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Date:         Wed, 9 Nov 2005 16:55:49 -0500
Reply-To:     Jim Henry <jhenry@JCHGIS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Henry <jhenry@JCHGIS.COM>
Organization: JCH GeoInfo Solutions
Subject:      Continental Tires - a little long
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Tires have raised their ugly head here again and too soon. Have appointment with front end specialist on Tuesday. In the meantime, I was tired of Yokohama 356's weird wear patterns, did not want to spend the money for Michelins until I have more confidence in the front end, and read good things about Continental Vanco 8 tires. Bought 2, special order through Wal-Mart of all places. Camping there has been a godsend too many times so I felt right at home.)

This was a good enough experience that I feel it might be the answer for others with tire needs, so I will share.

The Wal-Mart website has a Continental Catalog (http://www.walmart.com/promos/ContinentalTires.pdf) that you can download, it has specs but no prices. part numbers are sort of hidden but are there. The website says to go to your local Wal-Mart Tire Center and they can order them. I found if you can go to your Wal-Mart Tire center with the Continental tire part numbers, find a manager, and they can handle it, but anything less, you are wasting your time. All worked out. The tires ended up being about the same cost as Tire Mart with shipping cost, but I was able to get the special $9.79 mounting, valve stem, lifetime balance, and lifetime flat repair, which was a much better deal than I could get to mount and balance Tire Mart tires anywhere. So far I have found the Continental may be a little noisier that the Yokohamas but the ride is incomparable to my worn out tires.

To summarize if you want to add this to your tire information archives.

The two Continental tires that seem to be appropriate for the 14 steel Vanagon wheels are:

Vanco 8 185R14 load rating 102/D pn 0451428000 817 r/mile ~$65 ea (on backorder until December) Vanco 8 195R14 load rating 106/D pn 0451430000 797 r/mile ~$78 ea (came in 2 days)

The 195R14 were more but I was not where I could wait till December, fabric was showing on the Yokohamas. My speedometer calls for 807 r/mile, so the difference was the same, just in opposite directions.

The part numbers are essential, if you do not have a size number made up with 3 parts, like 185/70-14 then everyone is helpless. I ended up spending around $200 total for two tires, still have alignment to do. I would welcome hearing from others with experience with Continental Vanco 8 tires. Were Continentals Tires the original equipment on the steel wheels? My Vanagon seems to like them, the engine is even running better. Must feel closer to home.

Drive Well,

Jim Henry

Durham, NC 84 Westy


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