Date: Sun, 22 Apr 2007 06:39:21 -0500
Reply-To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
Subject: Re: Tires, just this one brand, not the whole thread...
In-Reply-To: <000801c784a5$40177d60$0b19e442@dhanson>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed
Don,
There's tires, then there is Vanagon tires. A properly inflated, tall,
stiff sidewall tire is the key. For myself - currently - I'm running a
commercial truck tire - Michelin 205-75R14 - load range D, 6 ply.
Hell-for-stout tire. Even with no air in the tire - I got sidewalls!!
My van tracks like it is on rails, wind or no.......... but it is not an
all weather tire. On wet pavement under certain conditions I can "get a
wheel" - and that is a pretty good trick in a stock Vanagon. I have not
been in snow country with this tire. So cannot speak to that. For most
of my driving here in the Southland, this tire has been a good one. When
time comes, and I must buy new - I would get another set of these. but
alas - they are now NLA. Seems as how tires come and go at Michelin like
ducks migrating - here today, gone tomorrow. Had the same thing happen
to my Michelin MLT 205/70R14's. Fabulous tire. Recommended for Vanagons.
I bought a set, and next time I wanted tires, they were NLA.
Check out www.Roadhaus.com. Larry Chase has good stuff there on tires.
Regards,
John Rodgers
88 GL Driver
Don Hanson wrote:
> Everyone who's commented (off list) on what I perceive as supersensitivity to cross winds with my Vanagon says "Tires". But then they always say..."but check the archives, that topic has been beat to death.." Well, yeah, I guess there are lots of opinions about tires in the archives, for sure. What I got from it (all the tire posts on the archives) was "you need a stiff sidewall" "You need the proper weight load rating" and "Vanagons are very particular about tires"...So when I got new tires, I carefully wrote down all the specs from my bald Michelin M+S LTXs and went off to the tire store, looking for identical numbers...Got some at Les Schwab, perfect match on all the numbers...Should be good, right? Not so, apparently..
> I guess I should have been a little leery when the guy behind the counter said "Hey, I will sell you an almost brand new set in just that size for 1/3 off the list price, and give you a full new tire guarantee"..Hmmm, wonder why he had a 'very slightly used' set of those on the racks?
> Wildcat M+S LT radials..I have tried all kinda different pressures and they are still like trying to "herd a pig" down the road when the wind is gusty from the side..And on a grated bridge deck? Whoooie, scary as can be....
> I think I may have to test out that famous "satisfaction guaranteed" claim by Les Schwab...maybe that guy will take em back and try to sell two slightly used sets of vanagon-sized tires to the next sucker...Or am I just being weird thinking an overgrown shoebox ought to not "careen down the road" when it is windy?..I don't recall behavior like that with the old Michelins..or at least not such alarming behavior that it makes driving on a windy day a real chore rather than still somewhat fun..Gives new meaning to "white knuckle driving" trying to keep between the lines on a windy, trucky, crowded road..
> Opinions? Comments?
> Don Hanson
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