Date:         Fri, 18 Apr 2003 09:06:27 -0600
Reply-To:     Larry Chase <lchase@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Larry Chase <lchase@ATTGLOBAL.NET>
Subject:      Re: 15" Wheel Question
Comments: cc: "wetwesties@yahoogroups." <wetwesties@yahoogroups.com>,
          VWVANFULLTIMERS@yahoogroups.com, vwcc@yahoogroups.com,
          Syncro@yahoogroups.com
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

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.

Vanagon.Com Tire Spec Link:

http://www.vanagon.com/info/tires/

2. Next talk to Michelin or Tirerack Reps and ask if they recommend
these tires for a Vanagon.

I have done this in the past and was told by both Company Reps that
these tires are "NOT RECOMMENDED" FOR A VANAGON. They said "the load
rating is too low".

In the past, I spoke to Lucas (owner of Go Westy) about this. He
strongly feels that the "Michelin & Tire Rack tech support is wrong" and
that these are proper tires for the Vanagon.

In fairness .... Please read Lucas's comments here:

http://www.gowesty.com/wheelstiresinfo.html

Tire choices always seems to be overly confusing.

Comment ... I'm not trying to VENDOR BASH "GoWesty" ..... I believe them
to be an excellent vendor and have done a great deal of business with
them. I purchased many parts and have had them do many modifications on
the RoadHaus.

They have always treated me fairly and their installation and
modification work has been of the highest quality.

I believe they Honestly believe they are offering the best tires choice
to the Vanagon Community.

Other than for tires ... I would recommend them highly.

In anyone else had a DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW ON THESEW TIRES ... PLEASE
SPEAK UP.

On the Road and the Road is Great,


Larry Chase
Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
Web: www.RoadHaus.com
What: North American Road Trip
How: RoadHaus - 1990 VW Westfalia Syncro
Today: Denver, CO

- - -


Date:    Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:43:35 -0700
From:    Bob Elliott <bobe@WEBTIDE.NET>
Subject: Re: 15" Wheel Question

Well after Damon let me know that GoWesty had the 15" steel wheels too I
had a look around their site and found that the price difference for a
set of (4) 15x7" steels was only $150 dollar different than the 15x7"
Alloy Wheel Set (4) ...

so I got the alloy set
<http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=gw&
Product_Code=GVW-8525&Category_Code=wt-wheelstires>


Now I gotta decide on tires. Tyler at GoWesty said that the "very best"
choice I could make would be the Michelin X1. Best Cdn price I can find
is $145 + installation (balance, valve stems and possible alignment).
This is a little more $$$ than I'd planned on. Anyone got other tire
suggestions/experiences to offer?

thanks

bob elliott