Date:         Tue, 26 Feb 2002 22:12:23 -0600
Reply-To:     John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         John Rodgers <jhrodgers@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tires one more time.
Comments: To: developtrust <developtrust@COX.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

There is a safety issue at play here and that should be addressed. The LT (light
Truck) tires - of which there were the Michelin MXT 205-70/R14 tires and  are no
longer available - have very stiff sidewalls. They stabilize the van. as a
consequence. Also, the tire sidewall has greater integrity when dealing with
rocks, etc. All the flats I had living and driving in Alaska  were "rock thru
the sidewall" related. Never had such problems with any truck type tire with the
stiffer reinforced side wall.

The stiffer sidewall really helps the ride, and you will be absolutely amazed at
how much more stable the van is with the stiffer sidewall tires.

John Rodgers
88 GL with the last set of Michelin MXT 205-70/R14's the old girl will ever see.

developtrust wrote:

> I don't know much about tires I am learning.
>
> I wish I could strangle the PO who put tires on my van. Good tires it seems
> to me but the wrong type I am learning.
>
> The tires read "Michelin X One P205/70R14 93T M + S" and also the tread has
> 1 polyester and 2 steel ply with the sidewall having 1 polyester ply. rated
> at 1433 lbs. per wheel, max tire pressure 35 PSI printed on all tires.
>
> The tires are new so I am not inclined to replace them but this tire thread
> gives me food for thought.
>
> Am I overly concerned? What tires should I get next time? From what I have
> learned vanagons require TWO ply in the sidewall.
>
> I know it seems like beating a dead horse within a stick but now that this
> thread has got my attention are my tires really that unsatisfactory?
>
> It would be a waste to change new tires now and they will obviously last for
> years @ about 10,000 miles per year.
>
> The only alternative I can think of is to try to sell them at a discount to
> a car owner through a tire dealer who will sell me new porper tires. But
> that is more  money flying out the window. Is it worth taking a loss that
> way to get correct tires?
>
> Any advice?
>
> William Polowniak
> 1989 Vanagon GL
> 1988 Mercedes 300 SE