Date:         Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:37:50 -0500
Reply-To:     Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Greg Potts <greg@POTTSFAMILY.CA>
Subject:      Re: Michelin's new tire designs
Comments: To: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <493F479C.5060707@charter.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi John,

Stiffer sidewalls would be a plus for a Vanagon or Baywindow. But the
"tweel" introduced in 2005 is apparently a lot noisier than a
traditional pneumatic tire, which would be a minus.

I think the biggest problem for the "tweel" will be distriution. By
design, it incorporates the bolt pattern and rim offset along with the
traditional tire parameters of diameter and tread width into the product
specification. The extra layer of complexity will make the product much
more model-centric than traditional rubber tires and this certainly
won't help its entry into the market.

OTOH, all it would really take is for one major manufacturer to adopt it
as standard equipment in a popular model....

But hey, if they can make an affordable winter tread in 5x112 ET35
29"Diameter 7" width with a 1500lb load capacity; I'd run them on my
wolfsburg. I wonder how those compressible spokes work with snow, ice
and salt thrown at them at -30C???

Happy Trails,

Greg Potts
1973/74/79 Westfakia "Bob the Tomato"
1987 Wolfsburg Weekender Hardtop
www.busesofthecorn.com
www.pottsfamily.ca



John Rodgers wrote:
> This staggers the imagination.
>
> http://www.shadetreemechanic.com/michelin_new_tire_design.htm
>
> Would anyone want these on a Vanagon??
>

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