Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 12, 2025 ...

Tires and Clearance

October 24, 2011, 12:48:39 pm

99 320

I just put new tires on our 320. They are Michelin 275-80R-22.5 (XZA 3+). The originals on this coach were XZA and we were replacing XZA3. Anyhow, I'm thinkin' XZA 3+ should be the right tires. So what's the problem? Well, I had parked the coach this morning with the wheels cranked over about 3/4 to the left. I happened to glance down there as I was walking by and noticed that the edge of the tire tread is CLOSE to the airbag mount. I mean it looks like it's maybe 1/4" or a little more.  I cranked it to the right; same deal on the other side. I was thinking maybe the bag was partially collapsed. I started the engine and the panel indicated the coach was at ride height. The airbags don't have any apparent leaks and hold steady all night after leveling.

In other positions (straight, moderate turn) the tire is well away from this bracket. So, are they supposed to be this close? Thanks.
jor

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Re: Tires and Clearance

Reply #1 – October 24, 2011, 12:56:36 pm

Jor, That clearance is normal.  Some have found that oversize tires (295's ) for instance will not clear the air bag mounts.
I would not worry UNLESS you see grooving on your tire treads and I would be surprised if you do.
Gary B

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Reply #2 – October 24, 2011, 12:58:57 pm

I think that is about normal and why you do not want to put larger tires on like the "Swampers" etc, stick to the origional size, all works out well with them.

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Reply #3 – October 24, 2011, 12:59:52 pm

JOR:

Our Goodyear tires, the same size as yours, touch the air bag frames when turned. FOT says to buy Michelins. The Goodyear G670 RVs are 1/10 of an inch larger than the OEM Michelins.

Bob
2001 U270

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Reply #4 – October 24, 2011, 01:01:11 pm

Thanks, Gary. I was just thinking about this after I posted. I was probably looking at this wrong. I supposed there shouldn't be any movement there, that the relationship of the bracket to the tire should be consistent. All of the suspension movement should be between the body and the bags.
jor

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Reply #5 – October 24, 2011, 01:04:17 pm

The Continental 275/80 22.5 HSL's LRH that I have have about the same clearance that JOR has, I have had no problems.
Gary B

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Reply #6 – October 24, 2011, 02:27:07 pm

Whew! That was a close one (get it?). Thanks to all.
jor

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Reply #7 – October 24, 2011, 04:14:03 pm

When I replaced my tires in '07, Michelins were hard to find, so I went with an "equivalent" Goodyear from Camping World. They scrubbed just a little in a hard turn at first, but it soon went away. Along with some rubber, I'm sure.

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Reply #8 – October 24, 2011, 06:00:25 pm

JOR your not alone in your concern. I noticed that the previous owner of my coach had ground down the base to increase clearance for the tires.

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Reply #9 – October 25, 2011, 01:38:43 am

The 295's are the same diameter, just a different aspect ratio over the stock tires on the U300. My front tires (Coopers) do hit the plate on the air bag in certain situations but only polish it. Not a worry to me.

Back tires also touch the top of the wheel well occasionally. Sure could not put chains on. Ride height seems OK but might raise the rear 3/4" inch or so.

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Reply #10 – June 16, 2014, 01:10:25 pm

In case anyone is still reading this thread, I just wanted to say this really helped me out.  In fact, this whole forum is invaluable, especially for someone who lives nowhere near a Foretravel dealer.  Nobody knows much about these coaches, except for the owner community, and they are a little (or a lot) quirky.  I'm shocked that the clearance between the tire and the air bag is so small, but I'm pleased to know what tires to buy and that the clearance is "normal".

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Reply #11 – June 17, 2014, 05:43:41 am

I have 295's on mine no problem with anything touching a the air bag seats.

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Reply #12 – June 17, 2014, 08:06:59 am

I think it's an issue with the older body styles.  U300's and that era.

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Reply #13 – June 22, 2014, 11:11:46 pm

I just recently was able to swing my front tires all the way from left to right on our 91 GV and there is about 4in of clearance from the air bag.  If it is a problem on older models, the GV of this era is not one of them.  Thanks and have a great day  ----  Fritz

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Reply #14 – June 23, 2014, 03:33:10 pm

I did buy tires that were supposed to have fit, but they rubbed hard.  Absolutely could't drive it like that.  The people that installed them took them back and got me the continental tires that Gary reference.  When I'm driving, I can't feel them rub, but when I park with the tires at a certain angle, I can see they they are definitely touching, albeit slightly.  I may end up grinding down the housing for the air bag, or I may end up just ignoring it. I'd like to think that the only reason they hit is there is something that needs to be adjusted, but everything I've read and everything that I've been told says that this is not the case, and they just rub.

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Reply #15 – June 23, 2014, 10:47:35 pm

You may wish to consult the chassis manufacturer and see what they can tell you about this problem.  It doesn't seem to make sense that it was designed that way.  Could be something such as the air bags are not mounted where they should be.  Maybe they can be moved inboard some.  Have a great day  ----  Fritz

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Reply #16 – June 23, 2014, 11:15:01 pm

Ours polishes the plates in the front but doesn't quite touch the bag itself so I don't worry about it. 295/75.

Pierce

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Reply #17 – June 24, 2014, 09:24:55 am

WE needed (read NEEDED) new tires in Austin and the only local put Firestones on. Same size and all. They rubbed every time we turned to in Waco they replaced them with Contanentals just like Gary B and have had no trouble since.

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Reply #18 – June 24, 2014, 10:46:25 am

Original poster here: I don't have that coach anymore but those Michelins never did rub - just got very close.
jor

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