Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1998 12:03:07 -0400
Reply-To: John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From: John Anderson <janderson@IOLINC.NET>
Subject: Re: Wrong Tires from PO, ramifications?
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
> Since these are brand new tires, I really don't want to replace them
>> unless absolutely necessary.
>>
>> What could be the results of using the "wrong" tires on my vanagon?
>
>
>ANSWER:
>
>Kaboooommmmmmm; Crraassshhhhhhh; and FFlllippp
>Ooooooooovvveerrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!
>
>Need more?
Well, I'm going to interject here with utter blasphemy. I've owned a lot of
buses and vanagons, I mean a lot, like 5 in the drive right now. Many I've
had have had regular passenger tires, many have had reinforced, many have
had C-load truck tires. Although handling wil certainly be MUCH, MUCH,
improved with proper tires, I personally would not replace a brand new set
of QUALITY passenger tires, if they were over 1/2 worn, yeah maybe. I would
also be prepared for a blow out at any moment. Some better passenger tires
(Dunlop SP4 comes to mind) have given me excellent wear and handling, others
(Sear Roadhandler SCR comes to mind) have begun to critically separate in
about 20k miles and perhaps even blow out. My honest opinion, if nearly
new, drive them a while, inspect them frequently, tread and sidewalls
particularly for excessive scuffing from rollover during turning. If they
don't scare you to death put some miles on them then buy a quality tire
before the next wet/snow season. And as always when it comes time to
replace call the Tire Rack, they will get you tire cheaper than local even
with shipping and the selection in 14" C load rated is incredible, like 20
tires or more when I last checked. The budget leaders are the Yoko Y356
which I do not favor for snow and wet around me though it wears well and CA
people tell me it is a great solution out there (price varies for the 6 or 8
ply BTW make sure you compare apples to apples) and the new Conti reinforced
which is about even to the XZX or MXL (which is to say an all around good
all season, but not the best in the snow for sure) both of these
around/under $50 a pop. Personally my last set are Firestone Wilderness A/T
in 27x8.5R14 and I love em, much cheaper than the famed BFG and wearing well
with incredible traction last winter. Anyway, if you keep the current
rubber inspect often and replace before they get anywhere near too worn, but
bear in mind, partuicularly on a heavy van (camper or full load) $250 isn't
all that much for garanteed peace of mind. I usually however run what I'm
given. You might try to sell them for $30 each or so in an add pad then buy
a quality tire FWIW.
John
janderson@iolinc.net
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