The saga continues ...what tires are available for 15" vanagon wheels? I called Michelin on Monday and told them my predicament. The Michelin advisor immediately started talking about the Michelin Agilis, which he claimed now came in a 15" size. The cost per tire Cdn for these fellas was $215.00 per tire and he admitted they had a limited tread life as some of the members here have noted!!! I then asked him about the XCA model but he said that one wasn't available in 15" in Canada. Bottom line was that Michelin could not offer me a tire under $215.00per to meet my van's load requirements. It looks like the Nokian are the way I'll be going. bob elliott
At 02:17 PM 20/04/2003 -0600, you wrote: >Bob, I take it you do have the 15 " wheels. If so, I think you can ask >for a Michelin XCA 205/75R15 tire. > >I have that very tire on my van, only in a 14 inch. The tire is a >Michelin XCA 205/75R14. 8 Ply, Re-inforced Sidewalls out the Kazoo, Load >Range D, 65 PSI. It is a commercial tire, not normally carried in the >Michelin regular line of tires. Everywhere I went to try and get the >tire, Response #1 was always "Oh, we don't have a tire like that". >Response # 2 "Oh that tire is sold through places like Sams, Walmart, >etc," And finally, the last response " Oh, that is a commercial tire, it >doesn't show in our catalog, we had to call about it, we can get it, >it's in our warehouse, how many do you want???" > >I'm almost dead certain I saw a set of these in a 15 inch size at one of >the tire places I called on. Anyway, my cost, mounted, balanced and >installed on the van was right at $600 --- actually $581.00 to be exact.. > >Good luck. > >John Rodgers >88 GL Driver > > >Bob Elliott wrote: > >>Uhmmmm, well basically I thrilled with the number and variance of the >>responses to my 215/65-15 tire question but I remain flummoxed as to the >>solution. I thought the Michelin X Ones were going to be the solution but >>members report that they fail the passenger tire side wall load rating >>necessary for a Westy Vanagon of 1609 lbs by coming in at only 1510 lbs. >>I'll be calling Michelin on Monday to see what they have to say. >> >>In the meantime I've called my local Kal Tire dealer and he advised me >>that >>given the Westy load specs that Michelins were out. He said with a load >>rating of 1609lbs that I'd have to go with a light truck tire, which some >>of you spoke about. His recommendation was the Nokian WS 205/65 R15. >>Exceeds the Westy 1609lb load requirement. Cost: $149.00 Cdn per tire. >>Drive away for $761.35 Cdn for the four (4). Looks like this is the way >>I'll be going. >> >>thanks >> >>bob elliott >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >>At 09:37 AM 18/04/2003 -0600, you wrote: >> >> >> >>>-----Original Message----- >>>From: Larry Chase [mailto:lchase@attglobal.net] >>>Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 9:06 AM >>>To: 'Vanagon Mailing List' >>>Cc: wetwesties@yahoogroups.; VWVANFULLTIMERS@yahoogroups.com; >>>vwcc@yahoogroups.com; Syncro@yahoogroups.com >>>Subject: RE: 15" Wheel Question >>> >>> >>>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 >> >> >>Webtide Information Service, Inc. >>voice: 1 (604) 737-2835 >>fax: 1 (604) 737-2701 >>http://www.webtide.net/ Webtide Information Service, Inc. voice: 1 (604) 737-2835 fax: 1 (604) 737-2701 http://www.webtide.net/ |
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