I am looking at a 95 U-320. I can't find any date codes on the sidewalls. It looks smooth toward the outer edges of the tires like it had been ground. I am inclined to think that these might be retread tires.
What is the general feeling about retreads? Any way to find the age, except by receipt?
There appears to be some slight sidewall cracks developing closer to the rim. Is this a possible red flag for these tires?
As always, I appreciate the input from the knowledgeable members. For those like myself, I need all the help I can get.
Thanks, in advance.
Larry
My input: If I were looking at it, I would figure on $4000+- for new tires immediately. I would also expect an owner who put retreads on a U320 might have also tried to save money on other maintenance items.
I'm with Dave on both counts
Yes, looks like it's tire time. Retreads are OK on drive axles but I would never put them on a steer axle and not anywhere on my coach. Used a lot of them in municipal service but never on emergency vehicles.
Keith
Just put 6 new Michilen xza3+ tires on our 320 the other 2 I had replaced last year. Would for sure replace those tires
It all depends on the rethreader and how old the tire casing was, who's tire casing it was and how many times the casing had been rethreaded (usually no more than three). And no way would I put rethreads on my motorhome. I have way to much experience running other people junk with rethreads, and even used tires, that only made a couple trips to Florida from here in the north before blowing. Some rethreaders are very fussy about the tire casing they use, and their caps might last a bit longer. But when you look at the damage a blown tire can cause on a motorhome, including fiberglass, there is not way I would run rethreads!!! They can take out plumbing, black or grey tanks. fiberglass. compartment doors, electrical wiring, the radiator on your toad, and even the side mirrors on your coach.
If you can't afford Michelins or Goodyear tires, there are lots of other choices. Firestones, Bridgestone, Dunlap, Hankook, Toyo, General, B.F. Goodrich, Kelly and so on. I am replacing all six this summer and my dealer is highly recommending Firestones. Says the technology on them is better than the Bridgestones today.
Edit:
I forgot. They usually mount the tires so that the DOT numbers are inside facing each other. And rethreads have a rethread number branded on them. All rethreads have a federal 3 digit DOT number which is stamped on the side thread of the . Here is the site you use to start finding out who rethreaded a tire: DOT Codes - Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau (http://www.retread.org/?page=DOTcodes). Just follow the directions and link.
Larry,
Retreads, especially heading into warm summer weather can be bad news on a vehicle with fiberglass around the wheel wells. The damage can really be extensive. Front blowouts can do more than damage the fiberglass.
Others may differ but if a new set of tires has a DOT rating (they all do if sold in this country) and a set costs $1700, I don't see any reason to pay $4K. Lots of asian tires that get torture tested on third world roads will do just fine on a RV and don't cost an arm and a leg and are just as safe. Would do a bit of research on dealer network, reviews, etc. You will find everyone has their favorite.
Pierce
Larry,
A good read from a bus company regarding tire brands, pressures, etc. They have a load of passengers and operating costs to worry about so give a pretty good view of the tire market.
Tejas Coach Works Tire Information Data Page (http://www.tejascoach.com/tires.html)
Pierce
My rear dualies had 7 year old Goodyear G670's, which were still in good shape (no sidewall cracks, tread still quite deep), but 7 years is 7 years. I felt I was pushing it. So this week I replaced them with Toyos, M154, 295X75X22.5, LRH. Only slight snag was finding braided SS valve extensions long enough. The ones (11.5") on the Goodyears were over 12 years old (never leaked), but I didn't want to take a chance on using them. Herman Power ordered the extensions for me. They recommended and use the 13.5" inch long extensions, so that what I am using. The newest Toyos I could find were made in "3612" so I accepted them. I have seen too many "gator" treads on the highway to take a chance on retreads.
Funny. Last I heard Bridgestone owned Firestone. Check out Toyo and Yokohama prices as well, very good tires to be sure.
Was three years in the off road and over the road tire business. Unfortunately recommendations often influenced by how much gross margin, spiffs, or commissions were paid out/-available on each brand.
Lots of good posts in past on the forum on tires.
Larry,
Did you check both inside and outside all the tires? I've never seen a re-treader grind off date codes. That would be illegal. BTW, alligators on the road are almost always caused by under-inflated tires, not retreads. The fine cracks you see may be cosmetic. 1/32" deep cracks require tire replacement.
Two points,
1-Agree with Amos on the weight
2-Tejas info is very dated on some subjects, just be aware. not correct today.
FWIW
To everyone, thanks for all of the input. I truly appreciate your advice and I am overwhelmed by the response from the support which I rely so heavily on as we get ready for our 1st RV. It helps me to confirm my gut feeling that new tires are a small price to pay for my DW's safety (as well as the furry kids). I personally am gunshy on using retreads, to many gators on the road, like you said. Some have caused damage to some of my other vehicles in the past.
I wasn't aware that the date codes are turned into the inside, thanks for more learning curve PatC and Amos. ;D
I haven't asked the owner if he is the one who installed the tires or if it was a previous owner. The coach seems to be in very good shape as a whole. Decal wear, tires, couple of other minor items. Thanks to the forum, I know that the bulkheads look like they are fresh from the factory ^.^d . Haven't made the appointment yet to see the inside or take a test drive. Still getting the Bricks ready for sale ??? .
Again I thank one and all for the help. When we do finally get to get a FT and get on the road, you guys are going to get soooooo tired of all my questions, but thanks in advance. :P :P
My (4) rear drive tires are showing these very fine cracks. I do not see any other signs of dry rot and the rubber still looks shiny. These tires are about six or seven years old and only have 20,000 miles on them. I'm seeking opinions on replacing or running them? Most of the time they are covered when the coach is not in use and I have New steer tires. :-\
Amos, the cracks on the sidewall are very small, nowhere near 1/32". Kinda looks like what I see in the mirror in the mornings :o :o
Thanks for the info again.
Larry
The old think obout replacing tires at the seven year mark is a result of responsible people with the "been there-- done that". My experience says "If any doubt --replace " Why ? If you don't the cost is a much larger thing to deal with . The safety thing just might squeze in there also . If trying to save $$$ you might get ahead of safety , the price will be larger. Brad Metzger
Thanks Brad,
I couldn't agree more. Even if the tires were 5 or 6 yrs old, I don't think the cost of new ones will be any cheaper in another year or two. We are planning on going full time, so I want to start out on the right foot. I appreciate your comments hear as well as in the other topics on the forum.
Larry
Don, you will like those Toyos, I have them for a year now.
John H
gotta go catch a 'plane, bye
A couple years ago while doing an under the coach inspection I found a three inch radial split on the inside sidewall of an outside dual. As luck would have it, I found a Michelin dealer three miles away. I told him what I'd found. He told me to slowly drive the coach to him so I could inspect it. I held my breath the whole way.
The tech crawled under, inspected the split and said "Yup, you need to replace it". Well, duh! But then he didn't have the right tire in stock. He checked nearby inventory and found a TCI shop that had the tire(in fact, two of them since I insisted that both tires in the drive pair match). Problem-said TCI dealer was 100 miles away. How do I get there? The tech in front of my said "No problem, just drive it there". Because he couldn't feel steel belting when he probed the crack, he knew the sidewall wasn't compromised. I drove at normal speed the the TCI shop. The split hadn't grown at all.
It's important to remember that the sidewall rubber doesn't contribute to the strength of the tire. Its purpose is to protect the sidewall steel belts, which do support all the load. It protects them from environmental corrosion, and from mechanical impact from curbs, potholes, or those alligators left from the big trucks. Just sayin. We all make our own decisions.
I've run Toyos for six years. No issues. Very pleased. Just replaced the two front tires. The rear tires are good for another year. With regard to retreads, there are some YouTube retread plant tour vids showing a couple different methods. Lots of busses run them. But I don't.
I believe that is unlawful to use retreads on the front axle of a Bus.
It is on any truck I believe. I like a good Bandag retread on a newer quality case, but wouldn't run in any position on a coach. OTR trucks do not have large expensive Fiberglass pieces near drive or trailer tire positions.
Or a commercial truck
Roland
X2 on alot of great "other trie makers out there"
I run diesel trucks and have zero use for retread on truck or trailers. Throw a cap and tear us $1000.00 worth of eq quick... Throw a cap on a motorhome and a thousand wont even start the repairs... And yes it is a federal law that heavy duty trucks not have caps on the front...It is against the law to patch a steer tire... I can't imagine anyone agreeing to drive a truck with recaps on the front... That would take one individual lacking in brain matter... Back to the OP.... The only distance I would drive my coach with re caps would be the distance to the nearest tire shop to have them taken off.
Ah! That's why I had such difficulty getting the folk at a TA in Albuquerque to fix the steer tire on my SOB coach on a Sunday morning. They really did not want to touch an RV at all. I got them to look at it. The grommet for the stem was failing. No patch was required. Got fixed up and went on our way. Another grommet on a driver failed on the same trip. I don't run TPMS any more. I'm convinced both failures resulted from extra weight on the end of the stem stressing the grommets. Will try TPMS again when it is integral to the stem and mounted on the wheel. I don't plan to ever run retreads on any of my vehicles.
10-4...... J.D.
Like these from TST Truck?
(https://www.foreforums.com/imagecache.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tsttruck.com%2Fimages%2F807f81da0b14c661c617b3ccc68f2033.jpg&hash=ef34aa818b421d7522056b651e578c45" rel="cached" data-hash="ef34aa818b421d7522056b651e578c45" data-warn="External image, click here to view original" data-url="http://www.tsttruck.com/images/807f81da0b14c661c617b3ccc68f2033.jpg)
Yup! Like those. We bought latest, greatest TST four years ago. We were inconvenienced and disappointed. Might try them next time I get tires (not retreads). We put the current tires on three years ago. Technology should mature even more over the next 3 or 4 years.
We'll see if we are still Foretravelers in 3 or 4 years. We plan to be. Around our house a phrase that is often quoted is, "If you want to hear God laugh, make some plans." I keep planning and listening.