Date:         Thu, 1 Nov 2001 22:19:51 +0000
Reply-To:     jboldway@INTCON.NET
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "James T." <jboldway@INTCON.NET>
Subject:      tyres

Due to stupidity (mine), I am able to give a tyre report. Missed seeing one of
those 6'x8"x8" parking "curbs" in the parking lot of the local store. Square
corner of parking curb slid up sidewall of tyre and put a nice dent in one of
the rim halves. So, I have a pair of Agelis 61s on order. My 85 Westy had
Agelis 61s in the rear and MTX or whatever the older popular michelin was. Had
a pair of Veredestein transport studded snows that I picked up mounted on
vanagon rims in Seattle for a foolishly low price - like new, 1800 LB at 50psi
185 R14Cs. Put the Ageliss up front and the vredesteins in the back - will
reinstall new agelis in rear when the arrive and will go back to studdeds in
like January.
Notes on new tyre combo (with KBY shocks new last year). I really like the
vredesteins. super stiff sidewall - no rear fishtailing at all. A little more
vertical "bump" when going over speed bumps, but otherwise great. Agelis in
front versus older michelisn - older michelins were more forgiving in all
directions. Agelis seems to let me know I've got a part or two loose in my
steering gear. But, at the same time, the agelis seem to turn easier and track
just as well. So, the main things I've noticed after purchasing the van -
replacing the original Sachs shocks with KBY made the best improvement,
replacing the michelin MTX rear tyres with Agelis 61s made the next biggest
improvement as the rear end used to fishtail with the old MTXs. I keep front at
48 PSI and rear at 50 PSI. Old Michelin MTX had tons of tread left, but when i
purchased teh van I had numerous sidewall cracks near the rim. Not sure if
underinflation or just old age. Was a little scared, that's why I replaced the
rear michelins. Noticed that the MTXs were made in France while the Agelis 61s
are made in Italy. Note on Agelis 61s - if you try to order these through the
computer systems in stores like NTB, Parts Depot, tire express, etc. you will
get "out of stock." You need to have the salesman physically call the warehouse
or michelin - and he will be told "these tires are for emergency release only
for Westy vanagons - no other uses are permitted." Worries me - sounds like
stock is getting low.
Was told there was a vanagon westy in a salvage yard near me. I'm going to
check out the tyres and pick up a pair if I can get them cheap. Sounds like
time to stock up.
Anybody need any funky vanagon/westy parts? Not sure what year westy in
junkyard is - I'll check it out on Saturday and report back. Westy vanagons
aren't worth much here in
Kansas.

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