365 Tires

[Jon Wehrenberg]

That just doesn't make sense. I understand why someone may want super singles on the drive, but 365's on the tag and 315's on the steer seems bass-ackwards, especially since Marathons tend to be nose heavy.

[Coloradobus]

BUT..........there is that heavy trailer????????ANd they aren't using load leveling equalizer bars to take some trailer hitch wieght off the back. I bet they didn't beef up the hitch for trailer either!! Ya, it is silly, tho.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

OK, lets assume the trailer is heavy. Does the tag need such a big tire if the tongue weight is 1000 pounds? How about 2000 pounds? Hard to believe the trailer would add so much weight that it wouild take it off the steers and put it on the tag. Unless the trailer was so heavy such as it might be if it was hauling Roger's wallet.

[Mark3101]

OK, lets assume the trailer is heavy. Does the tag need such a big tire if the tongue weight is 1000 pounds? How about 2000 pounds? Hard to believe the trailer would add so much weight that it wouild take it off the steers and put it on the tag. Unless the trailer was so heavy such as it might be if it was hauling Roger's wallet.

There is no way that it could take it off the steer. Way to far and with the drive and tag I don't see it even being possible. I think it would bust off the hitch first...

[jack14r]

My stacker has about 1200 LBS. on the tongue and the weigh tickets show more than 1000 LBS. less on the steering axle.I have only weighed it once with the trailer but I think that it was accurate,the bus drives like the steering axle is less.

[joelselman]

I have 455/55's super singles on the drive. I weighed each axle before installation and thought I was ok but blew a 315 tag (4 years old, 90,000 miles, 90% worn...who knows why?) within 10,000 miles of the drive tire change. I intend to reweigh rear axles shortly to see if addl weight has somehow been shifted to tag but the 455/55 diameter is very close to the 315. That's part of the reason I've decided to go to 365/70's on steer and eventually tag.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Jack,

Unless your hitch and steer axle are equidistant from the tag/drive axles a 1000 pound weight on the hitch will not reduce the weight the same amount on the steer. When you do apply 1200 pounds to the hitch you do shift the CG towards the rear, but I seriously doubt if it is 1000 pounds worth.

Joel,

I freely admit to wanting to keep all my tires the same size so if one fails I can rob a replacement from the tag, or put a readily available odd size on the tag and not have to worry about getting a special tire due to the oversized rim. But what I can't understand is if weight is such an issue such large tires are required, how do you know you haven't exceeded the weight limits of air bags, brakes, bearings and other associated components. If I recall you are towing a trailer that is exceptionally heavy, likely stressing the entire coach. Maybe its the pilot in me that considers weight and balance a serious issue.