Date: Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:06:24 -0500
Reply-To: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jack R <jack007@COMCAST.NET>
Subject: Re: tire switch, impressions. Long.
In-Reply-To: <001c01c722c8$1941e160$eeb2d8d1@dhanson>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Don,
I am going to try the 16" rims with these tires as a combo. (if the offset
is OK on the rims I just got).
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Solus+KH16&
vehicleSearch=true&partnum=155HR6KH16&fromCompare1=yes&speed_rating=T&speed_
rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_r
ating=Y
Kumho Solus KH16 (Grand Touring All-Season)
Size: 215/55HR16
Blackwall
HR Speed Rating 44PSI Max
I'll let "EVERYONE" know how this works out.
Jack
84Westie, Wolfsburg - full camper
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Don Hanson
Sent: Monday, December 18, 2006 12:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: tire switch, impressions. Long.
Hi, just got two new mud and snow tires on my 84 partial westy. Impression?
Better traction, awful handling. I was running 4 Michelin LTX in the 195-75
r 14 in load range c, 6 ply rating. These were down to the wear bars and
not making my van move in wet grass, snow or mud. So I bit the bullet and
decided to get some new. I went to Les Schwab, if you live out west you
probably know of these guys.
Got some Wildcat LTs, same size, same ply rating, same load range as the
Michelins. Had the techs choose the best two Michelins and replace the
worst two with the Wildcats...Well..the traction is very good now (for a
Vanagon, I guess) but the van is now really scary to drive! I am going to
have to remedy the van's new 'smooshey' feeling rear..I guess the sidewall
flex of the two brands is pretty 'miss-matched', despite all the numbers,
ratings, plies and sizes being the same.
When you 'turn-in' on a corner, the front goes, and after what seems like
a second, then the rear kinda 'sashshays' around, too. Really
disconcerting. I find myself turning the front and waiting. Then, once
the rear finally "takes a set" I have to re-adjust my 'line' to catch it
all.
Sorry for the 'race driving terms'. Has anyone else had problems with a
Wildcat LT tire install from Les Schwabb? They are an out west brand
similar to Big O.. One interesting note that makes me ask this question:
When I went to buy, the counter guy offered me a deal on 'basically new"
Wildcat LTs..He wanted to sell me 4 at 20% off, said they only had under 100
miles on em..I only wanted to pay for two tires right now, so I
declined..but now I am wondering why he had these "take-offs" in a Vanagon
size to re-sell..Somebody else find their van wallowing like a hippo on the
Wildcat brand..maybe?
I am going to have to either try a different brand or get two more of the
Wildcats to even out the handling..I should know better than to mix brands
of tires, but my thinking was since all the numbers were exactly identical,
the handling couldn't be too different...Wrong!
Don Hanson
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