Date:         Thu, 22 Oct 1998 19:34:56 -0600
Reply-To:     Jim Fritz <jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Jim Fritz <jfritz@DECORAH.K12.IA.US>
Subject:      I'm confused/frustrated
Comments: To: "Vanagon@VANAGON.COM" <Vanagon@VANAGON.COM>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii"

Volks,
Well, this tire issue is bringin' me down (can't you hear the steel guitar in the background?!?)

You all agreed that the PO had screwed up big time when he put on the Yokohama Y370Gs.  Not sufficient load capacity, no reinforced sidewall, etc., etc.

SO, I sucked it up and decided that I was going to trade them in for the right stuff.  I researched the archives and found that what I really need was Y370 LT with a D load rating.  Went to the local dealer who handles them, was all ready to pony up the cash when he announces to me that there is no Y370 LT only Y356.  He gave me a product brochure.  I called the consumer info hotline @ Yokohama 1-800-722-9888.  They said they were discontinued.  Went back to the archives and got various reports (from 1997) that said both ways - they were and they weren't.  I'm assuming they are because the consumer hotline was adamant that the only Y370 left was passenger car rated.  Decided the Y356 was the way to go.

But while browsing the archives again I came upon a post that really concerned me.  Seems the writer was really down on the Y356 due to the lack of sipes (vertical slashes in tread design which channels water away from tread, avoids hydroplaning).  He said they were really scary on wet roads.  Looking at a picture from the brochure, I can see he's probably right.  

The Y356 is an 8 ply tire  and the brochure says it is ideal for "on-road trailer and utility applications, providing the stamina you need even under full load conditions."  Is this what I want on my Westy?

My dealer can't find any Michelin XZXs.  I told him (after again reading the archives) that he'd have trouble locating them and needed to keep looking.  Unfortunately I don't hold out much hope.

I have to deal locally.  Its a small town and I need to do this for various reasons.  What to do?  Waah......

Jim 91 Passat
89 Westy
66 Beetle