Tire Time

Topic: Tire Time (Read 1597 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire Time

April 06, 2014, 02:40:25 pm

Hello It's tire time in Magnolia TX! We would like to know the best place to buy 6 new Michelin tires for our 2002 36' U-270? In or around the Houston area. Thank you John & Dee.

Re: Tire Time

Reply #1 – April 06, 2014, 04:52:36 pm

Look into the FMCA Michelin tire program if you have not done so for pricing. Also note the build dates on the tires you get, before they get mounted if possible.

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Reply #2 – April 06, 2014, 05:04:49 pm

We highly recommend the FMCA program as well. Strouhal tire is who we used, on the southwest side of town. But, they may have a location closer to you.

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Reply #3 – April 06, 2014, 05:57:44 pm

As Dave said, be sure and check the manufacture dates. Age and degradation is all predicated on this. The danger of dry rot is based on time and not so much mileage. Don't accept old dates.

David

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Reply #4 – April 06, 2014, 06:51:34 pm

So. What is the "good price" for a set of 6 Michelin XZA3s, LRH? I am due, also. I am currently not a member of FMCA, but might join if for no other reason than the tires! I am planning on probably buying from Les Schwab in Oregon (same as last time), but I would like to get some figure to compare when I get their quote.

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Reply #5 – April 06, 2014, 07:49:31 pm

For those on a very fixed income but still wanting the Foretravel experience with an older (or newer) motorhome, there are many other tire options. Check the Chinese manufacture Triangle on ebay. At $264 delivered, it't hard to beat for price. Reading the reviews. I haven't been able to find much fault or find any bad reviews at several sites.

Triangle brand tires - iRV2 Forums

STEER TIRES - RBTIRES.com

I have never believed that advertising has much to do with quality. Look at the many really bad reviews for a RV supplier/shop that sponsors many NASCAR races compared to the amount of advertising they do.

Michelins are good tires but for those who wring their hands worrying about their families' safety, I had a huge sidewall explosion on the driver's side front Michelin tire on my bus/van. Smooth road at 65 with no road debris. Just a funny noise for perhaps a second or two and then the sidewall blew out. I bought all six Michelins new only a couple of months earlier. After replacing the bad one, the others never gave a problem.

The French design a great tire and we build it for them but as we have seen, the Asians also build outstanding products with many Foretravel owners replacing their TVs and fridges with Samsung, LG and other Asian products. For China bashers, remember where your iPad, tablet, smart phone, laptop, etc. are made....China.

Research plus a DOT rating go a long way for me in selecting tires for our coach.

Pierce

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Reply #6 – April 06, 2014, 08:23:58 pm

John, I believe there is a Strouhal tire center in Conroe which may not be far from you.

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Reply #7 – April 06, 2014, 08:52:49 pm

You might have an issue finding the size. I know I got six of the last 8 that Herman Power in Nac had.

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Reply #8 – April 06, 2014, 09:47:38 pm

We purchased ours through the FMCA Michelein discount program, I believe we paid $3600 +/- mounted and spin balanced for 6 in 2013. All XZ3A's. We felt the discount was worth the cost of the FMCA membership. Read alot on this forum re: brands, sizes and prices. Perty confusing to me. I figured we would go with factory recommended this time. Next time not so sure...... We do have a number of years before we have to make that decision. I believe FMCA will suggest dealers that they will work with in your area.

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Reply #9 – April 06, 2014, 10:07:49 pm

Brad when you go to L Scwab ask about the Toyo's. I have them on front and will replace rear Michellins with Toyo when time is right.
I had Toyo on BMW 7 series for long time and loved them too. better price than FMCA. Lots of Truckers using them too
JohnH

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Reply #10 – April 06, 2014, 10:26:04 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – April 06, 2014, 10:07:49 pm

Brad when you go to L Scwab ask about the Toyo's. I have them on front and will replace rear Michellins with Toyo when time is right.
I had Toyo on BMW 7 series for long time and loved them too. better price than FMCA. Lots of Truckers using them too
JohnH

My son (the trucker) takes a lot of business to Don at Les Schwab, and my last two sets of tires (one for the 1990 and one for the 2002) both came from there. I will be asking him what he recommends. I plan on still minimal travel until 2019, so I know this will be an "interim set" and I am only concerned with longevity, not treadwear. I'll see what he says about options this time around. My ZXA3s look like brand new...but they are uncomfortably aged as far as I am concerned.

I did look up the Chinese Triangle Tires, which took a LOT of searching to finally get a load rating, and their 275/80R22.5 tire, a TR666, is insufficient in capacity for my 13,000 lb front axle.

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Reply #11 – April 06, 2014, 11:58:37 pm

Quote from: Carol & Scott – April 06, 2014, 09:47:38 pm

We purchased ours through the FMCA Michelein discount program, I believe we paid $3600 +/- mounted and spin balanced for 6 in 2013. All XZ3A's. We felt the discount was worth the cost of the FMCA membership. Read alot on this forum re: brands, sizes and prices. Perty confusing to me. I figured we would go with factory recommended this time. Next time not so sure...... We do have a number of years before we have to make that decision. I believe FMCA will suggest dealers that they will work with in your area.

That's in line with our cost a year ago. I went to the nearest tire shop shown on the Michelin Advantage website. The tire dealer told me my cost through the program was lower than his dealer cost.

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Reply #12 – April 07, 2014, 12:55:51 am

I am sure I am correct and this bugs me that this program is only available in US. We seem to be second class people on a lot of issues.
One reason I will not buy Michelin. There are lots of others looking for my money.
John H

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Reply #13 – April 07, 2014, 02:25:21 am

I believe the Michelin advantage program is available through a number of organizations, including the Prevost forum.

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Reply #14 – April 07, 2014, 08:32:44 am

I had a friend who had TOYO tires and he thought they were just fine and saved some money. When I purchased my coach it still had the original on the back but the front had been replaced by TOYO tires. It drove great with these tires and I thought they would be good tires, and I believe Herman Powers in Nac sells this brand also. I elected to stay with Michelin as the one thing I do not wish to have on the road is tire trouble. Never any gtds. DAN

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Reply #15 – April 07, 2014, 08:36:23 am

Oh// by the way one reason for the difference in price could be: Can you sell your old tires?? I got $125 a piece for rear and $200 for the Toyo's in front as they were newer. So that really helped my price. Ask for a trade in price!

DAN

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Reply #16 – April 07, 2014, 10:53:53 am

I got no trade-in credit for our old tires. Sidewalls were very cracked and were told that they were garbage.

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Reply #17 – April 07, 2014, 11:30:10 am

Tom, what I meant was no mich' dealers in Canada are on this plan so we would have to get them in US.
Dan, why would only Mich's give you security on the hwy, they pick up crap just like any other make,and, are built exactly the same using the same kind of materials??? Never had a flat Toyo in almost 20 yrs.
JohnH

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Reply #18 – April 07, 2014, 12:07:05 pm

John H: Great. It a matter of the mind. My friend who had the TOYO's never had an issue either but the one thing he had was more money in his pocket from saving the bucks on his purchase. DAN

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Reply #19 – April 07, 2014, 03:31:41 pm

Got my quote from LesSchwab. He recommended LRH Ohtsus after I told him my front axle was too heavy for LRG. I trust Don's experience and that was his recommendation. $2605 mounted and balanced for 6 of them. Sounds like my plan. As usual, there are praises and condemnations online for this brand, just like there are for Michelins.

My tires are too old to be worth anything, but they do look great still. I'm just hoping they will get me safely up to Don to get them. I will be fairly lightly loaded and that should help.

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Reply #20 – April 07, 2014, 10:07:08 pm

Quote from: Brad & Christine Slaughter – April 07, 2014, 03:31:41 pm

Got my quote from LesSchwab. He recommended LRH Ohtsus after I told him my front axle was too heavy for LRG. I trust Don's experience and that was his recommendation. $2605 mounted and balanced for 6 of them. Sounds like my plan. As usual, there are praises and condemnations online for this brand, just like there are for Michelins.

My tires are too old to be worth anything, but they do look great still. I'm just hoping they will get me safely up to Don to get them. I will be fairly lightly loaded and that should help.

I have had Ohtsus for 2 years now and are quite happy with them no problems at all, and I do run on down the road 70-75 with the traffic. They also don't seem to loose air and require airing up as much as some other sets I have had.

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Reply #21 – April 07, 2014, 10:55:51 pm

I will be getting new drive tires soon and I plan to get the YOKOHAMAs. I put them on the front last year and they have performed well. They may be a little more expensive than some others, but when you spread the cost over the next 7 or 8 years, not a big deal. I like safe and sturdy and my homework has led me to the Yokohama tires. To each his own ---- be safe and have a great day ---- Fritz

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Reply #22 – April 08, 2014, 09:54:20 am

There is a Strouhal location on U. S. Highway 75 North in Willis, Texas - (936) 856-2812 That location is about 10 miles north of Conroe.

Another dealer is Beasley Tire on U. S. Highway 59 North (East-Tex Freeway) near Houston Intercontinental Airport - (281) 449-2365

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Reply #23 – April 08, 2014, 05:57:14 pm

Thank you for all your input. Joined FMCA, Ordered 6 new XZA3+, Strouhal tires Willis TX , Will keep you all posted how it works out next week. Thanks again John & Dee

Re: Tire Time

Reply #24 – April 08, 2014, 06:09:08 pm

John,

You could have joined the fuel discount program offered on this forum for $25 and not only got the Michelin fleet tire program but also 10% off at NAPA and cash price at 5000 truck stops and 10 cents below cash price at all Loves truck stops.

Enjoy the FMCA mag.

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