Date: Tue, 11 May 2010 08:06:39 +0100
Reply-To: Arkady Mirvis <arkadymirvis@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Arkady Mirvis <arkadymirvis@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: TIRES
In-Reply-To: <BAY132-DS20AE91A0210DDD22604E11A0FA0@phx.gbl>
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Fife years after the purchase of my Westy in 1987 micro cracks on the side
walls of original CONTINENTAL tires became very visible. That with 18,000
miles on odometer and the camper being subjected to the sun only during
trips. A tireman suggested to replace them all.
I was very upset. I still have tires, original tires, those which were
supplied with the Beetles as spares. Those tires were never on the road -
perfectly new. I used to buy them on VW shows . Now 4 of them, the youngest
from 1973 Beetle, have no cracks! I ask my fellow listees: "What did happen
to the quality of tires?"
I wrote a question-complain to CONTINENTAL headquarters in Acron, Ohio. "
Your tires are older than 5 years and the warranty has expired". Yes, I
bought my Westy 5 years and 4 month before the letter was written. I wasn't
told by anyone that there was a 5-year warranty. The company flatly refused
to act on my complain. Typical GERMAN ARROGANCE!
I never bought CONTINENTAL tires since. If you think that Michelin is
better, you are wrong. Cracks on them were horrific after being 6 years on
rims! The best so far are TOYO.
Ark
----- Original Message -----
From: "Dennis Haynes" <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Tuesday, May 11, 2010 4:11 AM
Subject: Re: Tire size questions
> The clam shell and hold down bars are different for the vans that came
> with
> the alloy wheels or 205/70-14 tires. An easy change out.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
> Alan Felder
> Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 7:57 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: Tire size questions
>
> I have an 82 diesel westy. Currently it has Michelin XC LT4
> LT195/75/R14's
> on them. They are slightly underrated, plus they are probably quite old.
> Although, they have almost new looking tread on them. Some very small
> hairlines in the sidewalls. The biggest problem I have with these is the
> spare tire will in no way fit in the clamshell. PO used a longer bolt and
> a
> spacer on it to hold the clamshell out far enough to tighten against the
> spacer (using the tire as a "spring") for security. The handy safety
> release is defeated, and missing.
>
> So, in the not too distant future I will be replacing these tires. I
> don't
> want to keep travelling with a bottle jack in case I need to stow a tire,
> flat or otherwise. So, I'm wondering if the RA08's in 195 will fit in the
> stock clamshell without problems. Anyone have experience with those on
> steel rims?
>
> Alan Felder
> Austin TX
> 82 Diesel Westy
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