Tires - Blowout - Gowesty load rating is optimistic?

pdm777 · Last edited by pdm777 on Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:49 pm; edited 1 time in total

I'd like opinions on load rating vs. GoWesty 'recommendations'.

My GoWesty Michelin HydroEdge separated from the wheel
just as I was starting to climb the grapevine into L.A.

The entire tread separated from the sidewall,
and my tire was rolling down the highway without me Shocked

Date code 3510 (2010), less than 8K on tires.

Went to Americas Tire, they claim the Michelin rating 94T was 'too low',
they said NONE of the new Michelin Defenders were rated for Westy loads,
and recommended the Goodyear XL (xtra load) as a better choice.

- 215/60 16 Michelin HydroEdge 94T (no longer available)
- 215/60 16 Michelin Defender 95T (replacement for HydroEdge)

- 215/55 16XL Goodyear TripleTread 97H (rated 97 XL+ $80 rebate)

What is the bottom line on safe tire choices?
GoWesty is recommending/selling Mich. Defender tires.
<edit> GW is now selling Goodyears, the lower rated 215/60-16 95T
(NOT the 215/55 extraload version)

Is Goodyear Tripletread in 215/55-16XL be a better choice that the Michelin Defender 215/60-16?

Why is GW recommending tires that Americas Tire will not mount
due to concerns about load ratings ?

Phishman068 · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:39 pm Post subject:

I don't run anything less than an XL load rated tire. I have a set of 95XL snow tires i had on my last bus and could certainly tell the side wall was stiffer and it was a more substantial tire than a "regular" pass car tire, though even that is the very low end of what i'd consider acceptable.
Look for a 99T or higher load rating, or anything with an XL.

Some sizes just have bad load ratings for vanagons. It just so happens thats the tire size they suggest.....
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vanagonjr · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 5:49 pm Post subject:

Freaky -this is nearly identical to a post on the LiMBO facebook page. 2010 Michelin HydroEdge P 215/60 R16 Radial XSE tires with sidewall cracks showing.
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crazyvwvanman · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:05 pm Post subject:

Ask the tire place what they have in 215/65/16. Tires in that slightly taller size are higher load rated and some come in XL at 102.

215/65/16 XL 102

Mark

Jon_slider · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 6:44 pm Post subject:

I recommend Nokian tires through Van Cafe, give them a call.
Read this first
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_1223_1404/nokian_tire_wrg2_entyre.html
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Gauche1968 · Samba Member Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1518

GoWesty's Tire recommedations are the subject of much heated controversy.

Compare GoWesty's philosophy to Bus Depot's.
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pdm777 · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:11 pm Post subject:

Houston, we have a problem.
Google : michelin hydroedge sidewall crack

All four tires had very significant sidewall cracking.
I did not feel safe driving on tires that had compromised sidewalls.

Any body else notice severe sidewall cracking on Michelin HydroEdges???

hiram6 · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:37 pm Post subject:

Falken offers a tire in their ZIEX line that has the right specs. It used to be called the 912, and may still be at some tire dealers, but Discount Tire sells it as the Ziex ZE-612.

It is sized at 215/60-16 and is an XL rated tire with a 99 load rating. On my 85 Westy with 16 inch MB wheels it puts the speedometer dead-on accurate at 70MPH.

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/tires/fal...erformance

I'm on my second set. Good tire for on-road. Makes no pretension at being an off-road tire.
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whafalia · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:46 pm Post subject:

At least one of my gw hydroedges showed significant sidewall cracking at 20k, replaced with nokians at about 30k (est., I'm not great at tracking these things), and they are so much better! Felt like I'd gotten power steering. Astoundingly better. I wasn't buying the rolling donuts of death stories on the fat thread on this but will certainly only get higher load rated tires from now on. I will note that the cracking was most noticeable on the tire that gets the most sun where it is usually parked.
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ThankYouJerry · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 7:51 pm Post subject:

danfromsyr · Posted: Thu Oct 24, 2013 9:02 pm Post subject:

not to jump on the slightly Off topic Thou shall change ships (tires) bandwagon
but I run 205/70/15 Nokian WR G2s and love the dry and wet road grip and handling.
close friend who travels with us on our long journeys runs the Nokian EnTyre in a 205/70/15 and has nothing but stellar opinion of them..

I bought a set of Nokian Hakkapelitta 5's in a 205/65/15 for our upcoming winter trip NY to FL.. have to be prepared for deep slush/snow passing PA & NY in Jan... will report back once those are mounted.

and I much prefer a 99 +up weight rating tire.. in the 100's is better of course.
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pedrokrusher · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 6:26 am Post subject:

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50348

What kind of tire pressures were you running? Were your rims the correct width for your tires?

pdm777 · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 1:48 pm Post subject:

was running 36psi in all four,
no load - driver / otherwise empty

Standard 16 inch GoWesty wheels.

After blowout, pumped in 44psi
on remaining three tires to get home.

Severe deep cracking apparently
weakened the sidewall cords.

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50348

Did you loose a front tire or a rear tire? With those tires you could have and probably should have been running a full 44psi in the back and most of that in the front. P-metric tires are designed to run at higher pressures without getting wear in the center of the thread. The extra pressure will make for a stiffer ride though.

tschroeder0 · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 2:26 pm Post subject:

If you search about this on the web you get a lot of hits regarding these tires and sidewall breakdown, seems like more of a quality control issue than an actual load rating problem?

Corwyn · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 4:04 pm Post subject:

Now I'm nervous. I have a set of Yokohama Geolanders (205/70/15) that I was itching to put on for the winter. They're load rated 96S and now I'm not sure . . .
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tschroeder0 · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 4:15 pm Post subject:

I have been running the geo's for about 8k, no issues at all.

pedrokrusher · Posted: Fri Oct 25, 2013 4:52 pm Post subject:

Wildthings · Samba Member Joined: March 13, 2005 Posts: 50348


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