Tires

Topic: Tires (Read 9729 times) previous topic - next topic

Tires

March 08, 2017, 04:38:58 pm

We had planned to replace the two front tires if the coach wasn't sold. It isn't sold, so two new tires are coming up soon. I've gotten some prices from a place that is on our route that was recommended by a forum member from the area. The Michelin tires we currently have are no longer available, so we won't be able to match exactly what's on the rear. I wasn't able to write quickly enough to get the details on the tires, but there are two Michelins available, one at $540 and the other at $575. There is a Firestone for $425 and a Toyo for $375. All prices are per tire, installed, taxes included.

The guy next to me has a Tiffin with all new Toyo tires. He only has a few hundred miles on them, but so far he likes them. The other motor homes here are all gassers and much smaller than my coach. We had figured that the two new tires would run us $1000-1200, so even the most expensive tires are within the budget, and the two cheaper tires are well under the lower number.

Re: Tires

Reply #1 – March 08, 2017, 04:46:01 pm

David, I bought Firestone F 560's and really like them paid 2600for all 6mounted and bead balanced. Sounds like you are in the ball park.

Re: Tires

Reply #2 – March 08, 2017, 04:52:25 pm

Andy, you reminded me of something. They offer bags of beads (?) for balancing for $15/tire. Worth it?

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Reply #3 – March 08, 2017, 04:52:56 pm

David, probably not a good idea to buy mismatched tires. Why a difference in price? Have you tried the Michelin Advantage program, details elsewhere on this forum.

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Reply #4 – March 08, 2017, 05:06:11 pm

Was for me David had not had any problems with tire ware.a and as for matching tires just don't miss match steers or duals

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Reply #5 – March 08, 2017, 05:09:43 pm

Quote from: kb0zke – March 08, 2017, 04:52:25 pm

Andy, you reminded me of something. They offer bags of beads (?) for balancing for $15/tire. Worth it?

I put Toyo's on and added the beads... seems to balance front tires ok.
Note! when you have beads installed they put a special valve cap on to show that it has beads added.

Re: Tires

Reply #6 – March 08, 2017, 05:12:57 pm

We did the same as saddle,like the Toyos.

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Reply #7 – March 08, 2017, 05:18:14 pm

Horace, there WILL be a difference between the two front tires and the four rear tires because the particular Micelins on the coach now are no longer made. Yes, we're members of FMCA and will see what they can do, just haven't gotten time to call them yet. As for the difference in price, I suspect that there are several factors involved. Michelin is a very well-known and well-respected brand, so probably part of their price is based on the name. Many years ago Firestone was a very common brand ("The name that's known is Firestone, where the rubber meets the road.) but I think they lost a lot of business some years ago with the Ford Explorers. Toyo, I think, is the new guy in town and working to build a following. They are probably willing to make a little less money now in exchange for a lot more later. All of this is just my speculation.

Re: Tires

Reply #8 – March 08, 2017, 05:41:34 pm

We had Toyos, they were cheap, but did not last long. Went back to Goodyear, and now have Michelin 255/80R 225 XRV . Both great tires. The Toyos could have done better if we knew what we learned later. Get all four corners weighed! If you really want to get picky (I am), weigh the coach on how you are using it. We had this one weighed with 50 gal. fresh water, 50 gal. diesel, 150 propane (1/2 a tank). We also did 60 gal. grey water and 40 black. The fronts came in at 8,600, rears 15,050. If you have (or are) a rock collector, weigh those , too.

Re: Tires

Reply #9 – March 08, 2017, 06:09:40 pm

Les Swab. 6 Toyo's all around. $2100.00 OUT door all spun balanced ,exchange.Took off the dated out 6 Michelin's, they gave me $600.00 trade in on those.Rides awesome.Figured they will date out, before they wear out. That's what happened with the last set.

Re: Tires

Reply #10 – March 08, 2017, 06:51:19 pm

Quote from: gracerace – March 08, 2017, 06:09:40 pm

Les Swab. 6 Toyo's all around. $2100.00 OUT door all spun balanced ,exchange.Took off the dated out 6 Michelin's, they gave me $600.00 trade in on those.Rides awesome.Figured they will date out, before they wear out. That's what happened with the last set.

Howdy gracerace,
That's a good price! I'm wonderin' if you had Gs or Hs installed?
Thanks for sharing, Dave A

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Reply #11 – March 08, 2017, 07:03:32 pm

Every new unihome and unicoach came with Michelins.

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Reply #12 – March 08, 2017, 07:06:48 pm

I have Bridgestones on my 95 am I'm very happy with them.

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Reply #13 – March 08, 2017, 07:18:46 pm

Quote from: gracerace – March 08, 2017, 06:09:40 pm

Les Swab. 6 Toyo's all around. $2100.00 OUT door all spun balanced ,exchange.Took off the dated out 6 Michelin's, they gave me $600.00 trade in on those.Rides awesome.Figured they will date out, before they wear out. That's what happened with the last set.

Whoa. That's a deal. Did you have some kind of prior association with them, or was this a deal you walked in and negotiated?

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Reply #14 – March 08, 2017, 07:21:53 pm

The $600 credit for the exchange made the price.

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Reply #15 – March 08, 2017, 07:56:29 pm

I would not spend the extra money on michelins. Several long haul truckers I know swear by bridgestones, which is what I currently have. One guy told me his Volvo came with Michelins and they were already weather checked and showing cracks when new!

When it comes time to replace in the next two years or so, I will without a doubt go toyo. Have heard a lot of stories of toyo performing exceptionally well and delivering great value for the price.

My local tire center, Bergeys Tire sells Toyo and said he has sold a lot of them and has never had a systemic issue with problems like they have seen with various chinese brands. His words were "buy what makes you happy, because if we sell it, its good"

Re: Tires

Reply #16 – March 08, 2017, 08:09:07 pm

Just wondered about these "beads" that are referred to as being placed inside the tire. Wouldn't having something rattling around inside the tire carcass wear on the inside? Just curious.
Len

Re: Tires

Reply #17 – March 08, 2017, 08:14:57 pm

@len in a word no. Have had the beads in fleets I have worked on and encountered them when I was at a truck dealership. For the 15 bucks beads work great. If the installer will machine balance them on a deal while installing the tire the. I would go that way. I am happy with the beads it balances the tire rim and hub assembly.

I only had two choices in the original size Michelin and something else. Talked to a friend in a tire shop found out I could go to a different size that works out the same for the speedo etc and gave me many different choices. I went load range H and ended up installing Bridgestone bus tires.

Re: Tires

Reply #18 – March 08, 2017, 08:31:42 pm

None of the tires I checked have the technical specs of the Michelins. Especially the directional sipes to help the coach self steer.

Like they were in part made for rv's.

Noticed a lot of line haul trucks with Michelin zxa-3's on the steer axle. Look for yourself when getting fuel.

They also run farther which is not our issue.

Not a price buyer on tires

No dual compound rubber. No mention of quieter or better ride.....

They also have more depth which is not our issue and have a guaranteed 700k/three retread warranty.

I am extremely picky and the overall drive was excellent.

Re: Tires

Reply #19 – March 08, 2017, 08:32:31 pm

Anybody run Yokohama's, they made some fantastic cutting edge sports car tires?

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Reply #20 – March 08, 2017, 09:37:40 pm

Phoenix Tire almost always has brand new Michelin take off tires with date codes within the past year and a half at a deep discount. They had 13 of them in stock when I bought mine. I think I paid $450 mounted and balanced for a $600 tire if I remember correctly (?) I wrote about it on the forum at the time. Maybe you're not going through Phoenix but other readers could benefit from this information. The date code meant nothing to me because it was going to be a spare tire anyway... Oh who am I kidding, the date code would have meant nothing to me no matter what.

Re: Tires

Reply #21 – March 08, 2017, 09:49:06 pm

I have Firestone F591 H rated, 16 ply tires. Had them installed a couple of months ago, just under $500 each mounted and balanced out the door. I am happy with them so far, around 4000 miles on them.

Bought them from Southern Tire Mart in Florida, but they have shop all over the south.

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Reply #22 – March 08, 2017, 10:11:52 pm

Quote from: stevec22 – March 08, 2017, 09:49:06 pm

Bought them from Southern Tire Mart in Florida, but they have shop all over the south.

Bought two Bridgestones from them last October and checked out right at $600 per TTL. (sic) I have relaxed my grip on the wheel a bit. Really had good service in the bay from Southern Tire Mart. Paul

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Reply #23 – March 08, 2017, 11:35:53 pm

I have Toyo's as steer and Firestone on duals. Wanted Toyos all around but could not get them at time. Love Toyos and have had them on my 7 series BMW for many years. MUCH better road holding and wet driving than Mich'
JohnH

Re: Tires

Reply #24 – March 08, 2017, 11:57:59 pm

You are comparing your OTR toyo's to current Xza-3+ or their energy x replacements?

Toyo, Bridgestone, Goodyear and Firestones went to the thick sidewall design for flat tire runouts.

Two choices on the tech. Thick sidewalls hold the tire up with no air.

Or the Michelin design where the sidewall shreds and the tire/rim come down on the tread area allowing no flip flop loss of steering control.

The Michelin thinner sidewall and no overlapping carcass belts have no,hard spot where the carcass overlaps which is visible on the sidewallls as a crease and self steers better.

Had long conversations with all the tire guys long ago.

Yes it's more money. That's nice, the original FMCA advantage program only offered Michelins for a reason.

Customer demand....

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