I want to thank everyone for their input on this subject. There sure are a lot of informed opinions out there. I found this decision to be much more difficult than it perhaps needs to be, because, on the one hand, there are so many choices and on the other hand, so few. I consulted with my trusted Vanagon mechanic, heard the arguments pro and con for the GoWesty Michelin HydroEdge and from everything I read and heard, I think the Michelin Agilis is probably hands-down the best, most well-known, reliable tire for a 2WD Westy doing most of its traveling on paved roads. However, the Agilis is terribly expensive. Especially after what I have $pent to get this new rig $hip-$hape. (Recall the $quishy brake$?). All that said, I have decided to order the Nokian Hakka C 205-65-15 from Van Cafe. They have a special on shipping this month-50% off! The tire meets the load rating, has had good reviews (caveat: from their customers), is environmentally friendlier in production and will cost about 160 clams less than 4 of the Michelin Agilis. Once I get these on board and drive for a while, I will post my comments. I found a local tire shop that will mount & balance, no problemo. If anyone has comments on these Nokian Hakka C tires, I'd like to hear them now before I order them. Happy trails this coming holiday weekend! I'll be out there with my cracking sidewalls, hoping for the best! :-) At least I do know how to change a tire: it has happened twice in 18 years of Vanagoning! Melissa Melissa Mourkas '84 Westy Honey Bee Sacramento, CA |
Please note - During the past 17 years of operation, several gigabytes of
Vanagon mail messages have been archived. Searching the entire collection
will take up to five minutes to complete. Please be patient!
Return to the archives @ gerry.vanagon.com
The vanagon mailing list archives are copyright (c) 1994-2011, and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of the list administrators. Posting messages to this mailing list grants a license to the mailing list administrators to reproduce the message in a compilation, either printed or electronic. All compilations will be not-for-profit, with any excess proceeds going to the Vanagon mailing list.
Any profits from list compilations go exclusively towards the management and operation of the Vanagon mailing list and vanagon mailing list web site.