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Topic: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"? (Read 745 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

I'm looking at buying a FT (early to mid 90s model).  I've never owned a MH (or a commercial truck) and I'm trying to wrap my head around these big tires. When looking at the size tire that one of these coaches uses (275/80R 22.5 for example) I find listings for "steers", "drives" and "all positions".  I understand steers and drives but then I found a site on the Internet that says: "...for class A motorhomes always look at all position tires...other commercial tires are not suitable..."  So is that valid advice?

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #1 –
We always run Michelin tires that we buy from a local dealer through the FMCA discount program. We currently have 275/80R22.5 load range H tires. I believe they are XZA3+ tires and all six tires are "steer" tires. I am extremely pleased with them.
David and Carolyn Osborn
1995 U320C SE 40' Build 4726 Feb 1995
FMCA 147762
Motorcade 17186

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #2 –
I've always ran steer tires all the way around on my 2 FT's .. I think that includes "all positions". We have a couple owners that live and use their coaches in far northern country that run a snow grip tire on the rear for obvious reasons but for normal highway use steer tire tread is suitable for all positions.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #3 –
We run LingLong F816E+ all position regional tires. Load rating H and M for speed rating Tire Details | Linglong Americas, Inc.

Long Haul vs Regional: Most RV manufactures recommend regional tires as they have tougher sidewall for curbs, etc. and the grooves are more in the shape of a V so they chuck rocks better that long haul tires. Regional tires may have a stiffer side wall that provides more protection from curbs, off pavement driving like found in gravel or unimproved campsites.

H load rating will carry more load at the rated pressure. May give a slightly firmer ride.

Most OTR truck and RV tires are L speed rated. This is good for 75 mph maximum at rated pressure. We went with a tire that is M speed rated or 81 mph at rated pressure and load.

Since RV tires almost never wear out the tread, casing durability is a very big factor. Some last a long time, others don't and get cracks in the sidewall much sooner than others. Bridgestone is generally seen as the best casing on the market.

Tire price has not that much to do with quality now. A good percentage of tires are made in Thailand. Our U300 Firestone was made in Thailand, our LingLongs also. Just put on a set of new SuperMax tires 600 tread wear, A traction, A temperatue, all made in Thailand.

Tire speed rating, load rating are only good at the sidewall placarded pressure rating. Less pressure brings both down if the weight is close to the rating. Our front tires are placarded at 120 psi but since we are thousands of pounds lighter than the load rating, we use 105 up front as recommended by the dealer.

Tires that are Smart Way verified will use less fuel. SWV will be in the specifications.

Why Thailand is the center of the tire universe: Why Thailand is the new center of the tire universe

Searching small independent tire shops may save hundreds. Cash is also king. Our 295/75R22.5 were $300/ea cash, out the door, all taxes, disposal, mounting. List was about $500. Some owners will balance, others not. We didn't and they are very smooth.

If in doubt about any tire brand or model sold in the U.S., go to Check for Recalls: Vehicle, Car Seat, Tire, Equipment | NHTSA and enter your tire, car, truck, etc and view the recalls, complaints, etc. 

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

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #4 –
Quote from: Pierce & Gaylie Stewart –

Long Haul vs Regional: Most RV manufactures recommend regional tires as they have tougher sidewall for curbs, etc.

Thanks for the detailed reply. Thanks also for mentioning long haul vs regional. I meant to ask about that in my original post.

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #5 –
I've never heard of a regional vs long haul stamped tire and have bought more than 1 trailer load of tires to long haul with,,, unless a regional is a less rated 22.5 or 24.5.
Dub McBride 1996 270

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #6 –
Thanks for the pat on the back. My dad would give me a slap on the back of the head. Definitely not the same.

When buying a set of tires, consider adding a spare of the same brand. Without a spare like this, you could be stuck in a town until a matching tire could be shipped and you will pay full price plus. I case of a flat, you can immediately get back on the road by changing yourself or having a towing service do it. We don't move a wheel without having a spare in the compartment. With the tire in the compartment, you can store lots of stuff down inside the tire.

Dub, here is list of LingLong's tires and what type of road, terrain, position they are suited for. Not just a few tires but 152 different types of tires. Regional, long haul, steer, all position, trailer, drive and more until you get tired of reading the specs. Our F816E+ is about half way down in the left column. Complete list: TBR Tires | Linglong Americas, Inc.  They are quite popular at Walmart but out of stock as container ships are slow to unload with the short manpower. Robot or human? Note that the tire they sell is a G rated tire. My tire dealer sells H at the same price as G but all the truckers want H rated tires for the same price.

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

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #7 –
P.. I suppose they started all the categories along the time when manufacturers started offering multiple flavor mustard and 10 kinds of lite bread. Modern marketing thinks they haven't secured their cubicle space unless they make the descriptions mega busy. What do I know, I will admit to being over skeptical when a busy jabbering salesman gets keyed up, maybe to the point of not being true to myself.
Dub McBride 1996 270
 

Re: Tire Question: Drives, Steers, "All Positions"?

Reply #8 –
Quote from: Dub –
P.. I suppose they started all the categories along the time when manufacturers started offering multiple flavor mustard and 10 kinds of lite bread. Modern marketing thinks they haven't secured their cubicle space unless they make the descriptions mega busy. What do I know, I will admit to being over skeptical when a busy jabbering salesman gets keyed up, maybe to the point of not being true to myself.
I hear what you are saying. The dealer I got mine from has about 50 different brands from all over the world. I read a lot of reviews and checked to see if he had some in stock when I called and made the deal. He said that truckers like to use this tire for steer position and LLs for drive with still another model for trailers. Nothing really wrong with my old Coopers but I could tell the difference as soon as I hit the highway in ride, steering and noise. No big radial bulge either like on some.

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