Anybody (except me) got stuck with having to replace your coach tires with Micheline X-Line tires? I was literally foaming at the mouth when the dealer told me that Micheline RV tires were extinct and that my only alternative was the X-Line.
Anybody else have them? How do you like them?
Larry
Change the size to the same diameter tire. Look around for good tires in that size.
I do not have any experience with the Michelin X line tires but the literature on line is pretty impressive. I have never had a bad experience with Michelin's on any of my vehicles.
Too late. They're already installed. I've always run Michelins, but not being able to get XZ2A or XZ3A has severely strained my relationship with Michelin. Those X-Lines are a commercial tractor-trailer tire for line-haul applications that Michelin is going to foist on the RV coach owner.
CDM. unless you wear out the tread before they age-out, there is NOTHING impressive about them. I had a set of XZA3 tires and they rode smooth as silk. These X-Lines cause my coach to ride like a lumber wagon.
I like my X Line Energy Z's. As long as the tire pressure is correct, I find the ride just fine and the low rolling resistance results in noticeable improvement in fuel mileage.
Did you get G or H rated tires? Considerable difference in max load and pressure ratings.
What pressure are you running in the new tires? Many tire dealers will inflate the tires to the max load (cold) pressure embossed on the sidewall. Unless your coach is loaded to maximum GVWR, you may be able to run less pressure for a better ride.
Have you had your coach 4-corner weighed? This is the best way to determine
real individual axel weights. Once you know that, use the tire manufacturer's charts to set your cold tire pressures.
Load & Inflation Tables | Michelin Truck (https://www.michelintruck.com/reference-materials/manuals-bulletins-and-warranties/load-and-inflation-tables/#/)
Grain elevators typically have exterior scales where you can do axle weights, may be free or may cost you ten bucks or less. On my light 89 I can run 75 psi with plenty of safety factor. NOTE THiS IS COACH SPECIFIC!!! So weigh your rig and consult ratings charts.
Our coach has always ridden fine with the tires set to max cold pressures. Four corner weights are only good for the amount of propane, diesel, black and grey water in the tanks plus how much stuff you put in the coach for weekend vs extended trips.
Pierce
Pierce,
If you are content with the way your coach rides at max cold tire pressures, then that is what
you should run.
Since the OP is
complaining about the ride HE is getting from his new Michelin tires, I just thought I would offer one possible solution.
As always: DWMYH.
My new tires are H-rating. G-rating tires aren't sufficient for my coach's GVWR according to the Michelin dealer. He had me start out at 120 psi, but we can't stand to ride in the coach at that pressure. The tires now have 95 psi, which helps. That isn't enough tire pressure, but I'm gonna run it that way anyhow. I'm a pretty slow driver compared to what I see on the highways, and I check temps regularly.
If you have a 95 36 ft 295, not sure why G rated won't work. My 97 40 ft 295 came with g rated?
Looks like the x line are rated the same load as older model Michelins. 6175 per tire for g rated, so your coach would have to be 37000 lbs to require 110 per tire, and with h rated, 43000 lbs at 120 psi.
https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/XLEZ_brochure.pdf
The tire dealer may not have had the G in stock.
Probably true, and he wants to make a sale, do you think he may be a salesman that bends the truth a little bit? :D :D :D :D
I switched from Michelin to Toyo's 5 years ago and saved over $1800.
I am very happy with the price and the ride.
Maybe I'm off base as I'm not a tire engineer. But as I understand it. A softer (smoother riding tire) will have to have more PSI to hold a given weight, A stiff tire will need less PSI to hold up a given weight.
It's probably a good idea to load the coach to typical driving weight and go weigh the coach and make pressure adjustments.
I had this experience with my Kenworth W900 OTR. It had a super harsh ride. The standard practice was to inflate to 110PSI or the world would end. So I called Michelin's tech department. They said go weigh the truck while fully loaded and call back. So full of fuel and two fully loaded trailers came to only #60,000 with 18,000 on my twin screw drive axles. Michelin said reduce my PSI from 110 down to 75 PSI and the ride went from harsh to very nice indeed and ZERO tire issues in 1.3 million miles.
I switched our coach from the XZA2 285 Michelins to the Toyo M-137 295 H rated steer tire for all six positions. I could not tell a difference in the ride harshness between the two. The Toyo's are marginally quieter than the older XZA2's. I run the Toyo's at 95 PSI, that gives me 5070Lbs per tire load rating for dual tires. Just above the DOT max allowable 20K total for a 4 tire single axle.
Does anyone have experience with Michelin X Multi Energy Z steer tires? It appears from the tire load and inflation table that that they require 5 lbs less PSI than the X Line Energy Zs to carry my axle weight. If I go with the X Multi Energy Z tires I can shed 15 PSI compared to the Contis I have now and improve the ride quality, so I'm looking for any info on them, good or bad.
How heavy do you load your steer and drive axles?
The Michelin chart shows the H rated X-line as supporting 12,380Lbs @ 100PSI this is over the DOT max allowable for a steer axle. So Your 95 PSI is very close.
The 4 tire drive axle shows 85PSI supporting just a few pounds (20,060) beyond the max allowable of 20,000lbs
The XZA-2's I removed were "g" rated and I ran them at 97/107.
The difference in the ride quality to go to the "H" rated Xza-3+'s was major plus the "h" allowed 97/87 pressures.
At 97/107 they rode much better than the XZA-2's. Just saying
I run my Michelin X Line Energy Z LRH tires at 95 PSI front and 90 PSI rear. This gives a comfortable margin over my actual measured loads, and I am pleased with the ride quality.
I have toyos from the po. Not having anything else to compare with they are fine. Probably will replace with the same in a few years.
We had Toyos put on in June. I didn't like that they were slightly bigger than the 275/80 Michelins, and would rub on the air bag plates when making sharp turns. Usually in RV parks or parking lots. We changed the for the Michelin X-Lines and have since put about 2500 miles on them. We have no issues and they seem give as smooth a ride as the Toyo's, and they never rub.
We too run 95/90. They track well, no wander, and very smooth.
Have Toyos 295s LRH run 120 on the fronts 100 on the rears. We are maxed out weight wise. Usually run 70 or so on the interstates. No problem like them. They you never loose air, and smooth ride.
I just weighed my coach with the Cat Scales app. Watched a couple YouTube videos and found a set of scales at a truck stop. Was nervous but it turned out super easy. Got a front axel weight and rear. No more guessing. Loaded with full fuel, full water, full propane and empty holding tanks. I downloaded the chart for my tires and ran the numbers. Compared that to vin plate recommendation using same size and rating as original. As delivered With new tires all were 110 and ride was harsh. Now running 97 front, 84 rear. Much better and a nice padding above minimum required according to charts. All four corner weight best but two axel weigh better than guessing. Cost about $11, took about a minute.
When MOT put on the new airbags and Koni's. I asked them about that rubbing. They said don't worry, We have never seen any issue because of it. So I don't.
Seems most tires are close enough in feel that opinions of how they feel are inconsistent across the different makes and depends on the butt-dyno of the driver.
It's amazing how tired pressure affects the ride.
I'm not sure what pressure my John Deere tires are at but I don't dare make them too high as the ride would be too rough.
Our lawn is bumpy as it is
Jerry can you please elaborate on........................."over the DOT max allowable for a steer axle?"
Here's my X line Energy Z tire after 3,000 miles and exactly (to the day) one year. This happened on the I-5 must south of Sacramento and no road hazard. Photo is worth a lot of words, but have to add that my experience with the company was miserable. I wrote about this extensively in June, 2017. I will never buy Michelin (rv or car) again.
Rare failure hopefully. All tires in the industry as far as I know are run on a machine at double pressure and high speed under a load. At least that's what I remember from a conversation with a Michelin engineer.
Since I'm stuck with them, I hope so. These tires were in the same lot (presumably) and I'm constantly concerned about a repeat. This caused a lot of damage to the wheel well and exterior skin. If I recall, about $6000 worth. Michelin would not take responsibly and I turned it over to my insurance company. They also insisted that I take the tire with me on the rest of my trip and then send it to them from my home.
I should clarify that is the rule of thumb on class 8 trucks for permitted 80K max load that I was used to using. thus trailer tandems 34K tractor tandem 34K which leaves 12K for the steer = 80K. One can obtain permits for higher than 80K loads as long as one stays within bridge formula ratings.
Upon double checking. I see that our 1998 U320 is 12,350 steer and 20,000 drive.
If one wants to become very confused. Start looking into the weight ratings laws. IF you have a steer axle and tires that are rated to support it. You are actually allowed to carry 20K on a steer axle.
Brett Wolfe asked me to look at the picture. Did you ever get a resolution from Michelin? Did you file a complaint with NHTSA?
Very unusual. I am guessing a problem in MFG but would need closer examination.
The Michelin dealer (30+ years experience) in Sacramento looked at it and determined that it was a defect and this was later corroborated by the area rep. After Michelin received the tire, they said it was due to a cut, which is visible on the adjacent rib. We had seen that, but the dealership manager dismissed that as a cause. I did receive a partial refund on tire from the dealer and had to turn to my insurance to get the body work done. Progressive took all my information and documentation and felt that they could file a claim with Michelin. I was not informed of the result. If you search "Michelin tire failure" you should see the thread I started in June '17. I didn't mean to open up the whole subject again, and I'm not usually the vindictive type, but I wanted to warn others and give my opinion.
A cut would help explain how a heavily tested tire might fail. The Michelin engineer on the phone mentioned every tire from all brands in the industry are individually tested on the same $80k machines at up to double pressure and heavily loaded and run way over speed at the same time. As far as I understood what he was saying every tire is tested the same way on the same machines. Would seem to help catch defective tires?
In an early life I hauled truck tires from several manufacturers directly from the tire plants. Stood in the plants and watched them made. They may test a representative sample of a manufacture lot run, but not every tire. If every tire was inflated x2 and overspeed and over loaded. I certainly would not want that tire. Just sayin.