Working in the aerospace industry on commercial landing gear, I've learned
Nitrogen has been used there for many years...

In the test lab we put 4 used DC-9 tires (scrap tires that were considered
worn out by the airline) on our drop test spin up machine.

Each had a 250HP electric DC motor driving it to spin up the landing gear
for drop testing...these 20+ year old tires still went over 200 MPH spin
speed

and took less than 2 grams of weights to rebalance...all on nitrogen...

I like the idea myself...

Den.

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 6:01 PM
Subject: Re: Michelin Tire Experiences

> Nitrogen in tires pushes out the oxygen and the ozone and thereby aids
> in preventing rot.
>
> Low pressure exposes the tire sidewalls to more hazards on the road -
> sharp rocks, nails, glass, other debris.
>
> On one of my trips driving the Alaska Highway to Alaska, I blew out 6
> tires. Every single one was the result of sidewall damage from rocks.
> What I didn't know  at the time was, when driving on rough rocky terrain
> it is extremely important to keep tabs on tire pressure - much more
> important that when driving on pavement. Evidently the constant working
> of the tire allows minute amounts of air to escape around the bead of
> the tire on the rim. Not so much a problem on smooth paved highways, but
> definitely aggravated when running on gravel roads for great distances.
>
> BTW, back then the Alaska Highway was  called the ALCAN Highway and was
> 1450 miles of gravel road. Today it is called the Alaska Highway, and is
> paved pretty much all the way, except for places where they are
> upgrading the road and repairing it from winter damage.
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88 GL Driver
>
> Rich Bennington wrote:
>>> Yep. Not surprised. There's lots of tires not  listed for the Vanagon
>>> but perform well and do not compromise safety.  The tires I have are
>>> Michelin XCA 205-75 R14 Load Range D, 65 PSI Cold. Tread - 2 Ply
>>> polyester Belts,  &  3 ply Steel Belts, Sidewall -2 ply polyester belts.
>>>
>>> Vanagons are notoriouly unstable and skittish in crosswinds and truck
>>> turbulance on the highway. I chose this tire because I wanted a tire
>>> that had really stiff sidewalls and would be stable in winds on the
>>> road. My machine on these tires tracks like it's on rails. They are
>>> slightly taller than the "70" tires, but that diference I have found
>>> corrects the built - in speedometer error in all Vanagons. Clocked
>>> against another known accurate speedometer, my speedo with the Michelin
>>> XCA's underneath is, as Marissa Tormei said in the movie "My Cousin
>>> Vinny" -  'dead-on balls accurate"! Couldn't ask for better.
>>>
>>> These tires are from Michelins Commercial Truck Tire line, and like many
>>> truck tires, they have one small flaw. They don't have the greatest
>>> traction on wet pavement. They are a truck tire, and they do depend on
>>> the extra heavy weight of the truck to help in their contact to the
>>> ground.
>>>
>>> Good tire, generally, but unfortuately, Michilin apparently doesn't make
>>> them any more.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> John Rodgers
>>> 88 GL Driver
>>>
>>>
>> Tirerack does still sell this tire, but only in 7.50R17D, at $228 ea.!
>> Whoa!
>>
>> On my own vanagon, it "came" with some odd brand 195-75R14-LTs, only
>> rated
>> to 1400lbs at 50psi, so it's slightly marginal for a Westy.  I'll use
>> them
>> 'till they wear out, probably, but I'd be smart to check the tire
>> pressure
>> pretty regularly and keep them pumped up.  When I replace them, I'll size
>> them properly, probably with a 185R14.  I thought about going to a
>> slightly
>> larger diameter to correct the speedometer, but I've since put a '90
>> speedo
>> in my van, and it's pretty close now.
>>
>> After reading some NHTSA stuff on pressures on tires, it looks like low
>> tire
>> pressure is a hot agenda item these days!  It's apparently the biggest
>> factor in tire blowouts.  Since most tires and suspensions are way more
>> comfortable these days, most people never notice their tires are low.
>> Couple this with the fact that tires lose, on average, 3-4 lbs of
>> pressure a
>> year.... well, you get the picture.  NHTSA has even been discussing
>> requiring low tire pressure indicators.  (Please, government -- protect
>> me
>> from myself!)  Here is one of their education posters on low pressure
>> blowouts:
>>
>> http://safercar.gov/Tires/images/Underinflated_Tires.pdf
>>
>> I recently bought some tires for my Subaru, and the tire guy put nitrogen
>> in
>> at no charge.  I guess it reduces tire degregation and valve stem leaks!
>> Maybe all this awareness is one good thing that's coming out of the
>> Firestone disasters.
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>> Rich
>>
>>
>
>