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Tire choice- Michelin XRV or XZE?

July 12, 2012, 10:22:02 pm

The existing 9R-22.5 tires on my coach are too old to trust.  Tires apparently don't get better with age.  I have ordered a full set of Michelin 255-80-22.5 XRV's from Powers Tires in Nacogdoches.    Right now they are still on backorder, but they hope to have them in pretty soon.  Powers does have a set of Michelin XZE's in stock with a date code of April 2012.  Just in case the XRV's are hard to get, would I be giving up anything by taking the XZE tires?  They do appear to have the same load rating as the XRV's.

Thanks,
Glen

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Re: Tire choice- Michelin XRV or XZE?

Reply #1 – July 12, 2012, 10:28:12 pm

We are happy with the XZE's in that size on our U240.  Two sets over the last 10 years.

Brett

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Re: Tire choice- Michelin XRV or XZE?

Reply #2 – July 13, 2012, 11:48:25 am

Thanks for the info Brett.  After I got your reply I contacted Michelin this morning to confirm that the XZE tread pattern is available under the FMCA program, since it is not listed on the website.  The XZE is covered under the FMCA program and it is slightly ($469.81 versus $476.91) cheaper than is the XRV.  I then called Powers Tires and told them to hold the XZE's for me and I'll be back in a week or so to get them installed.

On my way to Nacogdoches I plan to get the coach weighed to make sure I inflate the tires to the correct pressure.  I think the correct pressure will be around 90 psig on the front and 80 psig on the rear.  The previous owner had them all at 95 psig, and for the time being I left them there.  I'm hoping (and betting) that proper inflation pressures will contribute to a much smoother ride.

As a side note, my coach will be in the shop for probably another 5 to 7 days before I can go get the new tires.  I carried it to a diesel repair place in Port Arthur to have a PRXB Pac-Brake installed, and while there I asked them to drain and flush the cooling system before I start taking my coach out on trips.  They then showed me all the buildup and deposits we could see on the bottom outlet, and recommended pulling the radiator to have a shop rod it out.  Well, when the radiator shop started rodding the radiator they found the 18-year old radiator to be rotten.  Now I'm waiting for them to get a radiator built, as Foretravel no longer has this old radiator.

I'm going to get this thing on the road eventually.  I now know why you guys recommend buying a coach that the previous owners used a lot instead of buying a low-mileage garage queen.

Glen

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Re: Tire choice- Michelin XRV or XZE?

Reply #3 – July 13, 2012, 12:11:53 pm

I carry 95/85 in my U240 255/80R22.5 XZE's.

Remember, the numbers on the tire inflation charts is the MINIMUM PSI for a given weight.  Basically, I add 5 PSI to that minimum.

When installing the PRXB (I was one of the first testers of this brake when it was being developed) you can have the Allison ECM pre-select gear (the gear the transmission will shift TOWARD when the exhaust brake is engaged) as any gear you choose.  I chose 5th which gives more driver options, but does require more driver input than 2nd or 4th which are better for coming to a stop sign, but doesn't offer the flexibility in mountain driving.

Brett

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Re: Tire choice- Michelin XRV or XZE?

Reply #4 – July 13, 2012, 02:48:22 pm

Powers sold me the XZE's  for my coach and they run great. I run 100 in front and 95 in rear.  Had the tires for 6 months.
They are a real deep treaded tire.  Tks DAN

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