My Experience with Conti Contacts are as follows:

Excellent traction in the "Conditions" around Winnipeg (Snow, snow, snow,
ice, snow..);

Excellent summer highway performance;

Twice I've had tread separations.

YMMV

Marshall Ruskin
84 Westy "Leader of the Pack"

> We've bought a few sets of tires from the Tire Rack including , most
> recently,  C-rated Michelin LTX's for my wife's Windstar.  They've always
> given very good service and, generally, their prices are hard to beat.  If
> you're near South Bend, Indiana - you can get them installed there too.
>
> We purchased the Agilis' for our 85 Westy to replace the completely
worn-out
> Conti Contacts that were on the van when we purchased it.  The POV said
that
> he liked them and that they were the original tires when he purchased the
> van, in turn, from the original owner - an Air Force officer who purchased
> it in Germany.
>
> At the time we purchased the Agilis', however, there were no Conti's
> available.  Apparently, the Conti factory in South (or North) Carolina had
> been on strike for over a year and there were absolutely no stock to be
> found.  Supposedly, there is (or was) a C-rated variant.  I've owned
Conti's
> before - on our dearly departed 72 Beetle.  They were very good tires and
> were especially good in snow.  As a bit of additional history - I actually
> spoke with Conti's national customer service center when I was searching
for
> Contacts.  The rep told me that the Contacts were the OEM steel belted
> radials that VW placed on most of the European-market Vanagons and Kampers
> in the mid to late 80's - not Michelins.
>
> We like the Agilis' but I can't actually say that they're a lot better
than
> the Conti's.  We actually purchased them from a local Discount Tire store.
> They had 4 in stock that they'd ordered for another Vanagon owner - who
> apparently never came in to pick them up.  We paid quite a bit less than
the
> price you quoted (but possibly because they wanted to move the stock).
I'd
> suggest that you call Discount.  I'll bet that they'll match or even beat
> the Tire Rack's price.
>
> Good luck.
>
> Todd
>
> Westerville, OH
>
> 85 Westy - Rivendell
> 57 spouse
> 88 daughter, 91 son
> 90 and 94 Newfoundlands
> 96 cats - 2
> 01 Hamster
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Rod Smith <rodwreck@SE-TEL.COM>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Thursday, March 29, 2001 4:41 PM
> Subject: Tirerack.com Top Ten List
>
>
> > Well, I guess it's actually only a top 5 list.
> > Anyway, a search for tires on the tirerack.com website returned the
> > following results:
> >
> > Our most popular 185/-14 (in order of popularity) for the 1984
Volkswagen
> > Vanagon are:
> >
> > 1) Michelin Agilis
> > Price:$92
> > Availability: Low Stock
> > Speed Rating:R
> > Load Rating:C
> > Type:Standard Touring
> >
> > 2) Yokohama Y356
> > Price:$50
> > Availability: In Stock
> > Speed Rating:R
> > Load Rating:C
> > Type:LT Highway Rib
> >
> > 3) Yokohama Y356
> > Price:$57
> > Availability: In Stock
> > Speed Rating:R
> > Load Rating:D
> > Type:LT Highway Rib
> >
> > 4) Michelin MX Reinforced
> > Price:$73
> > Availability: In Stock
> > Speed Rating:R
> > Load Rating:RF
> > Type:LT Highway Rib
> >
> > 5) Continental Contact CR21 Reinforced
> > Price:$46
> > Availability: Low Stock
> > Speed Rating:R
> > Load Rating:RF
> > Type:All-Season
> >
> > I have been told that the Continentals
> > are very good despite there low price.
> >
> > I would be interested in comments and recomendations
> > on all of the above tires, particularly the Continentals
> > Vs the Michelin Agilis.
> >
> > So, Whats your favorite tire?
> > One of the above or something else altogether?
> >
> > Also, any experiences in dealing with tirerack.com
> > would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Rod.
> >