Date:         Mon, 19 Apr 1999 14:28:27 -0700
Reply-To:     Steve Macaulay <smacaulay@INFINTIUM.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Steve Macaulay <smacaulay@INFINTIUM.COM>
Subject:      Re: Tire thread - my mechanic disagrees
Comments: To: Helen Amerongen <hma@U.ARIZONA.EDU>
In-Reply-To:  <l03130300b340ae7f30cb@[128.196.42.180]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

<<  He said that my tires (max load 1400 lbs;  max
> pressure 35 psi) are fine

My PO had purchased new Michelin tires with specs like these before he sold
the van.  When I spoke with a Michelin US HQ customer service rep. about
this, I was told that this tire was "unsafe" for the weight of my camper van
and that I might experience an "unexpected failure of the sidewall" during a
high side-stress situation such as coming off an exit ramp at highway speed.
They seemed concerned enough about the safety questions I was asking about
the under-rated Michelin tire that I had on my van to cover 50% of the costs
for a set of new load-rated C Michelin tires.

I've had tires blow out on me at highway speeds on three separate occasions
before in a passenger car.  It's not fun, especially when a big tractor
trailer is right on your tail when one goes.  Once I heard that my tires
were considered unsafe for my westy, I replaced them as soon as I could.

<< my mechanic disagrees

Unless your mechanic is the primary driver of your van, you might want to
opt for a tire that is appropriate for the weight of the westy.  Better safe
than sorry, IMO.

Steve

89 westy