Date: Wed, 22 Jul 2015 17:36:30 -1000
Reply-To: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott )" <scottdaniel@TURBOVANS.COM>
Organization: Cosmic Reminders
Subject: Re: Tires again..specifically Michelin
In-Reply-To: <CAHTkEuLS4umaL1-WRgtN=J9RDXtTcTs+OLqjMiLm0HM-VSFpew@mail.gmail.com>
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just reminded me..
I have to chuckle..Way Back...when radial tires were 'the new thing'
...talking mid 60's I bought 4 new ones ..in Southern California .
Seems that the right rear tire ( only had it a month or so ) might
have lost air quickly ..
it was just destroyed.
They were not sympathic where I bought the tire either.
and used tires..I *love* good used tires ...but can't say that pays very
well anymore.
generally, these days, I wouldn't say Michelin tires..as a brand ...is
particularily better than say GoodYear.
I will swear by the Agilles 205/65 R15 LT though.
4 of those on a van just Transforms it ..
Immediately tracks much better down the road ..
feels much better stuck to the road.
the way I got into that tire is I had a client who had me do an SVX
engine into his Syncro Westy ..
he had tons of money and no particular opinions about wheels and tires ..
so I got the ...can't think of the name right now ..a 15 inch alloy that
is a 'real' vanagon wheel, not something adapted .
and I always heard the Aguilles was a great (road use ) Eurovan tire
and vanagon tire ..
so I bought 5 of those new,
then we put on Old Man Emu syncro vanagons shocks and Steve Schenks
stiffer and slightly raised springs.
Wow ..that set up ...with 3.3 liters of 6,200 rpm redline Subaru power ..
that thing just flew and handled like a Porsche, Just goes 'where ya
point it.' ..with Authority too.
.that's how I got into Michelin Aquilles tires and I run them now and no
regrets at all.
Even the used ones I got on a dead Eurovan seem ok.
for sure ...ANY used tires ....all bets are off. You pays your ( lowish
amount ) dollars and you takes yer chances.
I can't say about all used Michelins..I just know of one model I really
like a lot.
I suspect not many Vanagon drivers on this list are installing used
tires very much.
I still stand by my comments about steel wires showing ...
most tires are not going to do that in normal intelligent use ( not
saying you don't do that ) ..
besides ..who knows what the PO did with them.
Most people just DRIVE and don't pay a lot of attention to the care and
health of the vehicle.
even tire stores that say they do that...often don't.
On 7/22/2015 5:00 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
> I'm pretty savvy when it comes to alignments, tire pressures and driving
> a set of tires ...
>
> Sure, there are a lot of ways to abuse a tire and I have probably done
> them all at one time or another...But to have one specific brand of tire in
> varied models, from diverse sources, keep exhibiting the propensity to come
> my way with frequent bulges and tread separations, almost every time I
> encounter them...that isn't just coincidence, in my book. When compared
> with other brands that I've had, same diverse sources, similar ages and
> used by who knows who..., similar everything else, too...except for the
> bulges, the tread separations (and the premium tire reputation and the well
> known name....)
>
> I think it's worth passing this experience on to others, who may believe
> that Michelins are some of the better tires you can buy...They may be
> really great tires, on the store rack...They may be super, if you replace
> them each year or so...but older ones also may give you problems if they
> behave like the older ones I see lately...Worth the heads up and maybe a
> check if you are on older Michelins or buy a van that has these on
> them...like mine did when I got it, bulges and all....both vans...
>
> FWIW....I always do a walk-around and check my tires, etc.... at every
> gas stop...(except in Oregon where you aren't allowed to pump your own gas)
> I keep an eye out for odd tread wear, for low or over inflation, for
> grease or oil or brake fluid leaking, things like that...but you can't
> always see a tire tread separation, sometimes it's on the pavement,
> sometimes on the inner junction of the sidewall, sometimes up in a wheel
> well.
>
>
> On Wed, Jul 22, 2015 at 6:13 PM, SDF ( aka ;jim lahey' - Scott ) <
> scottdaniel@turbovans.com> wrote:
>
>> key words here are 'used michelins' ...
>> obviously that's not workin' for ya.
>>
>>
>>
>> On 7/22/2015 2:48 PM, Don Hanson wrote:
>>
>> If you have this brand tire on your van you may want to check them for
>> tread separations. Take the wheels off and roll them along a flat
>> floor...If it wobbles or tips over...look more closely..In my experience,
>> every single time I have done that with a pair of Michelins, I have found a
>> bulge in at least one....
>>
>>
>> I can assure you all that I won't be buying any Michelin tires for
>> either my Vanagon or this GM Safari 'syncro wanna be'...or any other
>> vehicle in my fleet...
>>
>>
>>
>>
