Tires??

[birdshill123]

I am considering the purchase of a unit that is going to need tires.
The rears for sure. But would probably replace all 6. I havent checked
very many dealers but I am getting prices of $435 to $500 plus mounting
and taxes. Seems high. Has anyone used other brands with success? The
Michelin is designed for motorhomes and 2 dealers recommended the XZE.
Many of the others either have a very aggressive tread or are very
hard. Ride could suffer. If you have used another brand and are pleased
could you give me the model and amke of the tire and approxiamte price.
If the others are only a few dollars less I would not consider anything
but Michelin. Thanks: Bruce

[George Lowry]

Bruce,

FWIW, I won't have Michelins on any of my coaches. I have had many
failures with the Michelin tires, in fact one on the BBWL. On our '95
WL, we replaced the Michelins with Toyos. Ride was about the same and
cost was much less. Bought them at Les Schwab Tires. IIRC it ran about
$270 each, installed and balanced. I use Equal for balancing. best way
we have found.

George Lowry
'06 Alpine Apex - Formerly '95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD NOw at TTN Las Vegas


birdshill123 wrote:

> I am considering the purchase of a unit that is going to need tires.
> The rears for sure. But would probably replace all 6. I havent checked
> very many dealers but I am getting prices of $435 to $500 plus mounting
> and taxes. Seems high. Has anyone used other brands with success? The
> Michelin is designed for motorhomes and 2 dealers recommended the XZE.
> Many of the others either have a very aggressive tread or are very
> hard. Ride could suffer. If you have used another brand and are pleased
> could you give me the model and amke of the tire and approxiamte price.
> If the others are only a few dollars less I would not consider anything
> but Michelin. Thanks: Bruce
>
>
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> Yahoo! Groups Links
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[John Suter]

Hi Bruce,

The first step in selecting tires is the
determination of the Load Rating (LR), which is based
upon the weight the tire must bear, and requires
either weighing the tire position of the coach, or
estimating the heaviest tire position weight.

The second step should be, given the LR, select a
tread design for a LR (by tire model and
manufacturer); as some models will not come in the
required LR.

Only then can you begin to assess the relative
pricing among manufacturers, tire models, and
dealer/distributor price quotes. You will want to
compare prices after trade-in allowances, if any,
mounted, and with new valve stems. Insist on tires
with manufacture dates stamped on the tire casing,
less than 1 year from purchase date. Department of
Transportation (DOT) rules may limit the value of
trade-ins for your tires with manufacture dates older
than 5 years, and trade-in tires that have been
repaired.

Attempting to compare tires of unequal LR is an
exercise in wasting time.

John Suter


-- birdshill123 wrote:

> I am considering the purchase of a unit that is
> going to need tires.
> The rears for sure. But would probably replace all
> 6. I havent checked
> very many dealers but I am getting prices of $435 to
> $500 plus mounting
> and taxes. Seems high. Has anyone used other brands
> with success? The
> Michelin is designed for motorhomes and 2 dealers
> recommended the XZE.
> Many of the others either have a very aggressive
> tread or are very
> hard. Ride could suffer. If you have used another
> brand and are pleased
> could you give me the model and amke of the tire and
> approxiamte price.
> If the others are only a few dollars less I would
> not consider anything
> but Michelin. Thanks: Bruce
>
>
>
>
>


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[Jeff Miller]

I'm with you on Michelins.

The best tire IMO from Michelin for your coach is not the XZE, it
seems to have increased tread squirm over the XZA series possibly due
to its deeper tread. I have tried many brands, find the XZA2 (XZ2 in
12R size) tires to be the best riding and excellent directional
stability. I don't know the year of your FC, but if later than about
1981 it requires a 16PR tire / LRH. If '78 through mid-'83, it has
7.50" wide rims and requires 11Rx22.5 tires, if mid-'83 or later the
8.25" rims will fit 12" wide tires. If you can install the 12" tires
I recommend doing it at least on the steer axle for the lower
pressure/nicer ride.

I installed BFG's premium steer 11R/LRH tires on one of our coaches a
couple of years ago, made in a Michelin plant in old Michelin X
molds, and was very happy with them. I've used Bridgestone's premium
steer on drive axle, not the ride of the Michelin nor the resale
value, but pretty good tires.

Opinions vary widely on brands, this is my experience/opinion.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> I am considering the purchase of a unit that is going to need
tires.
> The rears for sure. But would probably replace all 6. I havent
checked
> very many dealers but I am getting prices of $435 to $500 plus
mounting
> and taxes. Seems high. Has anyone used other brands with success?
The
> Michelin is designed for motorhomes and 2 dealers recommended the
XZE.
> Many of the others either have a very aggressive tread or are very
> hard. Ride could suffer. If you have used another brand and are
pleased
> could you give me the model and amke of the tire and approxiamte
price.
> If the others are only a few dollars less I would not consider
anything
> but Michelin. Thanks: Bruce
>

[birdshill123]

John: Than you for that info. I own a small fllet of both on road and
off road trucks, forklifts and tractors. I am fully aware of the
problems with vehicle weights and load ranges. If this were a truck the
decision would be a no brainer. But a MH is a whole other story.
Especially in a 12R22.5. These would of course be LRH which will easily
handle the weight of an FC35. Besides increasing LR without making sure
the other factors ( wheels, suspension axles, etc.) can take the weight
is a waste of time. There are not many 12R tires that are recommended
for motorhome use. Using tires designes for an 18 wheeler or a 53 ft.
trailer will cause lots of problems. The Michelins are designed for RV
use. This usually means they have additives to prevent UV damge, are
quiet and handle well These items are not important to a tractor
trailer owner. Maybe I should have worded my question better: Which
other mfrs. have tires suitable for our applications and does anyone
have experience with thee tires; good or bad. As for the Toyos: Toyo is
not making motorhome tires and are now recommending that you NOT use
their tires on a motorhome.

Bruce
wanabe

[scoggins_jim]

Bruce;
I have had good service out of both Toyos and Michelin. For cost
issues I thoughabout Toyos on e drives and Michelin on the steers.

[birdshill123]

Les Schwab also suggested some less expensive tires on the drive and
Michelins on the front.

Bruce

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "birdshill123"
wrote:
>
> Les Schwab also suggested some less expensive tires on the drive and
> Michelins on the front.
>
> Bruce
>

My new set of rear end tires cost around 1200 dollars installed at Les
Schwab. I like the tires but also the idea that I can take it in and
get the tires check anytime I want!

Jon
Rebel Bird