Date: Wed, 18 Oct 2006 19:14:32 -0400
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <dhaynes@OPTONLINE.NET>
Subject: Re: What tires for 91 Westy?
In-Reply-To: <71d9cdf90610181550u6ec60a86sb3160405c3b2151f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
My 84 Vanagon came with those Continental TS-771 185/14 14 8 ply rated
tires. Didn't go 30K before belt shifting and out of round got the best of
them and one blew out. The Fun Bus (87 Syncro), came with the Michelin
205/70-14 reinforced tires on the alloy wheels. A blow caused by tread
separation on the left rear made for some real fun getting to the side of
the road. The replacement Bridgestone Potenza HP41's 215/70-14 out performed
and outlasted the OEM by a long shot. Did the Alaska Highway and Haul road
all the way to Prudhoe Bay with out as much as a flat. Those tires went
over 70K.
Properly sized (this is the key) there is nothing wrong with using a
passenger tire. Even 20 series, (3/4 ton) Chevy vans use them. Just not in a
205/70-14. As for crappy handling, that is a function of tire design and no
matter what type of tire, cheap tires handle poorly.
Any tire can fail. Impact, sharp objects, and slow leaks will kill them all.
That is why we usually carry a spare. Regular inspection is the solution to
sudden failures. Just because a tire has tread does not mean it is good.
Tire design or defect related failures are usually not sudden. Warning signs
are there if you look.
Yes, the Vanagon has minimum requirements for capacity and inflation
pressure. These are difficult to meet in the stock diameter.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Jake de Villiers
Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 6:51 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: What tires for 91 Westy?
Come on Loren, be sensible.
Nobody's ever had a tire go before, car or truck?
What are those big pieces of truck tire doing on the freeway?
What was the cause Loren? Glass shards, sheet metal, a piece of shingle with
roofing nails in it?
These are real questions that need real answers, not 'Vanagons are allergic
to car tires'
And why was the 2005 US Grand Prix a total 6 car farce? Because the
Michelin-shod cars were having tire problems. That's as relevant as the fact
that a guy had a tire go on his van ie NOT. Tires ain't perfect. Not
Firestones, not Bridgestones, not Michelins.
More to the point, did you drive your friend's van with the Michelins on it,
and how would you rate the handling, and especially the wet braking?
On 10/18/06, Loren Busch <starwagen@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> RE: Those who have put car tires on their vans are really happy, those
> who
> haven't are waiting with bated breath for some tire-related carnage.
> Hasn't
> happened yet.
>
> As a matter of fact, because of my ignorance, I ran passenger tires for
> about five years on my '85 Westy. Result was really crappy handling, sway
> all over the place in any wind, two sidewall separations and just damn
lucky
> I didn't have a blow out. I though I had an all new vehicle when I
finally
> got the right tires on it. And no longer waiting for a set of the Hydro
> Edge Michelins to blow out, we already have an example here in the NW, one
> of our local Westy drivers. He got lucky, was able, after a big hassle,
to
> get the Michelin store in Santa Cruz to replace it under warranty but they
> made it very clear that that tire was not supposed to be on a Vanagon.
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
