Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 07, 2025 ...

Front tires hitting airbag mounts

December 12, 2014, 11:40:18 am

After almost 12 years of ownership of my U320, I just noticed that upon turning the wheels to full stop the tire touches the air bag lower mounts on both sides (depending on which direction the wheel is turned of course).  The black paint has worn off at that point and the metal slightly worn down.  The coach tracks fine down the road and was curious whether anyone else has experienced this issue.  There's no evidence of excessive wear on the tire at the point of contact as it is very slight contact.

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #1 – December 12, 2014, 11:41:45 am

What size tires do you have on your coach?

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #2 – December 12, 2014, 11:47:04 am

Had this problem when going from 265/80's to 295/75's Went back and the problem went away. Not a lot of room there for extra size.

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #3 – December 12, 2014, 12:06:58 pm

Larry,

Were your OE tires 265/80R22.5's or 275/80R22.5? 265/80 is a very odd size.

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #4 – December 12, 2014, 12:10:49 pm

I'd have to go out and start the engine to raise off the chasis (another post) remove the tire covers...maybe they are 275's

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #5 – December 12, 2014, 12:13:56 pm

Larry,

Just look at your GVWR plaque next to the driver's area.  It will tell OE tire size and PSI for maximum GAWR's.

Much easier!

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #6 – December 12, 2014, 12:21:45 pm

295/75 tires on our U300 will occasionally rub on the bottom plate of the front air bags and polish it. Since they are virtually the same diameter as the 275/80 tires, I would be surprised it they also didn't rub on the plates at certain coach attitudes.

Pierce

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #7 – December 12, 2014, 04:31:07 pm

Thanks for the heads up, Brett. They are 275's. The problem isn't with the diameter but the width. Since the pivot point isn't at the center of the tire but inboard, the tire moves fore and aft, if you will, as you turn the wheels. The extra width dings the air bag plate and scuffs it as well as the tire. Staying with the original 275's, Don't need the problem of a blown tire just to get the 295s

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #8 – December 12, 2014, 05:37:36 pm

Larry,

How much would it narrow your cut angles were you to limit contact?  Changing cut angle is at most a one hour job (would need to change both mechanical stops and Sheppard steering box external adjustment).

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #9 – December 12, 2014, 07:11:16 pm

My tires are Michelin Pilot 275/80R 22.5 XZA-3.  My originals were same except for XZA-2 then..

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #10 – December 12, 2014, 07:40:30 pm

The base plates for my new air bags in 2009 were ground down by FOT to accommodate the 295 tires. It requires very little grinding.

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Re: Front tires hitting airbag mounts

Reply #11 – December 12, 2014, 09:49:58 pm

I believe the change in the cut angle would be too much but I like the idea of grinding down the lower air bag plate. Gotta check that out

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