Tire recommendations?

Topic: Tire recommendations? (Read 1396 times) previous topic - next topic

Tire recommendations?

June 01, 2016, 04:06:14 pm

We are getting closer to purchasing our first Foretravel (2000 U320) and will be making a trip up to Iowa from San Diego to pick it up. In the meantime, the owner has had it checked out at two businesses: one to check out the coach appliances, etc. and another to check out the tires and air and brake system. The tire man. date is '07, so we will be getting new tires immediately. Does anyone have any recommendations on tires and shops along our way home? We anticipate using Hwys 80, 76, 25 (to Santa Fe), 40 and may drop down to Phoenix. There used to be a discount on Michelin through a Prevost fuel program, but that may have expired by now.
Thanks for any suggestions.
Sven

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #1 – June 01, 2016, 05:19:44 pm

Sven, FMCA still has the discount along with Prevost but you need to join either one of them. Good luck, hope all goes well! After you join, you should get a list of what dealers in your area are in the program.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #2 – June 01, 2016, 05:31:45 pm

RV Services AZ | RV Inspection | RV Maintenance | RV Tires
Phoenix Arizona. I got some pretty good prices from them 5 months ago but in the end waited till I got home here in BC.
They do FMCA as well
JohnH

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #3 – June 01, 2016, 05:38:24 pm

Quote from: John Haygarth – June 01, 2016, 05:31:45 pm

RV Services AZ | RV Inspection | RV Maintenance | RV Tires
Phoenix Arizona.

I've gotten mixed opinions about them, will do more checking, though bringing a coach into Phoenix is daunting!

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #4 – June 01, 2016, 05:57:21 pm

Sven,

Congrats on finding a coach to your liking! Hope the trip to pick it up goes smoothly both ways.

(You may already know this) When you buy a Foretravel, new or pre-owned, you get a free membership in the Motorcade Club for the remainder of that calendar year. You just have to call the Motorcade Club office and give them your info:

Foretravel Motorcoach - Motorcade Club Contact Information

When we bought our coach (3 years ago) the Motorcade Club membership was linked to a free 1-year membership in the FMCA. They had some kind of reciprocal deal going that got you in both clubs. I don't know if this is still true. I'm hoping some other member will chime in and check me on this statement.

If you do still get both club memberships, then you could sign up with Beverly Koonce right after you close the deal on your new coach, and possibly get to use the FMCA Michelin Advantage Program on your way home.

Michelin Advantage Program

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #5 – June 01, 2016, 06:08:36 pm

Sven, welcome! What length is your coach? Please add your coach information to your signature line in your profile

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #6 – June 01, 2016, 06:53:18 pm

Sven,
See if the tire shop can beat the FMCA discount. The tire shop here where I live in Florida said that FMCA has set prices for mounting balancing and such. He said he can usually beat the discount. Worth a shot.

Mark

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #7 – June 01, 2016, 06:56:21 pm

Mike--Phx daunting??? it is one of the easiest cities to drive around with coach. I found NY, New Orleans a lot tighter but easier than Mexico City.
JohnH

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #8 – June 01, 2016, 07:11:30 pm

If it was me, after spending a bundle on putting new tires on my coach when I got it from MOT, not knowing exactly what I was doing, I would make sure that the tires were over-rated for the coach, so at max gross weigh, I would not be at max pressure allowed for the tires.
Just a thought.
Mike

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #9 – June 01, 2016, 07:16:13 pm

I would rather back through Phoenix than drive through Atlanta or Houston forwards! So, if you see a really nice '96 in reverse in Phoenix it's just me proving a point

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #10 – June 01, 2016, 07:36:49 pm

Michelin's were oem on the coach and my experience replacing my xza-1's with "h" rated xza-3+'s was very noticeable.

The FMCA program allows you to buy directly from Michelin. P

I added centrimatics wheel balancers and skipped the manual balance.

New Michelin's are very close on being in balance already.

Your ten year old tires unless heavily cracked should get you back to San Diego.

I drove a few years on 05 dated rears.

Join FMCA, buy the tires through them from Michelin. Mount them with the centrimatics at the same time. Skip balancing.

"H" range run 10 psi roughly less at the same load as the original "g's"

Better ride.

Replace the shocks when you can with new Koni FSD's. Better cross rut reaction. Dampens the big rolling bumps.

Frequency Specific Dampening. Two circuits in the shock. One for quick sharp hits. The other circuit for the big radius bumps.

Eight 1010's for the front. Two 1011's for the tag if you have one.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #11 – June 01, 2016, 07:42:51 pm

Quote from: rbark – June 01, 2016, 05:19:44 pm

Sven, FMCA still has the discount along with Prevost but you need to join either one of them.

Prevost Community is free to join. See the sticky topic Prevost Community Fuel Discount Program & Michelin Tire Advantage Program

FMCA does have dues, but is a great group with some really good benefits and magazine.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #12 – June 01, 2016, 07:44:17 pm

what size tires and brand are you interested in?

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #13 – June 01, 2016, 07:52:16 pm

Sven, whatever tires you buy, before leaving the tire dealer, make a hard turn both directions and check that they do not rub against the bottom of the air spring mounting plate. That can be done with the tire on or off the ground after it is installed, coach does not have to be moving. Some brands are slightly larger than others even though the size is the same.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #14 – June 01, 2016, 07:54:24 pm

I really appreciate the comments - didn't expect this response in so short a time. With regard to Phoenix, we've been through it; it was a breeze. If you want tough, drive a 34' with toad into Brooklyn from Staten Island. We drove down Flatbush Ave. to Floyd Bennett Field and parked on the old seaplane tarmac next to Jamaica Bay. I have never done so much "teeth sucking" in my life and the bridge tolls wanting $15/axel (four including toad) didn't help. Once there, however it was great! It is now a national park, is very quiet and you have great night views of the city - just no hookups. Floyd Bennett field was the original municipal airport of NYC; Earhart, Wiley Post, Lindbergh and others flew out of there. Back to tires: The centrimatic wheel balancers are a good suggestion. Has anyone used valves with tire pressure monitors (we have them with our cars) on them? We are also interested in Michelin, but would consider others.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #15 – June 01, 2016, 08:04:58 pm

Both of my new Firestone FS561 front tires lightly buff the lower air bag plate in a sharp turn. Has not been a problem. I have heard this is not uncommon on some coach years and models.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #16 – June 01, 2016, 09:44:03 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – June 01, 2016, 05:57:21 pm

Sven,

Congrats on finding a coach to your liking! Hope the trip to pick it up goes smoothly both ways.

(You may already know this) When you buy a Foretravel, new or pre-owned, you get a free membership in the Motorcade Club for the remainder of that calendar year. You just have to call the Motorcade Club office and give them your info:

Foretravel Motorcoach - Motorcade Club Contact Information

When we bought our coach (3 years ago) the Motorcade Club membership was linked to a free 1-year membership in the FMCA. They had some kind of reciprocal deal going that got you in both clubs. I don't know if this is still true. I'm hoping some other member will chime in and check me on this statement.

If you do still get both club memberships, then you could sign up with Beverly Koonce right after you close the deal on your new coach, and possibly get to use the FMCA Michelin Advantage Program on your way home.

Michelin Advantage Program

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – June 01, 2016, 06:08:36 pm

Sven, welcome! What length is your coach? Please add your coach information to your signature line in your profile

I have joined FMCA and look forward to some of the rallies and classes. I will post the information on my signature line once we make the purchase - don't want to jinx it.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #17 – June 01, 2016, 11:43:24 pm

Quote from: Sven – June 01, 2016, 04:06:14 pm

We are getting closer to purchasing our first Foretravel (2000 U320) and will be making a trip up to Iowa from San Diego to pick it up. In the meantime, the owner has had it checked out at two businesses: one to check out the coach appliances, etc. and another to check out the tires and air and brake system.
...snip...
Thanks for any suggestions.

Sven,
You already have good advice about tires.
If your pick-up place is anywhere close to Moscow, IA (and even if it is not) I would suggest you schedule an inspection of the HWH air suspension system at the HWH factory.
Welcome to HWH Corporation

They are just off I80 a little east of Iowa City.on the eastern side of the state.
I found the stop well worth it.

HTH

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #18 – June 02, 2016, 07:56:04 am

Which Michelin tire are you considering? Size?

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #19 – June 02, 2016, 09:43:38 am

Quote from: stump – June 02, 2016, 07:56:04 am

Which Michelin tire are you considering? Size?

I'm looking for recommendations.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #20 – June 02, 2016, 09:49:06 am

Quote from: TheBrays – June 01, 2016, 11:43:24 pm

Sven,
You already have good advice about tires.
If your pick-up place is anywhere close to Moscow, IA (and even if it is not) I would suggest you schedule an inspection of the HWH air suspension system at the HWH factory.
Welcome to HWH Corporation

They are just off I80 a little east of Iowa City.on the eastern side of the state.
I found the stop well worth it.

HTH

The coach is near Des Moines, quite a bit to the west and I will be traveling west from there. The air and brake system was checked out yesterday by a trucking company. I questioned them at length about caliper slide pin measurements, visual inspection of pads and pre-tip air brake tests ( I used to do this daily on my fire engine).

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #21 – June 02, 2016, 10:29:43 am

My tire guy at work who was honest enough to tell me to get tires elsewhere told me regardless of brand stay away from tires marked "Eco" they use more synthetics instead of oils and are more dry as a result.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #22 – June 02, 2016, 05:11:05 pm

Quote from: Sven – June 02, 2016, 09:49:06 am

The coach is near Des Moines, quite a bit to the west and I will be traveling west from there. The air and brake system was checked out yesterday by a trucking company. I questioned them at length about caliper slide pin measurements, visual inspection of pads and pre-tip air brake tests ( I used to do this daily on my fire engine).

Sven,
I'm sure you are just fine and it certainly makes a lot of sense to not tack on extra miles.

I would, however, like to help you climb the fairly steep learning curve on these wonderful beasts.
The HWH system, while it uses much of the same air system as the brakes, has nothing to do with them.
The HWH system is what pushes/pulls the slides in and out, levels the coach when you stop, and more importantly exhausts and fills the air bags to maintain your suspension system as you go down the road.

Have a great trip home.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #23 – June 10, 2016, 05:02:20 pm

I put BF Goodrich on my coach, and have been very happy with them. At the time they were considerably less than the FMCA price on the M's with the same load rating. So far (three years) I have really liked them.

Re: Tire recommendations?

Reply #24 – June 14, 2016, 04:52:35 pm

When I bought my tires this summer on the FMCA Advantage program, Michelin told me that the tires are good for ten years if a coach is garage kept. After 5 years you should have the tires inspected for cracks every year. No cracks, then you are good to go.

Affiliate Notice