Michelin xza3+ tires

Topic: Michelin xza3+ tires (Read 1938 times) previous topic - next topic

Michelin xza3+ tires

March 14, 2013, 09:02:04 pm

I went today to check into buying michelin tires through the fmca program and found there are no xzaa3+ tires in Fl and they are on back order, don't know when they will come in. Called Michelin and they said they are not making that tire right now, but had some at a wqarehouse in Maine. That seemed really strange to me as now is when people are getting their coaches ready for spring and summer travels. I guess that I will go with bridgestone r280 tires. I had placed a pair on the front of our 98 and thought they drove and rode great. They are also slightly cheaper

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #1 – March 14, 2013, 09:06:38 pm

Good reason to have a spare tire that matches the rest of the tires. I mix and match but a lot of folks don't.

Pierce

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #2 – March 14, 2013, 10:54:06 pm

I had this problem when at the FOT factory in September and had wanted to change out my tires for new Michelins XZA3+ tires. Herman Power had some from April thru July dates(oldest were 6 months old). i did not want a tire already 6 months old considering the 'michelin advice to change out at 5 -7 yrs, months seemed quite important. I thought real strongly about other brands!!

Called Michelin and was told the Xza3+ tire was going to be made in Canada rather than the U.S. so the next production was going to be in Late Sept thru mid October and shipping, customs, inventorying etc. would take about 6 weeks before tires would be available to customers.... and First orders from dealers would be supplied first and last orders would be down the line.

I opted for 2 newest tires only and waited months for newly produced tires to arrive at H.P.

Called around Texas and found the only tires availavable were actually Older then 6 months!

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #3 – March 14, 2013, 11:26:47 pm

I'm confused? The Michelin Rv/ Motorhome technical bulletin from May 15 2006 has the service life of all RV/motorhome tires including spares as 10 years. Is there a new service bulletin? My tires are just now 10 years old and I'm looking to replace them,and I'll be looking to repeat a 10 year service life.Gam

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #4 – March 14, 2013, 11:41:20 pm

I would have no trouble using 10 year old tires IF:

tires had been covered when parked in high UV

Inflations were at or near max pressures allowed (to stiffen sidewalls and maximize load carrying capability)

No tire or tires were overloaded from a carrying capability

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #5 – March 14, 2013, 11:43:54 pm

Agree with Tim. My Michelin's are also 10 years old. I have them inspected every year at a Michelin dealer. When they say they got to go & be replaced, then I'll replace them.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #6 – March 15, 2013, 12:11:21 am

That's what I have been doing .But they are 10 1/4 years old in the rear with some checking on the right outer.Only 8 1/2 years old on the front but both have a lot of outer edge wear that just started in the last 1200 miles.A return trip from Florida.Gam

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #7 – March 15, 2013, 12:16:43 am

Question is, what is Load range H that will fit the front? I need a pair for the front. I have one 7 year old inside dual I want to replace and the other inside is a local mismatched Michelin I put on after a blowout. My plan is to put a pair of H rated tires on the front and rotate the two 5 year old fronts to the back inside. The rear outs are the same date code as the fronts... I've got a month.
I see the R280 in LRH (295/75) is 40.3" diam versus the 40.1" of the 275/80 Michelin... Will these work on the front or rub on the airbag plates?

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #8 – March 15, 2013, 12:27:20 am

Here is another, somewhat different opinion - right for me but maybe not for you!

No ten year old tires for me, I have seen the damage a blow out does.

I have Michelin XZA3+ tires (a truck tire, not an RV tire) with DOT date 4812 (late November, early December 2012). They were installed on 2013 Jan 16th. I traded in Michelin truck tires with DOT 2009 Oct (less then four years old) and paid $1500, but kept one 2009 Oct as a spare. I plan to trade in again at four years of age and so pay about $400/year but drive on tires no more then 4 years old. Tires must be truck tires of common size, ie 275 80 22.5 load range "G" to trade them in (not LR H and not RV tires). They must be tires a truck company will buy. Talk to the truck tire companies in your area, not all will do this, however some will.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #9 – March 15, 2013, 05:32:41 am

Quote from: Dave Head – March 15, 2013, 12:16:43 am

Question is, what is Load range H that will fit the front? I need a pair for the front. I have one 7 year old inside dual I want to replace and the other inside is a local mismatched Michelin I put on after a blowout. My plan is to put a pair of H rated tires on the front and rotate the two 5 year old fronts to the back inside. The rear outs are the same date code as the fronts... I've got a month.
I see the R280 in LRH (295/75) is 40.3" diam versus the 40.1" of the 275/80 Michelin... Will these work on the front or rub on the airbag plates?

I have 295s LR H on mine all the way around no rubbing, Just make sure your ride hight is set correctly.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #10 – March 15, 2013, 07:24:09 am

Quote from: gam – March 14, 2013, 11:26:47 pm

I'm confused? The Michelin Rv/ Motorhome technical bulletin from May 15 2006 has the service life of all RV/motorhome tires including spares as 10 years. Is there a new service bulletin? My tires are just now 10 years old and I'm looking to replace them,and I'll be looking to repeat a 10 year service life.Gam

Actually, Michelin has NEVER said tires have an automatic service life of 10 years.

This, from the Michelin RV Tire Guide http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/toolbox/reference-material.jsp

The following recommendation applies to
RV/Motorhome tires. Tires are composed of various types
of material and rubber compounds, having performance
properties essential to the proper functioning of the tire
itself. These component properties evolve over time.
For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors
such as weather, storage conditions, and conditions of
use (load, speed, inflation pressure, maintenance, etc.)
to which the tire is subjected throughout its life. This
service-related evolution varies widely so that accurately
predicting the serviceable life of any specific tire in
advance is not possible.
That is why, in addition to regular inspections and
inflation pressure maintenance by consumers, it is
recommended to have RV/Motorhome tires, including
spare tires, inspected regularly by a qualified tire
specialist, such as a tire dealer, who will assess the
tire's suitability for continued service. Tires that have
been in use for 5 years or more should continue to be
inspected by a specialist at least annually.
Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not
only of their tires' visual conditions and inflation
pressures, but also of any changes in dynamic
performances such as increased gas loss, noise, or
vibration, which could be an indication that the tires need
to be removed from service to prevent tire failure. It is
impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based
on their calendar age alone. However, the older a tire, the
greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to
the service-related evolution or other conditions found
upon inspection or detected during use.
While most tires will need replacement before they
achieve 10 years, it is recommended that any tires in
service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture,
including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a
simple precaution even if such tires appear serviceable
and even if they have not reached the legal wear limit.
For tires that were on an original equipment vehicle
(i.e. acquired by the consumer on a new vehicle), follow
the vehicle manufacturer's tire replacement
recommendations when specified (but not to exceed
10 years).

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #11 – March 15, 2013, 07:52:16 am

I am also thinking tires this spring. Vulcan Tire has Yokohama RY023 295/75R22.5 LR-H tires for $402 each.
Yokohama RY023 295/75R22.5 Tires for Sale Online - Vulcan Tire Sales This seems to be a decent deal. I would have to pay $290 shipping to Minneapolis, but pay no sales tax. Does anyone have experience with Yokohama?

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #12 – March 15, 2013, 08:30:47 am

Okay then. Do the Michelin tires have to be manufactureed for RV use for this recommendation to apply? The XZA3+ tires not RV tires but OTR commercial....not? I know I'm splitting hairs, and safety overrides all else.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #13 – March 15, 2013, 08:32:35 am

With RV tires you get the enhanced UV protection to let them run more years if they're maintained properly.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #14 – March 15, 2013, 08:36:28 am

When I purchased my coach it had Yomohoma tires on the front. They were very smooth and drove well. A friend had all on his coach and was very satisfied with the wear and ride. They appear to be good tires. DAN

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #15 – March 15, 2013, 08:56:14 am

Brett I agree with you after experiencing a tire failure on my 1999 F350 4x4 truck last week. I had the tires inspected a month earlier by a tire company and were ok. However, they were 10 years old garaged and properly inflated monthly and still failed. I will replace my FT tires a lot sooner. John

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #16 – March 15, 2013, 09:54:16 am

Sold Yokohama off road (mining) and over the road truck tires for years, seemed to work as better than the domestic brands, almost as good as Michelins of the day. (AHEM, it wasn't a couple of years ago.....)

Loved the TOYO's for their value proposition as well.

Especially on a 1991 coach, tires become a significant percentage of the value of the coach, so getting a very good tire for a lot less than Michelins makes a lot of sense

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #17 – March 15, 2013, 09:57:55 am

Call your nearest BANDAG tire recap center, or call someone in their technical group at their HQ in Muscatine IA and have a conversation about age of tires and brands. They know the ins and outs of tire brands, casings and longevity.

I recall there was an age limit to the tires they would recap (5 years?) since the recaps could be around a LONG time after they were installed.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #18 – March 15, 2013, 11:44:10 am

I'm retired from Michelin so the best advice I can offer is to be VERY cautious about running any tire 10 years - it is not worth the risk to save less than $300/year by running a $4,000 set of tires 10 years instead of 6 years. Anyone who drives 5,000 miles a year will spend 8 times that amount on fuel. Also, the more a tire sits, the faster it ages as driving the rig makes the tire work and keeps the anti-oxidants and anti-ozone products working their way to the surface to help protect the tire.

One blow-out at highway speed will make you a believer.

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #19 – March 15, 2013, 11:52:37 am

Jeff you are exactly right. My 10 year old truck tire completely destroyed. Took a lot of effort to get it off the truck because it had the bead of the tire on the rim and the rest of the tire was wrapped around axle of the truck. It was on the right rear and it definitely got your attention. It will make replace FT way before 10 years. John

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #20 – March 15, 2013, 11:59:57 am

It looks like tire MFG's due to the Firestone recall of Aug 2000 issued various responses to the age service of there tires.Dot age codes where added starting in 2000. As a response to the law offices of Gary Eto that represented plaintiffs against tire MFG's for injuries and deaths caused by tire aging issue Bridgestone firestone in Oct 2005 recommended that all tires should be replaced after 10 years and Michelin and Continental soon followed Firestones lead.To me condition and history are still by far the most important factores,with the 10 years a good number for just changing them { a leagal thing for the MFG's?}Gam

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #21 – March 15, 2013, 01:12:54 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – March 15, 2013, 07:24:09 am

Actually, Michelin has NEVER said tires have an automatic service life of 10 years.

This, from the Michelin RV Tire Guide http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/toolbox/reference-material.jsp

Brett,
I think that your link may be broken (throws an error message).
Neal

Quote from: P. Wyatt Sabourin – March 15, 2013, 12:27:20 am

............................I have Michelin XZA3+ tires (a truck tire, not an RV tire).............................

Wyatt, You might want to check that info. Michelin had listed the XZA3+'s as an RV tire for years (see attached brochure). That means RV Compounds in the tire's rubber composition vs. Truck tire compounds.

As "2Escapees" has pointed out, the primary differences between RV and TRUCK tires are in the proprietary compounds used in the rubber for the intended tire service.

Before AND Beyond five years of service, ALL RV tires bear careful attention to detail, because their service is much closer to the design margins than most laymen have extensive experience with. They are not like our automobile tires in terms of design margins and RV tires need careful attention to all details. Any tire of any tire brand may experience a myriad of hidden damages and defects that may propagate to failure, but ten years is universally accepted as end of RV tire life. Some brands have better and some have lesser track records, in terms of the average time between failures.

Truck tire compounds are not engineered to sit idle for long periods of time, so if you seldom sit idle, by all means use a truck tire. At the time, because we seldom sat idle for more than a few days, I used an XZA1 "B" set of Truck tires for our second set of tires. They were a little harsher riding and sounding (barely perceptible) and they gave 9+ years of service without a sign of problem.

Truck tire compounds stand up better under high mileage, frequent, rugged use. And their aging protection compounds work to the surface more slowly. RV tire compounds, on the other hand, are engineered to better protect the sitting or "idle" rubber from oxidizing, degrading from UV and ozone exposure, and from wicking of moisture from the surface that the tire sits upon (all of which we can take addition precautions in helping to protect and lengthen the useful lifetime of our tires). RV tire compounds work to the surface more quickly and the proprietary composition is quite different.

I have found that some truck tire dealers actually look for lightly used RV tires, because they have a market for tires that won't be used with high mileage, high payload situations and have benefited from the RV compounds (they would prefer a 6 - 9 year old RV tire over a 6 - 9 truck tire, because of the RV tire compounding and because neither are eligible for retreading, which generally expires at 5 years).

More fodder,
Neal

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #22 – March 15, 2013, 02:27:12 pm

A good read for me on the internet was ,lets talk tire replacement time rv network. As for replacement at 5 years I can only find that from the vehicle MFG's not the tire MFG's. I think the vehicle MFG's wont no legal responsibility for older tires they put on the vehicles as original equipment .Back to the Ford Firestone recalls of 2000.Gam

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #23 – March 15, 2013, 04:11:48 pm

FYI for Florida XZA 3+ - I checked with my local TCI tires dealer in Orlando and he has 10 LR H and 3 LR G in stock. I'm going down next week for a pair of 'H'. Then next year we do the other 4 likely in LR G (no need for 'H on the rear)....

Re: Michelin xza3+ tires

Reply #24 – March 15, 2013, 06:36:25 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – March 15, 2013, 09:54:16 am

Especially on a 1991 coach, tires become a significant percentage of the value of the coach, so getting a very good tire for a lot less than Michelins makes a lot of sense

Tim...so...are you saying my coach is old...ROFL

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