Date:         Thu, 21 Oct 1999 08:18:35 -0400
Reply-To:     "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Fitz-Randolph, Douglas" <dfrandolph@TALKAM.NET>
Subject:      15" wheel owners - what's the best tire?
Comments: To: syncro@onelist.com
Content-Type: text/plain

First of all - I don't want to be responsible for creating another
Never-ending Tire Thread!! So if you wish to respond to this post, please
P-MAIL me - I promise I will post a really good summary of the responses I
get - OK?

I just installed Ken's 15 x 6.5 wheels on my '90 Syncro with Yokohama
Geolandar HT 215/75R15 C tires. There are no clearance issues at all and the
size of the tires seems much more in proportion to the dimensions of the van
than did the 14" MXT's (which were Really Good Tires BTW). However, the new
Yoko's are awful IMHO. The tires are "rumbly" at highway speeds, and the van
is absolutely all over the road in crosswinds. So I have decided that I may
take advantage of Yoko's 30-day satisfaction guarantee and try another tire.
I'm leaning toward the Michelin LTX M/S in the same size and ply-rating.
However, I haven't really heard much on the list about which 15" tires are
the best performers. So I'd like to take a little survey...

If you have 15" wheels on your van and wish to participate, please p-mail me
the following data...
- Van: year and model (i.e. 1990 Syncro)
- Wheel: type and dimensions (i.e. Alloy 15 x 6.5)
- Tire: Manufacturer, model, size and ply/load-rating (i.e. Yokohama
Geolandar HT 215/75R15 C)
- Usage: Approx. miles/km driven with the above tire (i.e. 10,000 miles,
16,000 km)
And your assessment of the following criteria...
 (scale = 1-10, 1 is "absolutely awful", 10 is "couldn't imagine anything
better")
- Smooth Ride
- Quiet Ride
- Dry Traction
- Wet Traction
- Crosswind Stability
- Cornering

And please feel free to add any comments you wish as well!

Thanks!
Doug Fitz-Randolph
Yarmouth, ME
'90 Syncro