Strange, your Michelin rep's answer. I just called them at 1-80-847-3435 and
talked to a guy who said the Agilis have been made for a few years now, that
61 was the proper tire for Vanagons, it is a reinforced tire and rated Mud
and Snow, and that local dealers may have a hard time finding it in their
books to special order (very true).

So far all the tire shops I've tried have attempted to sell me a different
tire because they can't find this one in their books, but I've got one shop
calling Michelin to find out price and availability. The Michelin rep said
the 81 is for larger vehicle use. I've heard (don't remember source) that
the 51 is for EuroVans. I'll post more information as I learn it if it's
helpful.

Steve

                -----Original Message-----
                From:   RAlanen@AOL.COM [mailto:RAlanen@AOL.COM]
                Sent:   Thursday, April 06, 2000 4:17 AM
                To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
                Subject:        Michelin Agilis Tires

                     Monday I posted the following message.  I got two
responses.  Are there
                not more Agilis users out there ?  I thought I remembered
quite a few posts
                from around the country of Listees saying they had these
tires back when they
                were first mentioned on the List.  Anyways, I did see that a
discussion
                developed on the tire pressure thread but I need this
information related to
                the Agilis tire so I can bring it up with the Michelin rep.
I still think
                they have sent me the wrong tires or there is default in the
one they sent
                me.
                    Following in my original post for those of you who may
have missed
                it.......>
                >>  I have a small problem regarding the Michelin Agilis
tires that some of
                you including me have installed on our Vanagons.  Ever since
I had these
                tires put on my '87 Westy back in December I have
experienced handling
                problems.  The van will not track in a straight line but
weaves from side to
                side especially if there is a cross wind or head wind.  I
must constantly
                move the steering wheel to correct the situation.  If there
is absolutely no
                wind then the van tracks straight ahead.  At first I was
suspect of the
                alignment or steering components.  But, now after three
visits my local VW
                dealer's service centre for alignment and checking, nothing
has been found
                out of spec.  This shop has been doing the alignment on my
Westy every time I
                have changed tires during the five years I've owned the Van
so I do not
                suspect any problem with their service.  This past week
while I was cleaning
                my Westy I notice on my tires "Michelin Agilis 81 LR/D" not
"61 LR/C" as I
                thought they were supposed to be.  I then call Michelin and
they tell me
                there is no Michelin Agilis 61 tire made.  I tell them to
look on THEIR
                website, which I have to give them the URL for [<A

HREF="http://www.michelin.ca/ca/eng/news/agilis/1.htm">Michelin -
Agilis</A>],
                 as they are not aware of it, and after they look at the
information there,
                they tell me they do not have an answer but will research
the problem and get
                back to me.  Meanwhile, they advise me to try lower air
pressure in the 81's
                I have.  So, I've tried lowering the pressure from 40# front
and 45# rear to
                35# front and 40# rear.  The handling problem seems better
but not absolutely
                rectified.  I will now try 30# front and 35# and see what
that does.  What do
                you other Michelin Agilis users have to say about this ?
Are your Agilis
                61's or 81's ?  LR/C or LR/D ?  Do you have any handling
problems related to
                your tires ?  All comments, advise or suggestions are
welcome.<<

                Cheers

                Frank Condelli
                '87 Westy & Lionel Trains
                STEBRO/Vanagon Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems
                Almonte, On
                Visit me on the web.......> <A
                HREF="http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html">Frank
Condelli & Associates<
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