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tire replacement

Hi everyone, my first post.  looking at a used U270 Diesel 36ft and it will need tires.  275/80R 22.5s  Long haul trucker buddy recommended  I go to 11R/22.5 tires a stiffer side wall and better wear.  any thoughts or experience?
Thanks
Dale & Bernice and Gracie
1999 U270 3602WTFE Coach #5422
Cummins ISC 8.3 350hp
Allison MD-3066R 6 Speed
Ex Artic Fox 25Y
Ex Artic Fox 22G
2017 Passat on a Kar Kaddy SS

Re: tire replacement

Reply #1
Hi everyone, my first post.  looking at a used U270 Diesel 36ft and it will need tires.  275/80R 22.5s  Long haul trucker buddy recommended  I go to 11R/22.5 tires a stiffer side wall and better wear.  any thoughts or experience?
Thanks

Current Michelin xza-3+ are capable of 230,000 or more miles on the trucker forums or more before reaching 6/32's of tread remaining.

Stiffer sidewalls in the inch series rode worse when I used 9r22.5 and 10r 22.5 in Foretravels older coaches.

Massive ride quality improvement and all driving parameters with the xza-1's introduction in the unihomes in 1988
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: tire replacement

Reply #2
Welcome to Foreforums. I have only had My coach for 2 years, from what I have read on here, tires will age out before they wear out. Also, like a lot of things, lots of opinions on tires.


Dennis
Dennis & Martha Harrell
2000 Foretravel U320
2014 GMC 4X4 Sierra Crew Cab Pickup

Re: tire replacement

Reply #3
Long haul trucking is different from an RV experience. Search this forum with the keyword "tires." You will find a LOT of information. There appear to be good reasons for buying RV tires for an RV, and truck tires for a truck.

We have had our coach almost six years. We put new tires on the coach when we bought it, and have driven about 72,000 miles on those tires. I plan to replace tires soon. They are worn, but still have significant tread depth. However, prudent and safe operation calls for buying new tires about every six years, even they appear to have good depth of tread.

Welcome to the forum. I suggest that you spend a LOT of time studying the collection of information here. The search function can provide a lot of information based on other folk's valuable experience.
J D Stevens
1997 U295 CAI 36' Build #5085
2002 Subaru Outback
Motorcade 16869
Bellville, TX

Re: tire replacement

Reply #4
You may have clearance issues with 11r's. Take a look at how much room you have between the tires and the air bag seats.
Bruce, Linda, and Macy
Zoey RIP 1/20/19
1999 U295 40' build #5400
2017 silver Jeep Wrangler, 1260 watts of solar on top
Moving around the country

Re: tire replacement

Reply #5
Current Michelin xza-3+ are capable of 230,000 or more miles on the trucker forums or more before reaching 6/32's of tread remaining.

Stiffer sidewalls in the inch series rode worse when I used 9r22.5 and 10r 22.5 in Foretravels older coaches.

Massive ride quality improvement and all driving parameters with the xza-1's introduction in the unihomes in 1988
My experience was very much the same.  I inherited Dayton Metro Bus tires on my last coach.  While not inch series they had a very stiff, and thick, sidewall (probably for protection from hitting curbs) and the coach rode like a dump truck.  Switching to Michelin XZA -3's made a tremendous difference in ride quality.

Unless you intend to spend all your time driving like your long-haul trucker friend you are more likely to have the tires rot out before the tread wears out.
Regards

1997 U295 40 with CAT 3126

Re: tire replacement

Reply #6
295/75R/22.5 is what you want 11R are going to be too tall. 11R is 2'' taller

size                             circumference     radius         sidewall height     inner diameter  overall diameter
275/80R22.5 
                           125.11 inches       19.91 inches     8.66 inches             22.5 inches       39.82 inches


295/7 5R22.5             125.42 inches       19.96 inches     8.71 inches               22.5 inches       39.92 inches

The 295/75R/22.5 is a very popular semi truck tire and available everywhere,The 275/80R/22.5 is not popular as a truck tire but it is as a RV tire. I'd go with the 295 myself as they are available should you ever need one and Pricing should be better than the 275 due to their high usage. The size difference in height is so close it wont even effect the speedometer.
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: tire replacement

Reply #7
295/75R/22.5 is what you want 11R are going to be too tall. 11R is 2'' taller

size                          circumference  radius      sidewall height  inner diameter  overall diameter
275/80R22.5 
                        125.11 inches    19.91 inches  8.66 inches          22.5 inches    39.82 inches


295/7 5R22.5          125.42 inches    19.96 inches  8.71 inches            22.5 inches    39.92 inches

The 295/75R/22.5 is a very popular semi truck tire and available everywhere,The 275/80R/22.5 is not popular as a truck tire but it is as a RV tire. I'd go with the 295 myself as they are available should you ever need one and Pricing should be better than the 275 due to their high usage. The size difference in height is so close it wont even effect the speedometer.

I would be curious to go from 80 series tires to a lower profile 75 series. Probably make no difference but I would not want to lose any ride quality. Need a few that have done that change on similar weight coaches for feedback
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: tire replacement

Reply #8
If one desires to buy Michelin tires, when is the best time of year to buy them to get recently-produced tires? I've heard that Michelin typically produces their XZA-3+ tires only at certain times during the year. One certainly wouldn't want tires that have been aging in a warehouse.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: tire replacement

Reply #9
I would be curious to go from 80 series tires to a lower profile 75 series. Probably make no difference but I would not want to lose any ride quality. Need a few that have done that change on similar weight coaches for feedback

Due to a blowout I put the  Yokohama RY617 295 75R 22.5 on the rear of my MH a couple of weeks ago.  So far I have not been able tell much difference between those and the Michelin XZA2's that were on it. We haven't driven it far enough to make a fair evaluation but headed on a jaunt to Boenrne in a couple of weeks and should get a feeling after a thousand miles. By the way I went with H rated tire instead of the G.  After we get back I'll try to give an opinion as to their ride.
Bruce & Teresa
2000 U320 4010
2015 Jeep Rubicon

Re: tire replacement

Reply #10
The 295/75R/22.5 is a very popular semi truck tire and available everywhere,The 275/80R/22.5 is not popular as a truck tire but it is as a RV tire. I'd go with the 295 myself as they are available should you ever need one and Pricing should be better than the 275 due to their high usage. The size difference in height is so close it wont even effect the speedometer.

I've read many places, that the two tires are, for all practical purposes, the same. I think only Michelin makes 275/80r. With that said, I have a 295/75 and a 275/80 on the same spot on my rear duals after a blowout. 1000miles on it and no problems (I have dual dynamics equalizer).
1998 U270 34'

Re: tire replacement

Reply #11
The only issue I've read about on the forum for the 295's is the potential to hit the airbag mounting plates up front. 

Can be overcome by grinding the airbag mounting plates slightly  Front tires hitting airbag mounts

(there are other discussions about this; I just haven't found the right combination of search words yet)
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: tire replacement

Reply #12
We bought 6 new Michellins in August, went with the 275/80-22.5 XZE's rather than the XZA's. May not ride as soft as the XZA's but I wanted the reinforced sidewalls that the regional XZE's offered.
Most of the campgrounds that we stay in are smaller and negotiating tight turns and curbs are an issue. IMHO they don't ride any different that the 10 year old XZA-1's we replaced.
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: tire replacement

Reply #13
I have attached an Excel spreadsheet of the Michelin Advantage prices for 2016.
There is one tab that just has 275s and 295s

It looks to me that for the tires we want the 295s are about $100-200 more.
See XZE2+

HTH
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: tire replacement

Reply #14
Elliot,

The XZE2+ in 295 tread width is a 80 % sidewall aspect tire.  This size is a larger diameter tire than a 295 75R 22.5 and the same diameter size 275 80R 22.5.

295 75R 22.5 have fit fine on my U320 for years.  I do not think I can run the larger 295 80R 22.5 on my coach.

Hope this helps.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: tire replacement

Reply #15
Thanks for all the responses, it sounds like the 11R is not the way to go. Will probably stick with an RV tire or maybe the 295/75s. Looking finalize the deal next week. Thankyou
Dale & Bernice and Gracie
1999 U270 3602WTFE Coach #5422
Cummins ISC 8.3 350hp
Allison MD-3066R 6 Speed
Ex Artic Fox 25Y
Ex Artic Fox 22G
2017 Passat on a Kar Kaddy SS

 

Re: tire replacement

Reply #16
Picked up a brochure at Quartzsite,"MICHELIN RV TIRES",has all the info ya-all are discussing here,can call 1-800-859-0665
and order one.Is MWL43146
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.