Date:         Thu, 7 Dec 2006 12:31:43 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Keezer <warmerwagen@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon OEM tire report Yes,
              I am still using a 22 year old tire
In-Reply-To:  <vanagon%2006120714380124@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I will never use old tires again no matter what
brand.

Last summer an old tire exploded on the freeway.
I had barely anytime to get off with the big
trucks behind me.

Not only did it inconvenience me, the exploding
tire damaged the wheel well.

No matter how much tread, ozone over time dries
and weakens the tire. If you keep your vehicle in
a garage where there is a continuosly running
electric motor, ozone build -up is greater and if
you store good tires in such a location, they are
being aged prematurely.

Sunlight or not, ozone , infrared, UV, and
pollution age tires ablong with oxygen, which is
slowly "burning" everything.

I used old tires when I drove a light footed VW
bug for years.
But the days of putting them on a Vanagon, for me
are over.

Robert

1982 Westfalia










--- Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
wrote:

> These were XZX Michelins.Dont know the tire
> size,but they did not inflate
> to normal pressures for the Vanagon.Maybe
> either 35 or 44psi.Dont
> remeber.NOT 48psi. Those 4 tires are history,
> currently being used as a
> off shore reef.   No sin, as I have NEVER seen
> a single tire on a junked
> vanagon that was correct.NEVER!!I would buy it
> used, if it had any tread
> left.Never seen one.Not ever.Talking about 30
> or 40 Vanagons. That said, I
> have never heard of Vanagons being is excessive
> accidents,either.I bet
> most people here on the list do the same for
> tires.I do.Most just cant
> afford $150 each for tires.Believe me,I would
> like to buy good tires. Got
> pep boy tires that work just fine for tread
> wear.Inflate to 44psi. God
> loves me. Cost $25 each with balancing.That is
> not the charge for
> balancing.That is the total cost with balancing
> and FET,NEW. Put 43K on
> the two rear ones, and they got about 5K
> left.This is a westy.They are
> Futura tires.
>
> I write here, because I find it interesting
> that Michelin( of all people)
> cant make a tire that will age,and that it may
> be possiable to use old
> tires that came with the Vanagon..The XZX were
> made about 1992 and had
> almost all tread left.They sat and sat for
> years.I am sure at least two of
> them were in the shade for that time.The
> Vanagon had 62K.The side walls
> were all cracked up. The OEM Continental was
> pristein, and 7 ot 8 years
> older.
>
>  The XZX tires all destructed the same way.The
> tread seperated.I started
> getting a feeling like the balance was going
> bad.It kept getting worse and
> worse.I kept wondering and wondering what was
> wrong. BLAMMMM!!! The tread
> blew out.The steel cords were about a foot long
> and all ready to stick my
> hands as I changed the tire, long side the
> interstate.Silly me,I kept
> putting another XZX on till they all blew out.
> One after the other. Lasted
> about 3k total.Almost new tread,but old. No
> they were incorrect for the
> Vanagon,and this probably contibuted to their
> demise.I suspect that they
> would have lasted 5K on a Camry.Point being,the
> XZX doesnt age as well as
> other tires. The French should know the most in
> the world about
> rubber.They had 200 years to learn, in
> indochina.I only had the one spare
> tire left, at this point, so on it went. A
> Continental tire form Germany.
> Brand new and 22 years old. Got about 3k now on
> it.Thistire can be
> seen .It is currently modeling hub caps in my
> ebay store :>).I wouldnt pay
> anything for it,just happen to have it
> handy.Gonna have to buy new tires
> soon. Hope I can find some correct ones during
> a junkyard excursion.Still
> dont want to pay lots and lots for tires at
> this time.
>




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