The saga continues ...what tires are available for 15" vanagon wheels?

I called Michelin on Monday and told them my predicament. The Michelin
advisor immediately started talking about the Michelin Agilis, which he
claimed now came in a 15" size. The cost per tire Cdn for these fellas was
$215.00 per tire and he admitted they had a limited tread life as some of
the members here have noted!!!

I then asked him about the XCA model but he said that one wasn't available
in 15" in Canada.

Bottom line was that Michelin could not offer me a tire under $215.00per to
meet my van's load requirements. It looks like the Nokian are the way I'll
be going.

bob elliott

At 02:17 PM 20/04/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>Bob, I take it you do have the 15 " wheels. If so, I think you can ask
>for  a Michelin XCA 205/75R15 tire.
>
>I have that very tire on my van, only in a 14 inch.  The tire is a
>Michelin XCA 205/75R14. 8 Ply, Re-inforced Sidewalls out the Kazoo, Load
>Range D, 65 PSI. It is a commercial tire, not normally carried in the
>Michelin regular line of tires. Everywhere I went to try and get the
>tire,  Response #1 was always "Oh, we don't have a tire like that".
>Response # 2 "Oh that tire is sold through places like Sams, Walmart,
>etc," And finally, the last response " Oh, that is a commercial tire, it
>doesn't show in our catalog, we had to call about it, we can get it,
>it's in our warehouse, how many do you want???"
>
>I'm almost dead certain I saw a set of these in a 15 inch size at one of
>the tire places I called on. Anyway, my cost, mounted, balanced and
>installed on the van was  right at $600 --- actually $581.00 to be exact..
>
>Good luck.
>
>John Rodgers
>88 GL Driver
>
>
>Bob Elliott wrote:
>
>>Uhmmmm, well basically I thrilled with the number and variance of the
>>responses to my 215/65-15 tire question but I remain flummoxed as to the
>>solution. I thought the Michelin X Ones were going to be the solution but
>>members report that they fail the passenger tire side wall load rating
>>necessary for a Westy Vanagon of 1609 lbs by coming in at only 1510 lbs.
>>I'll be calling Michelin on Monday to see what they have to say.
>>
>>In the meantime I've called my local Kal Tire dealer and he advised me
>>that
>>given the Westy load specs that Michelins were out. He said with a load
>>rating of 1609lbs that I'd have to go with a light truck tire, which some
>>of you spoke about. His recommendation was the Nokian WS 205/65 R15.
>>Exceeds the Westy 1609lb load requirement. Cost: $149.00 Cdn per tire.
>>Drive away for $761.35 Cdn for the four (4). Looks like this is the way
>>I'll be going.
>>
>>thanks
>>
>>bob elliott
>>
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>>At 09:37 AM 18/04/2003 -0600, you wrote:
>>
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>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>From: Larry Chase [mailto:lchase@attglobal.net]
>>>Sent: Friday, April 18, 2003 9:06 AM
>>>To: 'Vanagon Mailing List'
>>>Cc: wetwesties@yahoogroups.; VWVANFULLTIMERS@yahoogroups.com;
>>>vwcc@yahoogroups.com; Syncro@yahoogroups.com
>>>Subject: RE: 15" Wheel Question
>>>
>>>
>>>Bob,
>>>
>>>CAUTION ..... PLEASE DO THE FOLLOWING BEFORE PURCHASING THE MICHELIN
>>>X-One OR MX4 TIRES THAT GOWESTY SELLS
>>>
>>>1. Look at the tire specs at Tirerack or Michelin on these tires. They
>>>are LOAD Rated around 1510 lbs.
>>>
>>>If you look at Vanagon.Com load rating RECOMMENDATIONS you will see that
>>>a minimum of 1609 lbs is recommended.
>>>
>>>Vanagon.Com Tire Spec Link:
>>>
>>>http://www.vanagon.com/info/tires/
>>>
>>>2. Next talk to Michelin or Tirerack Reps and ask if they recommend
>>>these tires for a Vanagon.
>>>
>>>I have done this in the past and was told by both Company Reps that
>>>these tires are "NOT RECOMMENDED" FOR A VANAGON. They said "the load
>>>rating is too low".
>>>
>>>In the past, I spoke to Lucas (owner of Go Westy) about this. He
>>>strongly feels that the "Michelin & Tire Rack tech support is wrong" and
>>>that these are proper tires for the Vanagon.
>>>
>>>In fairness .... Please read Lucas's comments here:
>>>
>>>http://www.gowesty.com/wheelstiresinfo.html
>>>
>>>Tire choices always seems to be overly confusing.
>>>
>>>Comment ... I'm not trying to VENDOR BASH "GoWesty" ..... I believe them
>>>to be an excellent vendor and have done a great deal of business with
>>>them. I purchased many parts and have had them do many modifications on
>>>the RoadHaus.
>>>
>>>They have always treated me fairly and their installation and
>>>modification work has been of the highest quality.
>>>
>>>I believe they Honestly believe they are offering the best tires choice
>>>to the Vanagon Community.
>>>
>>>Other than for tires ... I would recommend them highly.
>>>
>>>In anyone else had a DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW ON THESEW TIRES ... PLEASE
>>>SPEAK UP.
>>>
>>>On the Road and the Road is Great,
>>>
>>>
>>>Larry Chase
>>>Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
>>>Web: www.RoadHaus.com
>>>What: North American Road Trip
>>>How: RoadHaus - 1990 VW Westfalia Syncro
>>>Today: Denver, CO
>>>
>>>- - -
>>>
>>>
>>>Date:    Thu, 17 Apr 2003 16:43:35 -0700
>>>From:    Bob Elliott <bobe@WEBTIDE.NET>
>>>Subject: Re: 15" Wheel Question
>>>
>>>Well after Damon let me know that GoWesty had the 15" steel wheels too I
>>>had a look around their site and found that the price difference for a
>>>set of (4) 15x7" steels was only $150 dollar different than the 15x7"
>>>Alloy Wheel Set (4) ...
>>>
>>>so I got the alloy set
>>><http://www.gowesty.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=gw&>>
>>>Product_Code=GVW-8525&Category_Code=wt-wheelstires>
>>>
>>>
>>>Now I gotta decide on tires. Tyler at GoWesty said that the "very best"
>>>choice I could make would be the Michelin X1. Best Cdn price I can find
>>>is $145 + installation (balance, valve stems and possible alignment).
>>>This is a little more $$$ than I'd planned on. Anyone got other tire
>>>suggestions/experiences to offer?
>>>
>>>thanks
>>>
>>>bob elliott
>>
>>
>>Webtide Information Service, Inc.
>>voice: 1 (604) 737-2835
>>fax: 1 (604) 737-2701
>>http://www.webtide.net/

Webtide Information Service, Inc.
voice: 1 (604) 737-2835
fax: 1 (604) 737-2701
http://www.webtide.net/