Date: Thu, 2 Aug 2001 10:20:07 -0600
Reply-To: Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Keith Adams <keith_adams@TRANSCANADA.COM>
Organization: TransCanada
Subject: Michelin Agilis 61 in Calgary
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Greetings van kooks,
I've been in no-mail for a while now as the summer is crazy busy, and
I've been waiting to get my computer set up at home!
Anyways, I thought I would relate my experience to the list and bring up
the dreaded word of TIRES again.
I called my tire guy - Ralph at Pro Tire here in Calgary. He is a one
man operation and specializes in high end wheels (need a very expensive
set of Fikse's? He can do it) and he's the only guy I'll let touch the
OZ's off my Golf. But Ralph used to drive a Vanagon, so he has a bit of
a soft spot.
I called him up and said I needed new tires for my Westy "No problems,
I'll look into it and get back to you". He called me back in a few
minutes and said he found something (can't remember what).
I said I wanted some Agilis 61's. "No problems, I'll look into that and
get back to you". He called back "Nope, not listed, Michelin doesn't
have 'em". Crap.
I dig in my archives to find the email that Dan Landry had sent (ref:
May 24) and he had called Michelin Canada and badgered them for the
stock #. "Ralph, try calling Michelin and asking for part # 78012".
"No problems, I'll look into it and get back to you" Ralph says.
"Yup, they have 'em" he says "But they are not listed in the Michelin
catalogue I have, nor in any of the addendums I get".
It took a couple of weeks for them to all arrive (special order from
Montreal) but I picked up my 5 new Michelin's yesterday. They cost me
$800 CDN for the set of 5 including tax and tire disposal fee, new valve
stems and mounting, balancing, and disposal of my old tires.
I put them on and went for a quick spin last night. Steering feel is
lighter compared to the 205/75/14 Roughriders (seriously that's their
name - I think they are from Canadian Tire or something). Steering is
also more precise, and feels less like driving on marshmallows.
Unfortunately (?) there was no wind last night, but I am eager to get
out on the highway in the mountains and try 'em out! I am headed to
Vancouver in two weeks for the Great Canadian Bug Show, so that will be
a good test.
My thanks to Dan Landry for posting that valuable part # to get the
right tires, and Ralph at Pro Tire for putting up with my shenanigans.
Cheers,
Keith Adams
Calgary, AB, CA
86 Westy "Roxy" / 87 Syncro "Hugh"