Date:         Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:49:15 -0500
Reply-To:     David <dlwilhite@COMCAST.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         David <dlwilhite@COMCAST.NET>
Subject:      Re: Tires again!
Comments: To: ralph meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <CAAj276xS8TKOz9GwA9CyRi51HWJY7+KpkGnBoiG15OujFBqc=g@mail.gmail.com>
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I've been using the Altimax for more than a year on my Westy with no problems so far. I even tow a Pop Up camper with gear for a family of 5, so I know I'm pushing limits and the tires have performed well so far.

 I will say that in my Westys life I've had three different Michelin tires (supposed to be the best) fail due to belt separation. Two happened within 200 miles of each other and one happened on a different set. FWIW, all tire failures have occurred on the front axles, never in the rear.

I had some of the Yokohomas, but they had too short of a life span  (~30,000mi) and didn't seem as stable as my current Altimax 205/70 R14. The most stable tires I've had were some Cooper LT tires, but I didn't like their wet weather performance and they didn't last long either (~30000 mi).

Not an expert by any means, just stating my experiences.

David Wilhite
84' Westy
Middle TN

On Jul 25, 2011, at 12:39, ralph meyermann <ralphmeyermann@GMAIL.COM> wrote:


> Yea I've got an 82 westy, I was looking at those altimax but it seemed too

> close to minimum load limit and from what I hear from a few others where the
> tread meets the sidewall they have deformed with indentions? Don't know on

> the cause or a defect?
> 
> On Jul 25, 2011 12:29 PM, "John Rodgers" <inua@charter.net> wrote:
> 
> **
> This past Friday I had a set of General Altimax RT 205/70R14's mounted,
> balanced and installed on my #2 '88GL for $75/ea. That is hard to beat. This
> is a  good tire for this van where most driving is 90-95% paved roads. I
> wouldn't recommend it for the Westies, however. Nor if  you do a lot of dirt
> road driving.
> 
> John
> 
> John Rodgers
> Clayartist and Moldmaker
> 88'GL VW Bus Driver
> Chelsea, ALHttp://www.moldhaus.com
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On 7/25/2011 11:32 AM, ralph meyermann wrote:
>> 
>> I've found a local tire dealer that can get me ...