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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
Comments: cc: Dan Landry <scotiawesty@NS.SYMPATICO.CA>
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"


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