Another "Tire"ing question?

Topic: Another "Tire"ing question? (Read 1230 times) previous topic - next topic

Another "Tire"ing question?

July 26, 2015, 10:30:12 pm

Probably the most talked about topic when it comes to motorhomes..... What Tires to buy?
We need new treads on our 36' U280, it has the 275/80R-22.5 as it should have. Michelin Pilot XZA-1 on the duals and XZE on the steers. Both LR-G rating. We are planning on using the FMCA program, on the "low end" if you can call it that! We are considering the BFG's ST244 and on the "upper end" the Michelin XZE's (I like the idea of the stronger sidewalls on the regional tires) Also considering upgrading to LR-H rating if we can find them locally. Any opinions and advice would be welcomed. Are the LR-H rated tires a waste of money on a 36' U280? The Michelin are at least a $100 more per tire than BFG's, are they worth it?
Gotta decide something soon, just not sure..........

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #1 – July 26, 2015, 10:37:47 pm

Price Yokahama and especially Toyo locally too

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #2 – July 26, 2015, 11:13:34 pm

Even through FMCA, the Michelins were going to cost me $528 ea + all the taxes and fees.
On Wednesday, I have arranged to have installed six Continentals HSR2 @ $378 ea.
Dealer says that price is some sort of Continental coach program on the order of FMCA/Michelin Advantage.
I figure no matter what we pay for tires, no matter what brand we get, typically the sidewalls are badly cracked in less than ten years.
It seems that many coach owners replace them at ten year even if sidewalls still look okay.
The Mich I am replacing are Pilot XZA-1 (discontinued) date code 0408. They have something like 10K miles on them.
Like on my MINI, I only got one or two Summers with Mich Pilot Super Sports. For much less money, I am now running BFG (essentially a Mich subsidiary). If I am going to have short lived tires, why pay top dollar for them?
I know, I know... some will argue that the Mich is such a better, safer tire... REALLY?

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #3 – July 27, 2015, 12:26:01 am

Your thinking is correct as far as I am concerned, but you should do your self a favour and as Tim said go look at Toyo's as they are a super tire. I took the Michelins off my 750I BMW many years ago and put Toyo on and the difference was majic. I now have them on the steer on coach too.
JohnH

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #4 – July 27, 2015, 02:57:33 am

We're running the Contenentals on all positions and are very happy with them. Cost a lot more than you're stating. I'd jump on them. Remember, nobody's getting more than seven years safely including the long-haul truckers. They get more miles because they're on the road all the time. I'm retired and don't want to spend the time behind the wheel, just want to smell the roses between drives.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #5 – July 27, 2015, 07:02:36 am

I'll try to price Toyo, Yokohoma & Continentals, if I can find them locally.
Also .... Are the LR - H worth the extra money?

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #6 – July 27, 2015, 07:45:40 am

I have XZE all the way around. At the time that was all Powers in Nacogdoches could get. Been pleased so far. I think TOYO is also a good tire.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #7 – July 27, 2015, 08:51:59 am

anything but Hankook.
An alarming number of owners in the Pleasure-Way owners group had them fail.
have no idea if they even make 22.5's

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #8 – July 27, 2015, 09:14:52 am

Quote from: FourTravelers – July 27, 2015, 07:02:36 am

Also .... Are the LR - H worth the extra money?

Nobody has answered your question, yet, and I am not qualified to do so. However, I think the only VALID way to address this question is to get your coach weighed. Coach should be fully loaded, ready to travel, etc. You can find more specific instructions by searching the subject on this Forum. The KEY is to KNOW what your coach weighs (4 corner weights, if possible), and then pick the tire that can safely carry that load. If the LR-G tires are sufficient, then you don't need to spend extra money for the H range.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #9 – July 27, 2015, 09:34:01 am

Our 30,000 pound motorhome has had several new sets of Michelin XZA 275/80R22.5 tires and we find they are a great ride and with 150,000 miles and never gave us a problem. They are installed on both front and rear axles and we aim for 100 psi in each tire. We usually buy new set of tires when tires are about 6 years old. We only consider Load Range H because of their extra safety margin. Tires carry short term extra loads on turns, side winds, high altitude, cold days, etc, so extra margin can pay off in coach safety. Running with 100 PSI, our LR-H's higher maximum cold 120 PSI probably gives us a softer ride than LR-G.
We always buy tires and batteries before they are needed, as their end of life is impossible to predict. Tires are often about $600 each out the door. Used tires with DOT date less than 5 years may be worth $150 reduction in new tires cost. We record each tire's DOT date before installation, because after installed, the date may not be visible. At Herman tire in Nacogdoches, working with owner Greg, we have never had tires with DOT dates more than 6 months old, and several times the date was a month old.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #10 – July 27, 2015, 11:48:44 am

Quote from: FourTravelers – July 26, 2015, 10:30:12 pm

The Michelin are at least a $100 more per tire than BFG's, are they worth it?

Yes, everyone has an opinion. Lots of good tires from all over the world that will work well. What is working well? An RV does not need a tire that goes mega miles as the sidewalls go long before the tread is even halfway worn. To me, tires need to be blowout resistant (with a thicker sidewall), take almost no weight to balance, don't make a lot of noise, be round (a lot of tires don't stay round and are impossible to balance) and give a decent ride. Price does not necessarily indicate quality but may indicate millions spent on advertising.

My fire department used only Coopers on all the apparatus and cars. Never had a blowout and they gave excellent service. Our U300 came with a set of Coopers and have been very happy with all aspects of the tires. Toyo, Bridgestone/Firestone, Yokohama all make excellent tires also. Continental too but you might have to pay a premium for the European tire because of labor costs there (unless they have a factory in China).

The 295/75-22.5 is a lower profile than the 275/80 and while almost the exact diameter, is about three quarters of an inch wider( almost exactly 7.3%). An advantage in stopping and handling all things equal.

Tires go from the tread pattern we see to a compressed pattern where they make contact with the road almost 10 times a second at 60 mph. The flexing of the steel and rubber builds heat. Keeping the pressure up especially in hot weather, minimizes this heat buildup and makes them much more resistant to road damage from chuck holes, etc. and also shortens braking distance.

H rated tires do have an extra reserve but along with stiffer sidewalls and full rated pressure, may give a slightly firmer ride. With our airbags, we don't notice any harshness and are quite happy with the ride.

While our tires are rated at 75 mph, anytime you go faster, the rated weight capacity may be reduced. At any speed (under 75mph max), the tire will only handle the maximum weight listed on the sidewall at the maximum pressure listed. Driving a tire loaded to the maximum weight and with less than the maximum listed pressure IS overloading the tire.

Tire size with width, revolutions per mile, diameter, etc with tire plugin at: 275/80-R22.5 vs 295/75-R22.5 Tire Comparison - Tire Size Calculator | Tacoma...

Pierce

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #11 – August 04, 2015, 07:23:52 am

Update: Well .......we bit the bullet yesterday and bought a full set of Michelins. We went with the 275/80R-22.5, XZE, my only reservation was the price, were they worth the extra $$$$. About $100 more per tire than BFG's, Continentals or Goodyears.
Local availability played a part in the decision too. I wanted to stay with the original size. Once the bank account recovers. we can focus on the airbags. They still look quite good for their age.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #12 – August 04, 2015, 09:39:46 am

We did the 290/75 thing and they rubbed on the air bag flange. Somebody here ground/cut the flange off to clear the tire. That's kind of a drastic move I think. Except for the aquahot, I like everything Foretravel put on our coach originally. I think it was fully thought out and that the engineering wa far better than what I can do for improvement so I'll stay with the 275/80's.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #13 – August 04, 2015, 09:43:51 am

Larry,

Were the tires you put on that interfered with the air bag mounts 290/75R22.5 or 295/70R22.5?

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #14 – August 04, 2015, 11:11:45 am

295s have always touched and polished the airbag flanges under certain conditions. No big deal.

Pierce

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #15 – August 04, 2015, 11:44:10 am

Pierce,

Are yours 295/75 or 295/80's?

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #16 – August 04, 2015, 11:59:55 am

We now have Bridgestone 295/75 LRH's with no rubbing. As a new driver my observation may not be accurate but they "seem" to wander less than the Michelin 275/80 LRG's.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #17 – August 04, 2015, 12:41:17 pm

Here's my story. Put 6 275/80R22.5 LR H. XZA3 on coach 4 days ago through the Michelin program using TCI in Lakeside, Ca.
$538.36 per tire plus $500.00 in state/fed taxes plus $347.34 for shop labor and what nots comes
To a grand total of $4230.72.
I did get free air and a retorque after 100 miles plus 3 cups of coffee while waiting😜

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #18 – August 04, 2015, 12:53:09 pm

Quote from: lgshoup – August 04, 2015, 09:39:46 am

Except for the aquahot, I like everything Foretravel put on our coach originally.

What don't you like abut the Aqua-Hot?

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #19 – August 04, 2015, 02:12:31 pm

AquaHot...let's see...the fuel pump broke - one coach buck just to clean up the fuel mess; the fresh water wrap sprung a leak and I had to take everything out of the bays to dry them out. AH said it would be FIVE coach bucks to repair...if someone wants to take it out they can have it!

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #20 – August 04, 2015, 02:14:45 pm

The tires were 295/75s and they only rubbed when turning but it was loud and there significant. Company that put them on said they should be no trouble but had to replace them with the correct size at my insistence.

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #21 – August 04, 2015, 02:26:16 pm

While looking at tire prices I came across this. It's Love's truck stops. Pretty good prices?

http://www.loves.com/HomeLinks/TruckTireCare/TirePricing.aspx

Keith

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #22 – August 04, 2015, 02:49:14 pm

Forgot to mention that the date codes are, 2315, happy about that

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #23 – August 04, 2015, 06:54:53 pm

Larry, not to mention the bay space AH takes or how difficult it can be to get at in some coaches. Nice to have AH's quiet heat, unlimited hot water & engine warming, but we are fine with small space heaters & propane hot water tank. There are guys that make their living keeping AH maintained, but I have not met anyone who makes a living keeping propane furnace & hot water tanks working. Barry

Re: Another "Tire"ing question?

Reply #24 – August 04, 2015, 10:00:05 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – August 04, 2015, 06:54:53 pm

I have not met anyone who makes a living keeping propane furnace & hot water tanks working.

I is the one that keeps ours working...don't pay very good, but I get at least one hot meal a day, and a warm bed.

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