Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire? (Read 1434 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #25 –
I carry a spare when travelling to California but leave it home when going camping on Vancouver Island. I bought a Proto 500 ft lb torque wrench for installing nuts and trucker breaker sockets/bars for removing nuts.

I removed a wheel when the front passenger brake was squealing. The anti-squeal device had broken and was bouncing around while rubbing on the disk. I just removed the rest of the anti-squeal and let it squeal (very seldom).

When I bought my 1996 U320 it had a 3 year old Bridgestone spare on a steel rim.
Research revealed that a steel rim requires different studs and nuts and probably could NOT be used on our all aluminum U320s. Does anyone know if a steel rim can be used on a U320? Traded Bridgstone tire on a new set of Michelin tires at Herman's in Nac and kept a 7 year old Michelin as a spare. Herman's mounted the Michelin on the steel rim. Later, traded the steel rim plus $100 for an aluminum (stud pilot) rim at Pete's in Cochella, California. Attached old 1.5 inch diameter nuts to the center of the floor in the 4 foot bay. The spare tire and rim slides over these nuts to hold rim/tire in place (rim offset is down). Jacks and other tools then fit in the rim of the spare tire and spare tire is used as an air tank.

I sold my now 10 year old 275 80 R22.5 spare tire to a fellow Foretravel owner who had sliced a tire and wants to replace all tires in USA this fall. Large motorhome tires cost at least $100/tire more in Canada than in the USA.

I now need to buy a used 275 80 R22.5 tire for a spare. Anyone know of one near the I5 between Canada and California? 
Wyatt
96 U320 40 WTFE, build 4943
84 Toyota Supra towd
2015 Jeep Wrangler towd
Victoria, BC, Canada

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #26 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
First, I HOPE you did not get 275/80R22.5's in place of 9R22.5's.  They would not fit properly on your 6.75 rims-- actually would be dangerous.

The correct upgrade for the 9R is the 255/80R22.5. I prefer the XZE, but the XRV will work as well.

And if you want to carry a spare, make a Sunbrella cover for it and put it on the roof, driver's side rear-- unmounted tire.  No problem. Use rope to secure to the roof rack.

Brett
Am looking at replacement tires and noticed that the Michelin XZE 255/80R22.5 is only approved on 7.50 to 8.25 inch rims according to the info on their web page.  Will they fit the smaller 6.75 rims okay??
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #27 –
I used a 1/2" drive air impact to change shocks. Used air from the Foretravel to power the impact. Will use the same impact if I ever have to remove tires. Gam
joseph gambaro
1999 U295 36'

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #28 –
Wyatt,

I looked on Craigslist to find the spare. Just bought a year old Michelin with 60% for $80. You can use either a 275/80 or 295/75 as both are within a tiny fraction of each other in diameter. Alcoa aluminum wheels are very reasonable both used and new. Just need to compare the offset before laying the cash down.

Might call Les Schwab dealers as they frequently take in used tires when selling a new set.

We don't go anywhere without a spare but sure tired (npi) of it taking up space in the compartment. Our 36 footer has less space in the main compartment  than the 40 footers so going to try to use an extended hitch on the rear with a couple of side supports to carry the spare this year. Roof would be another spot but too heavy to get up there easily.

I have a breaker bar just in case but any good 1/2" impact will pop the lug nuts off. A good battery impact will also do the trick but they are a lot more $$$. Nice to have a small air tank to build pressure in so the impact will be able to do it faster without waiting for pressure to build. I carry a small contractor's compressor to air the tires but the onboard will do the trick, just takes a bit longer. A "flip" socket (first for the nut and then for the stud) is needed and a short extension should be included so to clear the tires if using a breaker bar on a rear outside tire. Torque multiplier is another alternative to an air impact.

AAA will provide road service for free (if in range of cell service).

11R 22.5 is too tall (about an inch) and will be too loaded if installed in the rear. Would work in a pinch but only then.

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

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #29 –
Trying to use a1/2" air wrench from the vehicle air supply, while sounding good, most likely will not work as well as you think. Also doubt the lug was proper tight if that set up removes the lugs and will not properly secure the nuts.
MO
Dave M

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #30 –
If you go looking for a spare wheel be sure you know what kind of wheel you have.  There are two types, The BUDD type that the older coaches need and the HUB PILOTED type that go on the newer coaches.  The easiest way to tell is look at the center of the wheel and you should see  a ring on the hub that fits tightly in the center of the wheel. And on BUDD types you will have an outer nut that has eight sides and an inner nut that has only four. Another thing to file away for the future is that the nuts on one side are left handed and the other side are right handed.
Gary B

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #31 –
Quote
AAA will provide road service for free (if in range of cell service)


AAA will not change the inside tire here in the San Jose, Ca area. Is this normal?
Michael j
Livermore, Ca for now

1987  Grand Villa 2900 Rear Bath Front 460 Gas Engine.
 

Re: How can I carry (or should I even bother carrying) a spare tire?

Reply #32 –
Expect it depends on the tow truck driver and if he/she has the flip socket on board. With Premier AAA service, they have to tow your rig 150 miles so expect a call back to AAA would get someone out there to change the inside tire if you demanded a tow. Sure worth the extra $25 or so for the Premier membership. Don't take NO for an answer.

I had a suit on at a funeral when I had a flat on our U300. The tow truck driver was very experienced with big rigs and did the job with a smile on his face.

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