Date:         Mon, 29 Apr 2002 21:31:49 -0400
Reply-To:     Christopher Berchin <ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Christopher Berchin <ctb1@PEOPLEPC.COM>
Subject:      Part 2:  Review of Agilis 51 205/65-15
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi all.  A couple weeks ago I posted my review of the subject tires after my
initial drive.  I have now put over 600 miles on these tires in some very
wide-ranging conditions - rain, dry, warm, cold, and very high winds.  All I
needed was some snow to make it complete!  Happily, that didn't happen.

After logging this large amount of miles at speeds up to 80 mph and in huge
winds, I can say that my first impression holds.  These tires are fantastic.
All the stuff I mentioned before still holds - great ride quality, good
grip, and excellent stability in crosswinds.  I'm not saying the van doesn't
move at all - it's a Vanagon, it's never going to be as stable as a small
car.  However, the difference was in confidence.  At no time did I ever feel
like the van was going to get away from me, or even move much at all.  With
some tires I've had on it, trips were exercises in ulcers - never really
knowing where the van was going to go, and finding myself being pushed
across the highway by a full lane.  With these tires, it is calm driving,
even if you can feel the winds.  Sure, you still have to make steering
corrections sometimes, but it is never in a panic.  The difference is
amazing.

I feel these tires are well-worth the prices being charged for them.  No,
I'm not a Michelin employee, and I don't own a tire shop selling them.  What
I am is a very happy Vanagon owner who enjoys spending time in the bus even
more than I used to.  Highly recommended.

I put some pictures of the latest rendition of my bus at
photos.yahoo.com/CTBTypeR, in the Race Bus album.  I'm just a few chrome
strips away from having the van look like I want it to (i.e. no chrome), and
the new wheels and tires are exactly what I wanted.

Chris
'84 GL