Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2003 00:29:29 -0700
Reply-To: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Todd Last <Rubatoguy@MINDSPRING.COM>
Subject: Re: 15" Wheel Question
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii; format=flowed
If you want an interesting conversation, call Michelin, tell them you
have MX4 or X-one tires on your Vanagon and want to make a warranty claim.
Conversely, ask anyone recommending an MX4, or X-one tire for your
vanagon, to guarantee in writing that they will warranty any failure
resulting from putting a tire on your vanagon that does not meet the
stated load rating.
I think the answers you get will speak for themselves.
Before I ended up getting Michelin XCA tires for my Westy, I spoke with
a number of reps at Michelin. All said straight out, with different
degrees of emphasis, that the MX4 and X-one tires are not to be used on
a Vanagon.
One misunderstood me and thought that I already had MX4 tires on my van
based on a recommendation from a tire store employee. The rep's reaction
was to give me instructions to immediately take the van to the nearest
tire dealer where they would be "exchanged for the correct tire."
Larry makes an extremely important point. If you are considering a
passenger car tire (P-Metric) you must reduce the load rating by 10%.
Another thing to remember is that the load rating is at maximum
inflation. Inflations less that maximum will reduce the load capacity an
equivalent amount.
(This is because the weaker sidewall of the passenger car tire.)
So, let's take a Michelin MX4 205/70x14 - maximum load rating 1521lbs at
44psi.
Reducing the load rating by 10% because this is a passenger car tire,
you get an adjusted load rating of 1368lbs at 44psi.
(If you went by the inflation sticker on the westy and inflated the MX4
at 30 and 40 psi, your load rating would be reduced to: 932lbs and
1231lbs respectively.)
My westy states that it has a GAWR of 2646lbs and 2866lbs front and
rear. This translates to a maximum load of 1343 and 1433lbs
respectively, so clearly, the Michelin MX4 will be overloaded on a Westy.
(This may not be the case on a standard Vanagon.)
Lastly, at least on my Westy, the tire sticker has two tire sizes, one
load range C (a truck tire) and one with 'reinforced' sidewalls. So, it
sounds like a passenger car tire would not be a wise choice.
I encourage people to study the facts and make their own informed
decisions..
For me, the last thing I want to be doing is wondering if my tires can
handle a fully loaded westy while negotiating a mountain pass with
gusty cross-winds.
todd
'88 Westy
TJ Hannink wrote:
>--- Larry Chase <lchase@ATTGLOBAL.NET> wrote:
>
>
>>Bob,
>>
>>CAUTION ..... PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING BEFORE
>>PURCHASING THE MICHELIN
>>X-One OR MX4 TIRES THAT GOWESTY SELLS
>>
>>1. Look at the tire specs at Tirerack or Michelin on
>>these tires. They
>>are LOAD Rated around 1510 lbs.
>>
>>If you look at Vanagon.Com load rating
>>RECOMMENDATIONS you will see that
>>a minimum of 1609 lbs is recommended.
>>
>>
>
>The spec on Vanagon.com is correct for a passenger car
>tire, but not a light truck or commercial type tire. A
>a minimum load of 1,433 lbs. (or a '93' or 'C' rating)
>is required for a Vanagon when using a commercial or
>light truck tire. A 10% safety factor is required in
>the P-Metric standards when using a passenger car tire
>on a light truck or van. (www.tiresafety.com) That
>works out to a '97' (or 1,609 lb) load rating.
>
>The MX-4's will meet the load requirement but without
>enough of a safety factor, so Michelin, TireRack.com
>or any other decent tire manufacturer or distributor
>won't recommend them.
>
>
>
>
>
>=====
>TJ Hannink
>Goldibox - 1987 Vanagon Camper, Wolfsburg Edition
>Winter Park, Florida
>http://home.earthlink.net/~tjhannink/
>http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wolfsburg_campers
>http://photos.yahoo.com/tjhannink [Vanagon] Album
>
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