Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 01:14:32 -0600
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Michelin XCA and steel wheels for sale PNW
In-Reply-To: <vanagon%2004122300065401@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
John,
I run the XCA's on my 88 GL. Very good tire. It is weak when there is
water on the pavement . They prol'ly aren't very good in wet snow
either. But load wise and resistance to road hazards they are excellent.
And on good dry road they are terrific. If I didn't have them already, I
would take you up on your offer in a heartbeat.
Regards two-wheel drive V-gons in snow ---- they suck!!
UNLESS..........you have studded tires.
When I bought my first V-gon, an 85 GL, I made the poor-handling
discovery the first snow of the winter that year. I live on the Kenai
Penensiula in Alaska, and the first snowday that year I happened to
choose to drive into Anchorage - 150 miles away through the mountains.
The first big hill I came to on the highway ... the vehicle broke
traction and spun me around in the road. I turned around, went back home
to the Goodyear dealer, bought four new snow tires with studs. After
that, the 85 GL drove like it was on rails and glued to the road. It was
great. It felt more solid than my very heavy Jeep Wagoneer Ltd. Never
had another lick of trouble.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
John Reddick wrote:
>The original post was supposed to be very tongue in cheek. I happen to
>have an extra set of very heavy duty tires for a vanagon. I am willing to
>part with them (i.e. get rid of them) for a fair price. For the promise
>of a good adventure I will part with them for less.
> Non-synchro Vanagons suck in the snow. I am not sure why as old VW
>buses were great in snow. Did older trannies have Limited Slip? I don't
>know. The only difference I can see is that older Type 2's had the battery
>in the back and the gas tank in back. I guess this did help the weight
>distribution.
> Responses to this in both tongue-in-cheek and Snyde formats are not
>only authorized, but highly encouraged.
> XCA's are by far the highest load rated tires(2200 or 2300 per tire) I
>have seen in 14". I used to off-road my van all the time and getting flat
>tires stopped with the XCA's. I had lots of flats on the same roads with
>MXT's and the original junk tires that came on the van when I bought it.
>
> John
>
>
>
>
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