Well that about says it all doesn't it. As Forest Gump put it......
"Stupid is as stupid does"

On 7-Dec-06, at 12:53 PM, Automatic digest processor wrote:

> Date:    Thu, 7 Dec 2006 14:28:31 -0500
> From:    Roger Sisler <rogersisler2000@YAHOO.COM>
> Subject: Re: Vanagon OEM tire report Yes, I am still using a 22
> year old tire
>
> These were XZX Michelins.Dont know the tire size,but they did not
> inflate
> to normal pressures for the Vanagon.Maybe either 35 or 44psi.Dont
> remeber.NOT 48psi. Those 4 tires are history, currently being used
> as a
> off shore reef.   No sin, as I have NEVER seen a single tire on a
> junked
> vanagon that was correct.NEVER!!

> I would buy it used, if it had any tread left.

> Never seen one.Not ever.Talking about 30 or 40 Vanagons. That said, I
> have never heard of Vanagons being is excessive accidents,either.I bet
> most people here on the list do the same for tires.I do.Most just cant
> afford $150 each for tires.Believe me,I would like to buy good
> tires. Got
> pep boy tires that work just fine for tread wear.Inflate to 44psi. God
> loves me. Cost $25 each with balancing.That is not the charge for
> balancing.That is the total cost with balancing and FET,NEW. Put
> 43K on
> the two rear ones, and they got about 5K left.This is a westy.They are
> Futura tires.
>
> I write here, because I find it interesting that Michelin( of all
> people)
> cant make a tire that will age,and that it may be possiable to use old
> tires that came with the Vanagon..The XZX were made about 1992 and had
> almost all tread left.They sat and sat for years.I am sure at least
> two of
> them were in the shade for that time.The Vanagon had 62K.The side
> walls
> were all cracked up. The OEM Continental was pristein, and 7 ot 8
> years
> older.
>
>  The XZX tires all destructed the same way.The tread seperated.I
> started
> getting a feeling like the balance was going bad.It kept getting
> worse and
> worse.I kept wondering and wondering what was wrong. BLAMMMM!!! The
> tread
> blew out.The steel cords were about a foot long and all ready to
> stick my
> hands as I changed the tire, long side the interstate.Silly me,I kept
> putting another XZX on till they all blew out. One after the other.
> Lasted
> about 3k total.Almost new tread,but old. No they were incorrect for
> the
> Vanagon,and this probably contibuted to their demise.I suspect that
> they
> would have lasted 5K on a Camry.Point being,the XZX doesnt age as
> well as
> other tires. The French should know the most in the world about
> rubber.They had 200 years to learn, in indochina.I only had the one
> spare
> tire left, at this point, so on it went. A Continental tire form
> Germany.
> Brand new and 22 years old. Got about 3k now on it.Thistire can be
> seen .It is currently modeling hub caps in my ebay store :>).I
> wouldnt pay
> anything for it,just happen to have it handy.Gonna have to buy new
> tires
> soon. Hope I can find some correct ones during a junkyard
> excursion.Still
> dont want to pay lots and lots for tires at this time.
>
> --