Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:11:47 -0700
Reply-To: Richard Duvernay <richard.duvernay@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Richard Duvernay <richard.duvernay@SBCGLOBAL.NET>
Subject: Re: Interesting Tire Info
In-Reply-To: <20120426163143.QBADP.618852.imail@eastrmwml214>
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Just want to offer a contrary reiview. I bought my 90 westy three years ago
with brand new Kumho Radial 857's on it. I run the same pressure as Dave, 53 in
the rear, 43 in the front. They track and handle real well, but seriously it's
like riding in a commercial truck. I feel every bump. I believe mine have worn
more than 50% in only 15,000 miles. I had the brake fluid changed last month
and the mechanic said they were wearing thin. Bad karma...I punctured the tire
the next week when I ran over, believe it or not, one of those plastic corn on
the cob holders that looks like a minature corn on the cob with two metal
prongs. Thump, thump, thump, thump as I went down the road sportin an ear of
corn out my tire. That was it. I refuse to be bested by a plastic vegetable.
I'm now on a quest to upgrade to 15 inch wheels and wider tires :)
Rick
90 Westy (one ear missing)
________________________________
From: Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@COX.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thu, April 26, 2012 1:37:47 PM
Subject: Re: Interesting Tire Info
Well, I am not going to go to all the calling Kumho and so on that I did 3 years
ago. At that time, Kumho engineers told me (and evidently Karl M. also) that
the Kumho Radial 857 sold in the U.S. is the same tire that is sold all over the
world as a truck and van tire, and is quite suitable for trucks and vans here.
The tire is not marked as for trailers only because it is not for trailers
only. I was told that the tire is marketed in the U.S. for trailers because 14
inch tires for trucks are of so little demand here. Interestingly, the tire is
built on other rim sizes, but not imported here, so I am not sure what that is
about.
But, it is not marked as "ST" or "For Trailer Use Only," because it is not. It
is certified for 95 mph, it is a D tire (8 ply rating in the older terminology).
If interested, call Kumho, their contact information is on their web page.
I'm sure you will get the same answer I did. Oh, the engineer said that by the
Kumho certification in the U.S., the tire is primarily a trailer tire, but the
secondary application of truck, bus, or van is an "allowed" application. That's
why their web page focuses on trailer use, but does mention truck, bus, or van
application. I notice that some other web pages in other countries now mention
the trailer application first as well, including Canada, but still point out the
truck, bus, or van use.
Well, I thought I wouldn't bother with this any more, but I have wasted a good
part of a day on it. Good grief!!
mcneely
---- David_Vickery <david_vickery@YAHOO.COM> wrote:
> I thought they are required to mark them ST if it is only for trailer use?
mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET> wrote:
>It is not just TireRack saying they are for trailer use. The Discount
>Tire website now says it too, along with many others. I wonder how easy
>you would find it now if you went in again and tried to get some to put
>on a Westy. I can see some tire guys refusing to order them just on that
>basis. It might take some talking.
>
>Mark
>
>mcneely4@cox.net wrote:
>> Mark, what I can blame people for is not paying attention to legitimate
>>information that describes the tire and its uses, including Kumho web pages and
>>references to them by folks who have investigated the tire. Karl was fine with
>>the tire only after his conversation with his engineering buddy. Fine. Good
>>for him for wanting to be sure. But when the tire is marketed worldwide for
>>van, bus, and truck applications, including in the U.S. though mentioned
>>secondarily here to its trailer application because of size only, why would
>>people be so silly as to rely only on Tire Rack?
>>
>>
--
David McNeely
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