Date:         Wed, 7 Nov 2001 21:28:30 +0000
Reply-To:     jboldway@INTCON.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "James T." <jboldway@INTCON.NET>
Subject:      Tyres

Tyre report - my vanagon had Agelis 61s in the rear and Michelin MT4X or
whatever the popular Michelin was . ..  in the front.

This is really weird. I had a van with Michelin MT4X (185 R 14C)  all around
but bald in rear - replaced with agelis 61's. No real difference. Michelin MT4X
in front were severely cracked but loads of tread life left - got flat and
replaced rear Agelis 61's with Vredestein Transport snow studded tyres, put
Agelis 61s in front. (interm fix - dealer had to order agelis 61s - only
avaiable for vanagon campers) Handled best so far. Replaced rear vredestein
studs with Agelis 61s - front and rear. Bizzare outcome - rear of van wanders
around, van stable in wind, etc. Not happy with agelis all around (48 PSI
front , 50 PSi rear). van seems to have 2 flat rear tyres - rocks all around.
can't understand how MT4X front and Agelis rear worked fine but agelis 4 x4
works poorly. Vredesteins seemed very stiff in sidewall area. I'd recommend
tracking down Vredestein Transport snows for rear tyres before agelis 61s.
Stiffen up rear end considerably.
 So it's a snow tyre. So what? Gee, you loose 10,00 mile tyre life but you
have a better handling van? Again, Agelis 4 x 4 suck. Had a hard time
controlling it in 15 mph winds. That's no wind for kansas. Like to see it in
40+ mph wind. (no, would NOT like to see it in 40+ mph wind).

Cat story - salvage yard mentioned that a cat had been interrned in van for a
month but when door opened cat got out. Amazed cat could live for a month on
nothing. Went to get steel engine deck lid. Lots of phone book pages torn out
everywhere - got garbage can to empty to. Was picking up phone book bits when I
felt something weird and heard "ptwaang"  drop on engine lid -looked into right
hand and discovered i was holding cat skeleton and skull was on engine lid.
Guess cat didn't survive month internment in 100+ degree heat.  Weird moment.
Dropped skeleton like hot potatoe. Then realized what it was and dropped it in
trash barrel. Kind of weird for a moment.

Anyaway, got steel deck lid for engine compartments as 1 of 3 vans in salvage
yard had been burned up due to fire - looks like it went from engine to
interior in no time flat. Had plastic engine lid that melted onto engine
instantaneously. Hopefully steel lid will prevent such problems. Got 3 fire
extinguishers . . . .


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