RE: Michelin tires
Roger hasn't had a chance to post what size/model Michelin tires failed for
him but my bet is the wrong tires for the vehicle.  A tire shop I trusted,
and before I knew how critical the right tires are on a Vanagon, put four
brand new Michelin tires on my '85 Westy.  Drove like a pig and eventually
developed sidewall separation on two of the four.  I was puzzled when the
same shop practically gave me two replacements when the first separation
developed, major adjustment in price and what I realized later was an almost
panicked look on the guys face.  When the second went and I was having two
more replaced I asked the guy about what was being removed.  He said without
hesitation that they were the wrong tires for the Vanagon and I was lucky I
got as many miles out of them as I did without a failure.  Were these bad
Michelin tires? NO!  Bad selection by a shop I trusted? Yes.  Since then
I've had nothing but good performance from Michelin tires on my Westy, first
MXT's and now Agilis.