Date: Fri, 20 Jul 2001 09:10:05 -0700
Reply-To: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject: Re: '87 Westy tire grief - long (this is gonna stir up the bees
nest...)
Alan,
The Agilis 51 is not available in the US in a 14". It is the recommended
tire for the Eurovan in 15".
Leastwise, that's what I've been told, several times.
Karl Wolz
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alan Bosch" <arbosch@RA.ROCKWELL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 8:40 AM
Subject: Re: '87 Westy tire grief - long (this is gonna stir up the bees
nest...)
> Jeff,
> I went through the exact same thing two weeks ago! I feel your pain,
> brother. Here's a few things I found out, which may - or may not - help:
>
> Our buses, Westys in particular, are heavy, cumbersome vehicles. The
> correct tires are essential not only for the ride quality, but the
ultimate
> safety of the occupants. The big thing to be concerned with is the load
> rating of the tire. According to everything I've read, and confirmed with
> VW customer service - for whatever that's worth! - the tires must have a
> minium load range of 'C'. Load range 'D' tires have been highly
recomended
> by Westy owners. My old Michelin MXT's had a 1710 pound rating. In my
> reasearch, I took that as the base line of what was acceptable. The fact
> that the Bridgstone's you're looking at have a reinforced sidewall is of
> little use if they don't have the load rating - 'C' or 1710 pounds.
>
> There are several different size tires that will actually work on the
alloy
> wheels. 185R14, 195/75R14, 205/70R14, 205/75R14, and a few others.
> Strictly from a mounting perspective, the Bridgestone's will mount on the
> alloys.
>
> What I also found was the selection of tire with the combination of size
> and load range is limited, at best. To wit:
>
> Michelin: Agilis 61, size 185R14
> Agilis 51, size 195/75R14
>
> Yokohama: Y356, size 185R14
> Y370, size 195/75R14, load range 'D'
>
> Nokian: A snow tire in 185R14
>
> From various list members I received the following recomdations:
>
> Sears Trailhandler 195/75R14
>
> Uniroyal Laredo 195/75R14
>
> Goodyear Wrangler AT 195/75R14
>
> BF Goodrich Radial AT 27x8.50R14 LT/C (1515lbs @ 50 psi)
>
> Hancook 185R14
>
> Firestone F-570 205/70R14 (95T, M&S, 1521lbs load @ 44 max. psi)
>
> Some of the AT & truck tire are probably a little noisy, what with their
> agressive tread patterns and all. But they are worth lookin in to.
>
> <<<snip>>>Has anyone tried Bridgestone 613's on
> their Westy (with alloy wheels)? They
> come as 205/75 R14 and should fit. They
> have a reinforced sidewall.<<<snip>>>
>
> Reinforced sidewall does not mean they have the load range a Westy needs.
> Be careful...
>
> <<<snip>>>Here's a summary of my efforts to find tires
> for my Westy now that my second set of
> Michelin MXL's (205/70 R14) has worn out and
> we know there are none left. I looked at all of
> the vanagon.com info, called the Tire Rack,
> spoke with a manager at Michelin,
> did some internet searches, spoke to two
> local dealerships and spoke with VW
> Customer Service 5 times yesterday. What
> a pain in the ass. Here's a summary of
> the results:
>
> 1. The dealerships can't help<<<snip>>>
>
> Did you really expect differently? :o)
>
> <<<snip>>>2. Tire Rack suggests Michelin Agilis 185/14
> but there are none available. VW Customer
> Service says not to use that size tire
> on the alloy wheels.<<<snip>>>
>
> Tire Rack had plenty in stock when I orders two weeks ago. Did they say
> when they were getting more in stock? Did they check all their warehouses
> -- Indiana, Delaware, Nevada? VW customer service is wrong! The Agilis
> 61's fit the alloy wheels to a 'T'. Several list members have these on
> alloys, including me, and there's no problem.
>
> <<<snip>>>3. Michelin has no replacements of any type.
> They suggested looking at Nokian tires.
> Nokian (Swedish?) has the correct size
> but no reinforced sidewalls.<<<snip>>>
>
> Huh?!? The Agilis 61 is available - I bought them, I know! Michelin
> discontinued a Agilis tire (don't remember the size, but it was not the
> Agilis 61 185R14) and they're giving you bogus info that directly
> contradicts what they gave me a few weeks ago. Their suggestion to me was
> the Agilis 61!! Nokian's are great snow tires, if you have the need for
> such. I wouldn't run them year round...
>
> <<<snip>>>4. VW Customer Service didn't initially
> think it was their responsibility to help
> me find tires. After convincing them that it
> was, they did some research for possible
> replacements and suggested either going with
> a 215/65 R14 or a 225/65 R14. I've since
> found that neither size exists. After
> reporting that to them they suggested that
> I might have to buy new wheels. Not a
> suggestion I'm very receptive to.<<<snip>>>
>
> VW CS could not even tell me what size tire initially came with the van
> when new. I knew I was in trouble at that point. Simply put, they're
> idiots. Ask them that since the van came with a particular set of rims
and
> their recommdation is to change rims, would they be willing to pay for the
> new rims? Nope. Not on your life.
>
> <<<snip>>>5. I have a great local tire shop and I
> asked one of the owners for help. He checked
> with all of his contacts and came up with
> a Bridgestone model 613 which is a 205/75 R14.
> He had never heard of the tire and ordered
> one for us to look at today. It will fit the
> wheel and has reinforced sidewalls. Not sure if
> it's a passenger, light truck or tractor(!)
> tire. If anyone has heard of or used this
> tire I'd be very interested in hearing about
> it. The cost is $530US for 4 tires including
> tax, mounting, etc.<<<snip>>>
>
> Sounds like a good shop. Not many places would order a tire just so you
> could look it over. Price is good too. But remember, it may indeed have
> reinforced sidewalls and still not be right for your Westy. Stamped
> somewhere on the tire should be the weight range, in pounds. With a
Westy,
> you need to be in the 1700 pound range, perhaps a bit more. Remember the
> Firestone/Ford Explorer fiasco? I don't believe it's entirely a Firestone
> problem. Driving a weighty, top-heavy vehicle around without the correct
> load range tire can wreck havoc on the tire. 'Course, you probably don't
> drive your Westy the way Explorer owner drive their vehicles. Oh, and
> Bridgestone and Firestone are the same company, in case you didn't know.
>
> <<<snip>>>Thanks for listening to my rambling! :)<<<snip>>>
>
> Ditto. And I hope this helps in some way...
>
> Alan Bosch
> & Phred ('88 Wolfsburg)
> Rochester, NY
>
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