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Vans & Minivans Run-flat, self-sealing, PAX tires for Minivans
1439 messages, Last post on Oct 15, 2009 at 2:25 PM
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Replying to: fountane (Apr 16, 2008 11:15 pm) The Michelin PAX tires use a support ring mounted on the wheel inside the tire to support the weight of the car when air pressure is lost. And a unique rim-tire flange design to prevent the tires from coming off the rim. Regards, JEff |
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Replying to: cccompson (Apr 17, 2008 1:02 pm) Did your quote include new rings and gel packs? If not, then pump up your quote an extra $90 or so per wheel. You won't find out you need the rings until the tires are already removed from the rims. Then, the dealer will probably have to special order the rings, but that should only set you back 2-3 days without your van. Hopefully, your dealer will lend you a nice Civic to tote your family around in while you wait for the rings. If not, then you'll have to rent yourself a family hauler and add in the cost... The market may have changed since I last did the research in November, but the lowest price I found within 100 miles of my home in VA was roughly $1200 for a set of four without new rings. Only two PAX dealers actually had the tires in stock and neither had the rings. Although I agree with the basic concept of the PAX system, the implementation of the program was horrible: insufficient supply, insufficient support network and much higher than advertised costs. When one throws in outright lying by most dealers regarding those issues, the program borders on criminal.
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Replying to: vinnyny (Apr 20, 2008 4:40 am) But your larger point is quite valid. The fact that one may or may not need expensive extra parts when buying tires is unbelieveable and will, no doubt, eventually play a key role in PAX litigation that will in the end cost Honda and Michelin plenty.
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Replying to: cccompson (Apr 20, 2008 4:09 pm) |
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Just posting my flat tire story for those interested in this tire system. Simple nail got stuck in my tire on a Friday night. Drove car home 5 miles, and started calling around on Sat. morning. Found an America's Tire Company that would be able to repair the tire for roughly $80 labor. Drove car 30 miles to this shop... Apparently driving 30 miles on the tire heated up the gel inside and dried it up. The tire was no longer repairable, and I needed a new one. Waited 2 days for new tire to be delivered. To Michelon's credit.. they covered the $199 for my tire after the tire dealer called them up and explained what happened, and I just had to pay the labor of $80. The whole system is just an inconvenience... I'm lucky to live in an area where it only cost me 2 days without my car. With this PAX system now an option in the 08 Honda Oddessy model, I don't think the situation will get any better for those looking for more michelon pax certified tire centers.
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Replying to: dpatel1 (Jun 25, 2008 7:59 am) Agreed, now that the PAX system is effectively a Lame Duck, I'd be suprised if any additional tire dealers or Acura/Honda dealerships invest in the necessary equipment to service them. I strongly suspect that as time goes on, and as more folks convert their vans to GFT style tires, finding services for PAX vans will become a bit sketchy. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Jun 25, 2008 8:09 am) Talk about lame duck ... NY Times, April 20, 2008
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Replying to: actualsize (Jun 25, 2008 8:31 am) Honda recommends that owners who have the PAX system not change to conventional wheels. Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman, said the Touring model’s suspension was tuned for the PAX tires and switching to conventional wheels “would compromise the ride and handling.” I find that especially funny as the owners that I've talked to that have made the switch have universally stated that the "ride and handling" improved once the heavy PAX wheel and tire assembly was replaced by a conventional setup weighing less than two-thirds of the weight. Hmmm, maybe by "compromise" they mean any deviation from OEM, good or bad. Best Regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Jun 25, 2008 11:51 am) In reality, any time you change a tire away from the OE, PAX or not, run-flat or not--even if you retain the same size--you are messing up the balance a little because the tires are tuned along with the springs and shocks to work together as a system. But people make tire changes all the time--they almost never buy exact OE replacements, and many times they change wheels, too--without heed, and the world has not come to an end. They buy aftermarket shocks, off-brand replacement brake pads, a different exhaust. So what? This statement form Honda, therefore, while technically containing a granule of truth, is just a bit disingenuous. "Change" is more accurate than "compromise" and while I can see how the corporation might be unwilling to publicly endorse such a move, the difference can't amount to very much. Actually, I'd love to do a test myself. |
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Replying to: actualsize (Jun 25, 2008 1:10 pm) I've yet to talk to an Odyssey owner who tracked his or her van prior to a wheel and tire swap (not terribly surprising), so I cannot report on measured improvements. That said, they've all reported a much better ride and much more precise handling. Go figure.  Best Regards, Shipo |
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