90 miles east of Baton Rouge need tire help

It's 10:30 p.m. and we are sitting still in Slidell, LA about 90 miles east of Baton Rouge. Needing to find a 315 80 22.5.

Stopped at the T/A, had a visit from a roadside assistance outfit, and are waiting until morning to hear of tire availability. Also have a call into a big bus outfit that will not be open until the a.m. Not real confident the news will be good.

We lost the inner drive tire due to the rubber valve extension stabilizer having gone missing somehow. The valve cap which is the kind you can put a gauge on and get a pressure reading w/o taking the cap off rubbed on the outer wheel and caused the inner tire to lose pressure slowly until there was a hole in the tire.

This was discovered when I started feeling a slight vibration in the bus on I-10. We pulled into a rest area and found the problem.

The bus has the same size tires all around. Can we put a different size on the tags and use a tag for the drive? We are supposed to be in CA on Sunday:confused:

If anyone in the area has any suggestions where to locate a tire we could sure use the help.

Thanks,

Richard Beecher
954-292-5786

Richard,

I'm guessing here, so hopefully someone else can chime in.

If you can't get a 315/80, and you can get something close, you might want to (as you said) move a 315/80 to your drive, BUT replace both tags with the "other" size. I wouldn't drive with mis-matched sizes on the same axle.

Yes, you'll end up with an extra tire that way, but actually I would assume you could drive with two new tags for quite awhile?

I think (please verify this), that you could instead use a 295/80R22.5 for you tags. They are load range H, and rated for 75mph. They are slightly smaller radius than the 315/80. They are load rated to 7830 pounds, which I would hope is well within your weights.

Ray

ps: Make sure you call when you get in CA area. 949-463-0707

Ray,

There are plenty of 295 75 22.5s here at the T/A. We are in the VOGUE which is around 42,000 lbs if I recall correctly, full fuel and fresh. I didn't know if the 75s were ok so I took a pass for the night until more info is available. If I can use the 75s and no 315 shows up on our doorstep in the a.m. that is what I will do.

Will call when we get in, only 1900 mi to go, all depends on when we get on the road tomorrow.

Thanks,

Richard

Richard: Sure am sorry to hear about your tire trouble. Micki and I just got in the door from Atlanta and we are bushed but thought I would see what is going on in the world of POG.

As I see it you have two things going for you. You got Barb for company and in a bind you could pass for Cajuns. Remember Tuga and Karen. They look like they are from Florida, south Florida that is.:cool:

Good luck on the tires.

You'll be fine with the 295's or what they have that fits on the tag, it only carries 10-11 thousand pounds on that axle. Usually the 315's end up there since they were used on the steer, way to much tire for a tag but it matches the others.

Rich,

I agree fully with using one of the tag tires and putting the closest rolling size you can on the tag. If the size is appreciably different it may fool the ABS into thinking the tire is sliding so rolling diameter is somewhat important.

I am about 20 miles East of you and will call about 7:30 am to offer any help, however I do not have a tire. Dan

Roger, they don't seem to have a problem with us being from South Florida, go figure.

Dale, Jon, we could get back on the road a lot sooner if the 295 75 22.5 is ok, including diameter wise. I am trying to determine if we are ok there. Unfortunately I don't have a chart to go to like we do with race tires to see the overall dimensions, any help you can offer there would be huge. If I can get an affirmative on the 295 75 22.5 being ok to go with on the tags, I'll be happy and so will Barbara. She started driving the Marathon lately so it's too bad she wasn't driving the VOGUE when this happened, I could have found a way to blame it on her! Oh well, next time. We did both sleep well in the T/A parking lot. Fuel doors locked of course.

Thanks,
Richard
954-292-5786

Dan, I am back on the phone in a minute to talk to all the local shops who are hopefully on duty by now...

Here is a list of Michelin Dealers near your Zip code.

Below are the results of your Find A Dealer search. If you'd like to do another search, visit Find A Dealer.
32.99 miles
INTERSTAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

8230 FIRE TOWER RD
PASS CHRISTIAN, MS, US
39571

» Map
33.66 miles
SOUTHERN TIRE MART, LLC

213 Edwards Ave.
Harrahan, LA, US
70123

» Map
34.54 miles
TCI #550 - BOGALUSA

923 Columbia St.
Bogalusa, LA, US
70447

» Map
36.52 miles
INTERSTAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

145 W AIRLINE HWY
kenner, la, US
70062

» Map
39.21 miles
TCI #576 - GULFPORT

9250 Canal Rd.
Gulfport, MS, US
39503

» Map
39.51 miles
INTERSTAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

17610 16TH ST
GULFPORT, MS, US
39503

» Map
40.17 miles
SOUTHERN TIRE MART, LLC

17170 Canal Road
Gulfport, MS, US
39503

» Map
45.33 miles
INTERSTAR NORTH AMERICA, INC.

2806 W CHURCH ST
HAMMOND, LA, US
70401

» Map
48.22 miles
CAMPING WORLD, INC.

43135 Pumpkin Center Rd
Hammond, LA, US
70403

» Map
69.63 miles
SOUTHERN TIRE MART, LLC

226 Industrial Park Rd.
Columbia, MS, US
39429

» Map
»Print

Richard,

I just got off the phone with Prevost in Dallas. They suggested TCI - Tire Centers of America. That is who they use. Here are the two closest locations in Louisiana.

Tire Center Baton Rouge TCI #560 - Baton Rouge Center 560
376 N Foster Dr Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Phone: 225-926-9230
Fax : 225-926-9274
Email: tci560mgr@tirecenters.com

Tire Center Houma TCI #553 - Houma Center 553
5581 Highway 311 Houma, LA 70360
Phone: 985-868-1773
Fax : 985-868-1776

The location in Gulfport may be closer. Here is that information:

Tire Center Biloxi - Gulfport TCI #576 - Gulfport Center 576
9250 Canal Rd Gulfport, MS 39503
Phone: 228-863-1888
Fax : 228-863-6983
Email: tci576mgr@tirecenters.com
Email: tci553mgr@tirecenters.com

Good Luck,

Loc

I just spoke to Richard, I have found a Toyo 315/80 R 22.5 in Gray, LA. He told me that he has found a Michelin in that size so everything is looking up.

If Richard is going to pass for a cajun he'll have to work on his accent:D

Bruce,

We are onto the TCI folks, they have the same Michelin tire and should be here and have us up and running within 2 hours for $884.00 all included.

Dale, Dan, Tuga, thanks for the phone calls, what a terrific bunch!

Roger, stop trying to get me to lighten up, I like being grumpy when these things happen, it builds character.

Jon, thanks for the technical slant, as always.

Whew, for a minute there I thought we were going to end up on Double Coins!

I'll report back when we are on the road again.

Richard Beecher

Loc,

We talked to the TCI Baton Rouge folks and they are going to help us out.

Thanks,

Richard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rbeecher

Loc,

We talked to the TCI Baton Rouge folks and they are going to help us out.

Thanks,

Richard

---

That is great, Hope you can now enjoy the rest of your trip.

I always learn something new when these fire drills come up.

Todays offered 2 bits of useful info. 1. Dig deep and you will find what you need., and 2. Jon's thought about the possible effects of using the wrong diameter tire, fooling the ABS, very interesting.

Great group, good work, never a dull moment.

Richard,

Sorry to learn of your "adventure", but glad to hear that you are OK and will soon be back on the road.

Have a safe and uneventful remainder of your trip!

Richard,

As I mentioned on the phone, if no 315 is available, try a 12R X22.5. It has only 16 revilution per mile less than the 315, so the ABS should be OK. 12R have a max carrying cap of 6610 lbs, probably came on the bus when it was new. Good luck

To kinda close out the question whether or not a 295/75R22.5 would fit, I'm guessing "maybe". In case anyone runs into a similar situation and cannot get a tire.

It appears that size is available from Goodyear and Toyo. Michelin does not seem to carry that size.

As best as I could compare against dis-similar tire charts, it seems that the tire radius are:

315/80 - 42.3 in
295/80 - 41.3 in
295/75 - 40.2 in

So, it's a good two inches smaller than the 315/80. Someone other than I will need to comment whether or not that could co-exist (on the tag) with 315/80's on the drive axle.

Ray

A 295 tire is 3 inches over all shorter in height than the 315 measuring the tire from top of tread to bottom where it meets the ground.
The 12RX22.5 is a narrower tire than the 315 but almost a complete match in height/rolling circumferance.:D

The bad news is none of our tires 12, 315, 365 are ever going to be easy to find on the road.

So if you absolutely, positively have to get places on time....carry a spare.

Adam?

The 11-22.5 also stands the same and will be very available at the truck stop. It is rated 2 or 300lbs below the 12-22.5 but still well within it's limitations for the tag.

Thanks for all good information.

Joe, the only question I have is your comment on the 11-22.5. Last night here at the T/A they said the 11 was much smaller so I took a pass.

The good news came this a.m., that a Michelin in the same size/model as on the bus was on it's way.

The bad news is, the guy who gave me that information fell in a hole somewhere and there is no Michelin.

The other bad news is I have just spoken to the guy the Michelin was supposedly coming from that the other store was going to sell to me, problem is no one confirmed the availability. Bottom line, he has no Michelin.

The good news is, I have a tire showing up soon.

The bad news is someone got in big trouble this afternoon when his boss found out about the screw up.

The good news is I will have a spare and everything I need to change a tire by the next trip.

Richard Beecher
96 VOGU XL 40

Do you think its time for a little circus music........Aahhh...Life on wheels.:D

An 11R22.5 is only available for 7.5 and 8.25 in wheels. I know that my older CC had 8.25 wheels (at least on drive and tag), but I believe most newer coaches have 9.0in wheels.

Ray

Inside steel wheel is 8.25. Aluminum wheels on coaches that came with 315's are 9 inch.

An XL like our 1999 shell, 2001 CC 2 slide has 8.25 inch inner steel\ the rest were Alloy
An XLII, like 2001 shell, 2002 Marathon 1 slide had an 8.25 inch inner steel/the rest were alloy wheel.
An H3-45 1999 shell, 2000 Marathon has 9 inch alloy inner wheel/and the rest are alloy as well


All tires on the above coaches were 315X80X22.5. Prevost would pinch the inner dual onto a 8.25 inch steel wheel. I imagine they still do. Has something to do with keeping the drive axle at 102 inches. We tried to put iinner 9 inch alloy our CCXL and our XLII Marathon and were told NO!! You can't!

I do not know if you should put an 11-22.5 on a 9 inch rim. I guess not.

I do know that the rolling radius of an 11-22.5 and 12-22.5 are almost identical but the 11 is slightly skinnier. This is one of 2 sizes semis use and are VERY COMMON, and very reasonably priced too.

Jim & Chris,

FYI - My CC had alloy 9" inside rims. They were so tight they pushed out the fender flairs when the air was dumped out. I took them off and put 8.25's back on. Prevost Jacksonville said they put 9" on the inside all the time because some customers don't like the steel wheels. I think the bus exceeded 102" wide with the 9" inside, but who cares.

The 12RX22.5 has a 505 revolutions per mile. the 315 has 491.
Our 2000 CC Affinity had alloys steer and on the drive and all wheels were 9 inch. The steer on that coach were 315X80's and the drives were 12R.



SOOOO, Richard., are you on the road yet??????????

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Coloradobus

The 12RX22.5 has a 505 revolutions per mile. the 315 has 491.
Our 2000 CC Affinity had alloys steer and on the drive and all wheels were 9 inch. The steer on that coach were 315X80's and the drives were 12R.



SOOOO, Richard., are you on the road yet??????????

---

When I replaced my tires with Energy 2's I had Prevost place Aluminum wheels on the inside drives. It does push out the wheels and tires toward the fenders by about an inch on each side. I have fiberglass fenders and there is just enough room inside the fender wells under all conditions, but not a lot of extra room. So I guess it is possible that I am now 104" on the drives now.

Heading to El Paso hopefully further. Will update when we get a chance.

Thank you for your help.

Barbara Beecher

:cool:Barbara: I sure am glad to hear you are on board to help Richard get thru this trying ordeal. I know he said it builds character, but he maybe like me and has enough character to last him till the next trip.

Travel Safe

Roger,

I am thinking about replacing my character with another character after this ordeal, what do you think I should do?

All, on the tire discussion, we ended up with a Yokohama and left Slidell, LA at 4:30 p.m. yesterday, we stopped at 1:30 a.m in Sculenburg, TX. I think that was TEN hours two of which were spent sitting still near St Charles, LA due to rush hour and accidents.

We are now in Deming, New Mexico, 80 miles west of El Paso, having arrived at the respectable hour of 10:00 p.m. On to Costa Mesa tomorrow.

So far we have logged about 2,000 miles in the '96 VOGUE with only the tire issue, one heck of a bus this thing is. MPG is averaging 6.6 and we have definitely not been averaging 63.5 mph, not even close. It has been windy most of the trip. I-10 is one sorry excuse for an interstate. I-10 in west Texas posts speed limits of 80mph for cars and 70 for trucks. So what do busses get to go?

Saw seven Prevosts heading east in Texas today, 2 XLIIs and 5 XLs.

Time for some sleep. Thanks again for all of your input.

Richard and Barbara
96 Vogue XL40
02 Marathon XLII 45

Richard,

If you think I-10 is bad now, the stretch between Lafayette and Lake Charles used to be so rough (expansion joints every 20') that it would jar your teeth:eek: It has been overlaid with asphalt now and is much smoother.

The section approaching the Lake Charles bridge is notorious for traffic jambs. Apparently, Mexico and VietNam didn't teach driver's education! Wrecks are common!