample was not enough to deter me from future consideration of said
>product line.  Would I buy THAT specific model again?  If I lived somewhere
>dry, yes.  But for my circumstance and environment, no.  ANY company can
>build a poor product, DM or no DM.  Knowledge and experience (mine and
>others) help me to avoid those poor products.

Yes, I was just passing on the facts for consideration of others, 'cause
there is a problem that needs explaination. This is the first time as well
I heard of Michelin refusing to honor their warrenty.

>
>Can a US tire factory put out a product of equal or better quality than a
>Euro plant?  Yes, and the reverse is also true.  However, both facilities
>are more than capable of putting out a very inferior product, be it a single
>tire or a whole model line of tires.
>
>In the end, armed with knowledge and experience, you pay your money and you
>take your chances!

So, I sent you some ammo. You can throw it in the mud or keep it dry, as
you will. I am most interested in anyone else who has had a problem, or can
find some more of these Michelins that do not spellout the country of
manufacture like this anomolous set.


T.P. Stephens
San Juan Island, WA