Best deal on tires

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Tuga, the King has Michelins on his steer. Both of us are chickens. We are giving this Chinese tire thing a chance, but since the steer and tag are the hardest on tires we are sticking with what is known there. When my steer axle tire is going to be replaced I will have about 4 years on the Shanghai skins so at that point I will have a bit more knowledge. Roger may be at the point where he has to make a decision sooner.

Poor Roger has had to work in the recent past. It's killing him.

[dalej]

Jon, I measured the tread width on my 315's and my R12's and they are the same width or the 315's could be 1/8-1/4 inch wider. Both are right at 9 inch in there width. I was a little supprised by this, but the 315's are much wider when you get to the belly of the tire, so I would not put 315's on a 8.25 wheel. It will be very close to touching without the bouncing that bus's do. He said when they kiss the heat will start to build.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Guess what.....our inner steel wheel is 8.25 and the aluminum is 9.00.

I rely on Michelin technical data and the Prevost shop manual for my information. I think the guy has not availed himself of either.

[dalej]

Well my curiosity got to me so I went out and did the measurements on the tires. The steer tires with the 315's on them has a belly measurement of 2 inches, at 110 pounds of pressure. The 12R’s has a belly measurement of 1 inch, with 100 pounds of pressure. The distance between my drive tires is 1
and 1/4 inches. So I’m pretty sure that if you put 315's on a 8.25" wheel that they will be building heat from touching. Again I would NOT put 315's on a 8.25 wheel. If any one has 315's on 8.25 wheels I would be suprised.

My measurements are from the outside of the rim to the farthest most outside point on the tire, or the belly measurment. I have two 8.25 alcoa alluminum wheels.

[gmcbuffalo]

Dale
I have 315's all around and my rims are all 8.25. I have been told that it is OK, but I do have concerns about the "Kiss" effect. That is one reason I have been thinking of going to 12R's on the drive axle. This winter I am going to be replacing those 4 tires.
GregM

[dalej]

Greg, have you ever checked to see if there is a space between your drive tires at the belly? I would think that they would have to be touching. After measuring mine, I don't see how 315's could ever work.

[hhoppe]

What ever gave you gentlemen the idea the French could do anything superior to a U.S. or japanese Company. Ever take a look at a Renault. We had to pull Michelins off our work trucks because the sidewalls were weak and caused them to wander all over the road. My Royale has a new set of Sumitomo's and they work just fine. If the truth was known Goodyear probably makes the best tires.

Ye Ole Philosipher

[rfoster]

Tuga: A1 Jon is correcto, I am having to work too much, but I still read the forum when I get time. New guys are hired and in place, just need to get them up and running.

I am running Michelins on the steer and old Michelins on the tag and Double Coin Chinese on the Drive. So far so good. If today I had to buy more tires to replace the steer, I will probably go with the French brand and transfer the old steer to the tag. However down the pike as Jon and I accumulate a few more miles and history to go with it, I may elect to go Chinese all the way around.

Don't ride on old tires, my brother recently had a blow out on his plastic coach out in Oregon, so far he is out 2500 Lew bucks -(wiring harness, spring shackles, mount, storage box wall and compartment door etc) plus the tire and downtime when he experienced a blowout on the inner dual.

His comments were the tread was like new! But what about the date, Turns out 7 years old.
He was just getting over one stroke, damn near had another.

[garyde]

Tuga, Michelin is the only tire I will ever use on my 50,000 lb Prevost. Its a no brainer. I have priced tires of different brands and the $$$ does not come close when considering my safety , my familly's safety and everyone driving around me.

[merle&louise]

Tuga, Michelin is the only tire I will ever use on my 50,000 lb Prevost. Its a no brainer. I have priced tires of different brands and the $$$ does not come close when considering my safety , my familly's safety and everyone driving around me.

Good point Gary. I have decided that I am going to buy the Michelins for the steer axle. They will cost about $600+ more than the Chinese tires; it is just not worth the worry. Maybe after a few years when the Chinese tires are proven, I may consider them for the drive and tag axles, but for now Michelins are going on the front.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread