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Topic: preferred tires ? (Read 1315 times) previous topic - next topic

preferred tires ?

Replaced the front tires last spring when we purchased '96 40' U320.  Ready to replace my rear duals.  Anyone have a preference or recommendations
1996 Foretravel U320
2014 Honda CRV
eBike

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #1
Best answer from me is to get tires that fit and are rated for the weight of your coach.  Lot's of people have a brand preference but getting good quality tires to do the job you want is important, so do your homework.  Not having any more information than your post above I am curious as to why you wouldn't want to replace the rears with the same tires on your steering axle??

Best of luck............... ^.^d
Ted & Karen
2001 U270 36' - sold after 12 years full timing

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #2
I run YOKOHOMAs on the MH and all cars and the pickup.  My experience is that they don't get flat spots as bad when setting for some time.  They run quietly and and smoothly.  They don't have the sidewall give in the corners like some other brands that I have had.  It really boils down to personal preference and economics.  You might put a set on some other rig if one needs them,  and drive it hard to see how they perform before putting them on your MH.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz
Fritz & Kathy Johnson
1991 36'

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #3
I like steer or all position tires with a minimum flex sidewall. Search for brand reviews.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #4
If the coach has not been weighed on all four corners with normal fuel/fluids and 'stuff', it's a moot point. ^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #5
Airbag pressure (ride height adjusters) on right and left rear will change weights all around the coach including the front L&R. Only one height adjuster up front. I have never weighted the coach.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #6
Last year I bought Continentals through the FMCA tire program and saved over $100.00 each off the discount Michelin program.
They now have Hankook tires available.
Bill 
2008 Newmar Mountain Aire (4523)
Cummins ISM 450HP
Allison 4000 MH tran.
Towing a 2014 Honda CRV with a blue Ox tow bar
A man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way.
-Mark Twain-

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #7
Michelin via FMCA discount, replace them about every 7 years. Stay with original size, always use load range H.

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #8
Every uni whatever that Foretravel built since 1988 had Michelin tires on it.

"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #9
Every uni whatever that Foretravel built since 1988 had Michelin tires on it. 
We still run them: a upgraded 255/80R/ 22.5 made for RV use. We run 85 psi in the bow and 80 in the stern. Do I like them? b^.^d  b^.^d  b^.^d
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #10
I noticed my XZA-3+'s lower rolling resistance has me using the brakes or retarder more than with the XZA-1's that were on the coach.  They slowed the coach down more when coasting. 

Noticeable improvement in ride quality, handling, noise and mpg  also
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #11
Lots of excellent tires on the market. I just don't like Michelin's soft flex sidewall. I also like the lower profile that 295/75s have while keeping the same diameter. All things equal, wider tires stop, corner better plus were are only talking .75 inches.

If you search, there are several sites concerning tire casing life and cracking due to sun and smog.

Lots of peer pressure here. :)  :)  :)

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #12
The trouble with buying at "Bubba's Discount Tires' are many: you don't have a choice of fresh tires; they may not be able to 'force balance', they may not have new aluminum valve stems, dual seal caps and wheel studs. They may also not have the tools or the knowledge to properly torque them!  :facepalm:
1993 U-240 "La Villa Grande"..CAT 3116 w/ Pacbrake PRXB...Allison 3060 6-speed..
Previous: 1983 Airstream 310 turbo diesel, 1979 Airstream 280 turbo diesel
                                      Build # 4297
                                      PNW natives
                      Home base:  'Cactus Hug' (Ajo, Arizona)
                        DW Judy & Chet the wonder dog
                        Full-Timers 'Sailing the asphalt sea'

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #13
They may also not have the tools or the knowledge to properly torque them!  :facepalm:
As owner/operator, the knowledge is YOUR responsibility. Anyone who lets a shop torque their wheels is asking for trouble the next time they have a flat or try to have any maintenance done. Less than $100 allows you to be in control and not be stuck waiting for new studs in some small town. Tire shops are like going to a casino, sometimes you win but when you lose...

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #14
The Michelin side wall was designed to shred at zero pressure to allow the tire to come down onto the tread belt.  No flip flopping.

Othefr brands went to a stiff sidewall as a way to control the vechile so as not to lose steering control.

Works for Michelin as there steel belted casing has belts straight across. Directionally stable.

Most othe brands  long ago has criss crossed casing belts.  Not self centering.

Remember the old Michelin "X" billboards long ago that showed the straight across steel belts?

Drove every kind of diesel rv long ago and I made a personal game with myself to not look at the tires when I got into the coaches for test drives just to see if I could tell.

The Michelin's were noticeable, at least to me, back then.

I had forgotten my personal test back then. 

May or may not apply as much anymore. 

What tires does .spartan use on their chassis?

Edit: spartan big chassis use Michelin also
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #15
I think the biggest problem with small tire stores is getting current Date codes on the tires.

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #16
Just remember to keep foot off brake and quickly go full throttle when that tire blows out. . .

Same rule if any wheel position blow or if driving car or motorhome.

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #17
                         Been reading all these opinions about tires .  This got me interested to do some checking , so I Phoned  Prevost ,and  Newell  , which  do Michelin tires only .  The Newell guy said " we use Michelin because they are the best tire for our coaches "  Prevost only said they are the best available tires on the market . To me that is fairly strong to hear . The third Foretravel I bought was  a 2006 , 40 foot Phenix came new with Good Years and had trouble from the start . They would not stay round . Every 10 thousand miles , had to have them cut round as they got real bouncy . When I traded it for my present Phenix , Forretravel put new Michelin's on it before they sold it  .  I have Michelins on every thing I have except , two John Deer tractors which came with Firestones . Don't think everything else is bad but have drawn the  line from my experience .  Brad Metzger
Brad Metzger
2010 Phenix 45'

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #18
I'm far from a tire expert, but I'll share my experience, too.

When we bought our coach the previous owner said that the tires were all pretty new. A check of the front tires confirmed that. After I drove 300 miles home (second time driving a MH and first time solo) I found out that only the front tires had been changed. The rears were 13 years old! I used the FMCA discount program to get four new Michelins on the rear to match the Michelins on the front. A little over a year ago (hmm, maybe two years now) I replaced the front tires with Toyos using a tire place that was recommended to me by a forum member. The Toyos were a LOT cheaper than the Michelins. So far I haven't been able to tell any difference. In November we got four rear Toyos from a tire shop in Nac that has been recommended here. Those tires were quite a bit more expensive than the front tires, even though they are the same tire. Two differences between the shops stand out. The first place gave me a trade-in allowance on the old tires, which lowered the overall price, but the tires were nearly a year old, so the cost per year went up. The second store made sure that the tires were as new as possible, but didn't give me anything for the old tires.

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #19
I replaced my michelins with toyos this year. I'm glad I did. The toyos are much better handling especially on bad road surfaces. I like the toyos a lot.
Kathy
05 36' U270

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #20
I replaced my michelins with toyos this year. I'm glad I did. The toyos are much better handling especially on bad road surfaces. I like the toyos a lot.
.
We did the same on our 36' last year and have been very pleased with these tires.  Great handling in rain and ice and on the long, hot west Texas summer highway... and, they hold air pressure very well!
Bill Jackson & Kim Sweeney
24' Lazy Daze TK
SKP Lifetime member #105622
2002 U320 PBDS 36' (Sold)
Build 5941

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #21
Me too.
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Lynn & Marilyn Sickel
Tollville, AR
1997  U320  40'
2021 Chevrolet Silverado pickup
Motorcader  17257

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #22
Most threads like this should define "preferred" IMO.

are you asking for our opinion of what might be the same overall quality as the oem Michelins but at a savings in price?

Most "price" threads here seem to be owners wanting less expensive.  Period.

Almost all such choices normally end up with lower quality items that do not work as well or last as long as the oem parts our coaches were fit with new.

Rver's are notoriously frugal.  My rv biz experience is that over the long run the cheaper price stuff was less satisfactory in use and did not last as long.

We are not rich but Foretravel fit the best available systems and parts new in our coaches.

And I tend to reinstall what they used myself.


"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #23
I think ford had an issue a few years ago where they thought they had a great tire to put under a few of their SUV.. didnt turn out to well for them so OEM isnt always the best... sometimes money is the great motivator.

WHo would have thought Firestone of all names would ahve had such a problem.. Ive seen all brands lose treads or blow out. Sometimes it comes down to preventative maintenance and care. Cost in in there somewhere im sure

Re: preferred tires ?

Reply #24
like I posted here I have driven hundreds of diesel coaches.  Made a game of NOT looking at what tires were in the coach just to see if I could tell the difference and positively identify the brand tires just by driving it.

Almost all the brands felt pretty similar.  Except the Michelin's.

Whether anyone believes me or not is ok. 

I do not think I was ever wrong in my "feel"

Remember the Michelin straight across steel cord belt design and the thinner sidewalls for better control during a blowout?

Why else would and did Prevost, Spartan and Foretravel all use only the Michelin's?  Like they want to waste money or have their products drive poorer?
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob & Susan
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4