Date:         Wed, 22 Jun 2005 08:32:49 -0700
Reply-To:     Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Loren Busch <starwagen@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tire Quandry
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2005062210284511@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

RE: Agilis vs MXT tires
First off, there is no longer such a thing as a 'reinforced' tire. 
The Ply Rating is replaced by the Load Range code.  a C rated tire is
the equivalent of a 6 Ply Rated tire, what VW specified for the
Vanagon.
Your Agilis 185R14 is a C rated tire.  You can find this info on the sidewall.
The Michelin MXT was a great tire on the Vanagon but is now
discontinued.  I had a virtually new set on my '85 when I totalled it
and have always regretted letting them go with the hulk of the Westy
when I sold it.  I now run Agilis.  I have no experience with driving
on the MXT's in 205 width except for a test drive on a friends Syncro
that was running them.  They should be just as good a tire as the
Agilis.
For more info and to better understand the current methods of tire
nomenclature, go here:
http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/index.html?menu.html&tyre_bible.html
And here:
http://www.tiresafety.com/size_class/size_nav4b.htm
Hope this helps...