Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2012 09:48:01 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Hello again and looking for tires
In-Reply-To: <9DE378E6-D664-408E-8D33-D681C1133B83@peterkrogh.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
Over the years I learned that used tires are rarely a good move, especially
a set. My suggestion for the budget conscious is the general Altimax
205/70-14XL.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=General&tireModel=Altimax+R
T&partnum=07TR4AMAXRTXL&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes
While uninspiring this is the closest replacement for the OEM tires supplied
with the alloy wheels 87 and later. This particular tire is XL rated. This
is also an all season tire that will work well in the DC area.
When you are ready to make the move my choice of tire/wheel size would be
225/60-16 or 225/55-17. American Racing wheel AR95T77545 is a direct fit and
there are many XL rated tires available in the 225/55-17 size.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Peter Krogh
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 9:29 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Hello again and looking for tires
Good morning Vanagon.com
I have been a long-time on-and off reader, dating back to the mid-90's I
believe. I live in the DC area, and I've got an 85 Westy, Zippy, that I
bought new off the lot. During that time, I've had all the usual (and some
unusual) trials and tribulations with the car, including several years as a
driveway ornament.
I've recently gotten the car back on the road, getting safety items fixed
first. I got the fuel lines replaces, most of the brake parts, belts,
battery, voltage regulator, shocks, horn ring, etc. I did some of it myself,
and had a guy in Oakton VA, Alaric Hernandez, do most of it. It was more
reasonable than I thought, but still not cheap.
I love the feel of the van, and am happy to get behind the wheel again. My
18 year-old daughter is also using the car, and sometimes my wife. I love to
see them driving it.
At the moment, we are confining it to local trips due to dry rot on the
tires. Lots of tread left on the tires, but they are probably 10 years old,
and they make me nervous. As you guys know, new tires are expensive for the
van. I've already outspent the budget my CFO has allocated to the car, so
I'm trying to get by without having to go full retail for new tires. In
addition, if I'm going to spend the real money, I'd rather put it into a set
of larger rims and tires, rather than the stock 14s.
Does anyone near DC have a set of roadworthy used tires laying around they
want to sell? Or someplace in the DC area that's worth checking? I'm
keeping an eye on Craigslist and the Samba, but I figured I'd hit you guys
up as well. I have a line on one set, but they have ben described as kind of
old and cracking and I'm not sure how much better they are than my existing
tires.
Peter Krogh
Author, The DAM Book, Digital Asset Management for Photographers Second
Edition May, 2009 www.theDAMbook.com
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