Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 22:50:44 PDT
Reply-To: Tony Peet <tpvw@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Tony Peet <tpvw@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Tires - Merde! No Michelin Agilis .(long)
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Bonjour!
Since I have been talking with "les cons de Michelin" almost daily lately, I
thought I would mention that THEIR recommendation for the Vanagon is the
Agilis 185 R 14.
I couldn't tell you the effect of the 20mm width difference, but I HAVE been
generally impressed with the TECHNICAL knowledge (and patience) of the folks
at 1 800 MICHELIN -- who could.
Having said that.....it took them quite a while to figure out that the
Agilis 61 IS M+S rated. But I repeat: the Agilis 61 IS M+S rated (stamped
right on the tire)-- but you probably won't find a Michelin dealer in the
country who will tell you that because all the documentation on the tire
they have been sent from Michelin Corporate says it is NOT.
NOW here's the fun part! Guess how Michelin USA found OUT it was M+S rated?
I faxed them their very own Michelin US web page (the link that Kent
posted to the Vanagon List!) showing them M+S rated and they sent someone
out to their warehouse to check the tires and ....SURPRISE! (Thank you
Kent!)
So TODAY'S official Michelin Corporate bottom line is that the Agilis 61 99R
185 14 is the ONLY M+S Michelin tire that they recommend for the Vanagon
(which it is specifically made for). Call them for more info, but it has
mostly to do with the fact that the load carrying capacity of the Agilis
EXCEEDS the vanagon's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)while their other
tires do not. There's also something about the 'narrow track' of the
Vanagon, the higher max psi for this tire (53 vs 50), and sidewall
construction.
All this said, the Michelin Tire DEALERS/INSTALLERS who I've talked with
LOVE the LT-X M+S for the vanagon and have seen only positive results. They
say that Michelin corporate is just going "by the book," and that unless
you drive REALLY hard -- you won't have anything to worry about. I'm going
weigh my Sychro at the truck stop just to be sure there's a comfortable
margin between its weight and the tires'load rating, and unless it's a lot
heavier than I think, I'm going to go with the LT-X M+S because I love how
they ride and know several others who have good experience with them.
Next time I'll check out the Agilis -- which DOES sound like a good bet,
but it's such an unknown quantity to me right now that I honestly don't want
to bother.
Thank you for the help.
>From: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
>Reply-To: Joel Cort <joel_cort@YAHOO.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Tires - Merde! No Michelin Agilis for our Vans
>Date: Tue, 22 Jun 1999 05:48:05 -0700
>
>Merde Alors!
>(Ah Sh.@.t!)
>
>Just checked out the new Michelin Agilis web site and
>perhaps I missed something but these "con" (French for
>A..Holes) do not appear the size for our Westy. Must
>be another great marketing ploy. I did not spot the
>205/70R14 Agilis. Yeah the sales pitch sounds good
>and the tire is made for vans. Ok where is the option
>for 14" rims. Sounds like we need a set of 15" or 16"
>rims for our vans to fit the new Agilis.
>
>Just my 1 franc
>
>Joel
>89 Syncro Westy with wimpy 14" stock mag wheels.
>
>Michelin Agilis 61
> 165/70 R13C AGILIS 61 TL 88R
> 175 R14C AGILIS 61 TL 96R
> 185 R14C AGILIS 61 TL 99R
> 195 R14C AGILIS 61 TL 102R
> 165/75 R14C AGILIS 61 TL 93R
> 165/70 R14C AGILIS 61 TL 89R
> 185 R15C AGILIS 61 TL 100R
> 195/70 R15C AGILIS 61 TL 100R
> 215/70 R15C AGILIS 61 TL 106R
> 225/70 R15C AGILIS 61 TL 109R
>
>
>
>
>--- Kent Christensen <lkchris@USWEST.NET> wrote:
> > See http://www.michelin.com/us/eng/news/agilis/3.htm
> >
>
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