[Archived]

Stick with the size tire the coach was designed to use.

[Roy]

You can change the steer and tag tires without issue but you will not be able to change the drive tires as they will rub as the wheels are too narrow. I asked about changing out the wheels as well and Prevost put the kibosh on that idea saying that others have tired and failed as it’s simply not setup for that kind of a change. I just keep 12 R 22.5 all around and things go just fine. I have had Michelin (but they are getting very hard to find) Firestone, BF Goodrich and Bridgestone. I think my current tires are Bridgestone. They have all been good. I have had the most trouble with Michelin as they have a serious issue with sidewall cracking. Prevost begged me to get new tires for 2 years before I finally gave in. The tires were 8 and 9 years old. Looked like crap, likely could have gone at any minute but I don’t like changing tires after only 5-6 years.

[Archived]

I went with the Toyo M170 in the 12R22.5. Could not find the M brand.

Good ride and handling.

[Archived]

I think 12R22.5’s are widely available in a lot of different use configurations.

They are similar in size and ratings as 295’s.

On a previous SOB coach with 295’s, it was common to “upgrade” the steer tires to 315’s. That meant the 315’s were mounted on the more narrow wheels. Michelin had a caution listed that said to down rate the max load for the 315 when mounted on the narrow wheels.

My opinion is that if your coach originally came with 12R22.5’s, and after weighing your bus, they are not overloaded, then stay with them.

Bridgestone made an excellent 12R22.5 tire series that was very good for our bus application. The price was also great. It’s been years since I ran them on our first RV but may be worth checking them and other 12R22.5’s out.

Do be careful in any tire you choose. A dump truck tire, or one designed for a construction site, local delivery, etc. will not be appropriate for our mostly highway driven buses.

[David]

Thank you, all.

I will pass on the advice.

He will look for 12r22.5 in 18 ply if he can find them.

[Allan]

Why is he concerned about the ply? As long as the tire has the needed load rating and as long as he doesn’t go off roading on rocky mountain trails I cannot imagine why it is a concern.

[Archived]

OK, you made me look! I put on Bridgestone 12R22.5 R268 load range H. I have only traveled a couple of 1000 miles but they have been great and the ride is every bit as good as the Michelin’s I replaced.

I think they were around $600 each balanced, disposed, etc. out the door.

[Archived]

XZN2 in that size would cost about 550 including FET Mount balance another 60 so the same as your Bridgestones check out the pricing for the group on all Michelin and BFG’s

[John]

Wendy

what is price of 315/80/22. BFG ST 230’s. We will be in market for 4

[Mike]

Jim & Chris,

We had a mix of DOT years on our coach. We had two 2014’s on the front,

one 2013 and one 2012 on the tag, and four 2012 on the drive. We were

planning to replace the 2012s and the 2013 this summer.

On our way home from Florida we had one of the inside drive 2012 tires blow out

ten miles from home. We unhooked the toad and limped home at 2:00 am.

Eight new 315/80R 22.5 Michelin 3D XZE tires were delivered last Thursday.

One of the benefits of having a family in the truck tire business. The good

news bad news is I get to put them one myself. Here is a link to the tire

specs https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bcontent/PDF/X_MULTIWAY_3D_XZE_datapage.pdf

Friday Tom announces the new PC tire program. Talk about bad timing.

I think you guys will like this tire.

[Deleted User]

OK, John……..As a seminar attendee and certainly someone who has seen a lot of tire posts can you share your views on the tire failure?

For years we have discussed tires aging out versus wearing out and we have constantly talked about how critical it is to use the proper tire pressures.

Did the failed tire have the correct pressure or was it ever run at a low pressure? Do you think age was a factor? As a person with a lot of tire knowledge was there any other identifiable potential cause?

[Gerald]

Jon,

I have not dismounted the tire yet, but I will take pictures when I do.

I have been waiting for all my new accessories to arrive, centramatics, new

stems and new spacer for in between the aluminum outer and steel inner.

I run my drives at 110, and the first warning I got from my pressure pro was

after the explosion telling me my inside right rear had zero pressure.

The 2012 tires do have weather cracking, but not bad according to the scale

we just got from Michelin at the seminar. The right rear outside 2012 tire

that drove the final ten miles home is still holding air, although supported

by a jack and a stack of wooden blocks.

I did contact Michelin and start a warranty claim. I do not have any record

of when the tires were actually put on, but do have eights weeks left from

seven years from the DOT dates. Michelin will send a representative to

inspect the tires once they are dismounted. I will post the results. I do

have a claim number from Michelin to reference.

I don’t think the inside tire ever got a lot of sun exposure. We picked up the

coach in September of 2016 in Baltimore and went straight to ETLC. Since

then we have put almost 20,000 miles on the coach. We have always had

the pressure pro system. The only warnings we get are lost signal.

[Archived]

Keep us up to date on this John. I find two things very interesting that you revealed. The tire pressure was certainly ample. I would expect the pressure according to the charts and drive axle weight would be in the 85 PSI range so low pressure under your ownership could not be a contributing factor.

The second comment that makes tire covers a senseless acquisition is the fact an inner tire had age cracks. There is a lot of bandwidth dedicated to advocating the use of tire covers and your observation about cracking seems to suggest shielding a tire from sunlight isn’t going to produce the expected benefits.

I have two questions. First, Michelin has recognized the use of a 8.25 steel wheel for a 315 tire is a compromise and has gone so far as to issue new weight limits. Do you think the narrower wheel contributed?

Also do you exercise the coach enough to allow the waxes and compounds to migrate to the sidewalls to resist the damaging affects of aging? In commercial applications I doubt if cracking on a seven year old casing would be evident, but it seems common on RV used vehicles.

[Archived]

Anybody having problems with the new big truck/bus tire with Michelin?? Have had 2 instances with problems with tread separation on a 2017 and 2018 Ford 3/4 ton and Lincoln MKX. All highway driven no dirt. Mine 40,000 miles and wife’s 20,000 miles. Ford/Lincoln house where I buy my service said they have had a problem with a lot of these. Need new ones on my coach as the Bridgestones (5 years old) on coach are starting to show cracks between grooves. 40,000 miles on um. Think the Boys have a problem. Ain’t the tire they use to be.

[Greg]

If you or any of us are unhappy about tires and premature aging write a letter to the morons we elect to office.

Because of environmental concerns, global warming, and all of the other so called issues tire manufacturers have had to create new compounds because the government wizards did not like the chemistry of the compounds and materials formerly used. So to make your tires environmentally friendly and probably safe to touch and eat we ended up with tires that do not age as well as in the past.

No one tire manufacturer is immune to the issues. Europe which preceded us in forcing the use of alternate tire compounds has had serious issues with problems such as aging and I predict as soon as the tire manufacturers solve the problem with the development of compounds the idiots will write new laws making those formulations illegal.

Re-elect No One.