Nice new shoes, Marc! 😀 Keeping the topic of tire safety front and center is so important. One of the most significant things you mentioned was that you don't know the entire history of your tires because you're not the original owner of your rig. We bought our RV new, and safely got a full ten years out of our first set of tires because we were the original owners and personally knew every detail of their life. They had never been run under- or over-pressure, never been curbed, always been covered to protect them from the sun during anything longer than a very brief stay, never parked for extended periods on asphalt, grass or dirt without barriers in place, always kept protected with Aerospace 303, and been professionally inspected annually after they reached five years. They also showed virtually no signs of cracking. And most importantly, the manufacturer (Michelin) specifically states that they can be run for up to ten years from the manufacture date (that's the only one that matters, as the life-clock begins ticking the moment they come off the assembly line) as long as they are well cared-for throughout their life, and inspected annually after a certain age. Of course each tire brand, size and application is different, and some manufacturers call for retirement after 5, 6 or 7 years (trailer tires typically have to be replaced more often than large motorhome tires). One last note. You mentioned that you "like to run your tires at 100 PSI." Keep in mind that what you did with your old tires may not be what's required for the new ones, even on the same RV. And the fronts almost certainly should not be run at the same pressure as the rear duals. The two pieces of information that dictate tire pressure are 1) The weight carried by each tire (corner weights), and 2) The inflation chart in the tire owner's manual, or on the manufacturer's website, which is very specific to every brand, size and model tire. We run 110 PSI in each of our front tires and 85 lbs in each of our rear tires. That's because the Michelin tire chart calls for those pressures for our specific tires based on the weight each one carries, including a calculation for tires used in dual applications. Front tires on a motorhome usually require higher pressure because they carry more weight (only one at each corner, rather than two sharing the load side by side). Thanks for the overview of tire replacement. Hope you get some use out of them before trading in your rig on that Enterga you were test driving yesterday! LOL
As always, brilliant response and excellent insights. As you say, knowing the tire history and taking such meticulous care of them (as you do) makes all the difference in longevity. Thanks so much for taking the time to share such an in-depth reply as this information will no doubt be enormously helpful to anyone reading the comments. And as you said, keeping the topic of tire safety front and center is so important. Thanks as always for all that you do... you are such an incredible and much-appreciated resource of quality, trusted information for the entire RVing community. Oh - and we have 11,000 miles on the tires already... who knows when we will finally upgrade to a diesel pusher... one day soon we hope, yes an Entegra would be nice, doesn't hurt to dream, right? We like driving all the different sizes, chassis, brands to get a feel for all of them when we can. For us, RV shopping and test driving is FUN. :)
I just upgraded my front tires on my 40 foot diesel pusher it came with 275/70/22.5 on aluminum wheels 22.5 x7.5 wide I purchased new aluminum wheels, 9 inches wide, flat face like what you see on Prevost and I upgraded the tires to 305/70/22.5 wow what a difference in the handling well worth the money and it looks sexy them bigger tires really fill in the wheel well
Whew over $530 a tire is a large hit. Good to know, this is definately something all RV'ers should plan for. Like you said we should be very aware of the age not just the tread. Good tires are the first and likely the most important safety feature on our rigs. Great video. Thumbs up, Lou.
Definitely, and yes the average cost was about $530 a tire but that included everything, disposing of the old, install, tax etc. Glad you found it useful :)
Wow, it's now 4 years old, and tire prices have skyrocketed, at least here in Canada. My Michelin's on our Class A DP are now 8 years old, and one front has some cracking showing, so I've ordered some new tires, and will be trying Toyo commercial grade tires this time, 16 ply and 'H' rated. I got a quote for Michelin's to start with, and just to change the two front tires, the quote was over $2,500! I believe the Toyo's will be less, as they haven't given me a quote, as they where unsure of what the shipping costs to bring them in was exactly. I also got a quote for Bridgestone's, and they where over $1,000. per tire. Now, these prices are 'installed' prices, with valves, balancing etc. My rear tires still look perfect, so I'll get another trip on them, but I wanted to get new front's, because of the sidewall cracks, even though they aren't excessive.
Great Video...we replaced our tire last year and at the same time I had balance rings installed on the front wheels and balance beads placed in the rear tires. Doing that along with the new tires and this pusher rides like it's floating on a calm lake. Thanks again for the info. Don
Our very first trip, in our very first motorhome.... our two back tyres blew out!! 😱😱 That was scary. Then a little later on the same trip our brakes burnt out as we were coming down a mountain in the Swiss Alps!! 🚐🚐 This summer we're heading to Norway.... let's hope we're better prepared. Tyres (or tires!) are important. Great video & advice. 👍👍
Smart! It's better to buy a higher quality tire for safety than cheaper tire. Your tire's are the first line of safety on the RV, that's why I say ( keep the rubber on the road ) safe travels.
Good information. I was never happy with the width and high profile of the tires I have. It's good to know when I need to change them, there are options.
I enjoy your videos Marc and Julie. Amazon sells some 303 UV tire protection for tires that will help with sun damage. You'll now have alittle more torque going up hills with the slightly smaller tires.
Nice video Marc, For me (Ford Engineer) I have spent many hours in vehicle dynamics testing and with various tire manufactures, there are many great heavy truck and RV tire brands on the market today. I will stay with my Michelin's. Also very important to follow the Tire Manufactures (RV) air pressure settings per the axle weight of your rig.
Another thing in the equation is the tire pressure gauge. I have been given freebees. To check them out, I make three checks on the same tire. I have had the indicated pressure change significantly among the three readings. It looks like you don't have a cheap one but have you checked it against a known accurate gauge?
Hi there yes ours is a quality gauge and we have checked it against another accurate gauge on a few occasions. Thanks for sharing - a good tip for others to see so they can have theirs tested too - we never use those freebies! You get what you pay for!
I just put new tires on our 2011 34TGA late last summer. I put on Toyo 245R75 22.5 tires. By going one size larger and one step lower in profile the diameter stays about the same. I don't know the 4 corner weights on you MH but on ours we need to carry 95lbs in the front and 85lbs in the duals. If you look on Bridgestones website they will tell you what air pressure you need to use for the weight of your MH. My tires cost about $2,200. I could have had Bridgestones for $2,800 and Michlens for $3,600'
Yikes - big price difference huh! Definitely pays (literally0 to do your research and shop around - and take advantage of tire discount programs too - we share some more on that here in our blog post rvlove.com/2018/02/22/replacing-rv-tires-for-improved-safety-and-performance/
Awesome videos guys. We are going to be looking to possibly replace our trailer's 2014 stock tires before we hit the road later this year. So definitely some good tips :) Thanks for sharing! - Shane
Great to hear Shaine, give yourself a good amount of time to research and shop around and look at tire discount options too so you can save a bit too - more info on that in our related blog post rvlove.com/2018/02/22/replacing-rv-tires-for-improved-safety-and-performance/ - cheers!
Hey, Bridgestone is a good tire, I ran them on my Freightliner semi tractor, but you should have kept the old ones and sold them to a small trucking company or owner operator. Being a former truck company owner, I use to buy them from RV owners all the time. I'd run them on my trailers at least until they're bald, 10 years old or flat. Mostly flat.. The tire shop probably will sell them one at a time on service calls and charge $150 each plus mounting and for the call. Anyway, great video, we all live and learn.. Bye..
HI there, yes we did ask the shop about being able to sell them and they said they can't, but of course what you shared doesn't surprise us, next time we will advertise on Craig's List - good suggestion thanks! And yes, we are very happy with the Bridgestones.
Currently have Goodyear G661 HSA tires that are high scrub tires. These are very rugged tires, but unfortunately for me they aren't made anymore and have been replaced by the Goodyear Endurance RSA. The Endurance RSA is supposed to have more resistance to curb impact and less rolling resistance than the prior G661 HSA I now have. My tires have production dates of 2911 so they are nearly the same age as the ones you just removed but they have no cracking or other signs of wear (they look new). The prior owner of my coach who installed them removed Michelins and told me he like the Goodyear G661's much better. Since they are the only tires I have know on my RV, I have no basis for comparison. I have now narrowed me search down to either the Goodyear Endurance RSA or the Toyo M154, which seems to get very good reviews on the RV forums. The Toyo's are a little less expensive than the Goodyears and I recently installed a set on my car and am very pleased with them. My current plan is to replace them after our spring trip when I have more time to get it done since my tires will have hit the seven year age limit that most seem to recommend that they be replaced. The biggest issue I have run into is the tire dealers won't ensure the tires won't have older production dates stating they have to take whatever the warehouse sends so in the end I have no control over getting old tires (production date) when they arrive. Did your installer have tires on site that allowed you to verify the date code prior to installation? Also, curious if you used the dually valves in the rear for better access to the inner valve stem. Also would like to know what you did for balancing? It appeared that you had weights so they were spin balanced as opposed to balance beads, powder or the Centrimatics discs.
Thanks for sharing your extra information Bob. sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, our dealer had the tires in stock so I could see the date codes in advance of making the purchase. We had existing valve extensions, but I have since talked to some other tire experts that are opposed to using them as those braided lines have been the cause of many of the blowouts they have seen in their shops. Preferring instead to use regular metal valve stems mounted at careful angles that will still allow you to check them from the outside dual position by inserting your tire pressure gauge through one of the holes of the exterior wheel. Nice install with increased safety. Of course having a TPMS system is a great safety measure too. Yes, they did spin balancing instead of balance beads, but I have heard good things about internally mounted balancers. I don't have any first hand experience with that method.
good move thay were abut to blow im potting toyo on 245 75 22,5 i hade michelin 235 80 22.5 thay were starting to crack to Michelin are now to blow out
Just learned from my tire shop the other month is that OEM tires are not of the same quality as their direct replacements. Ford places the order to Michelin but specs the tires to a slightly lower grade to save some money. So if you buy an exact same tire from Michelin, it will be a better tire than the OEM.
Yep it makes sense - Oregon just wasn't workable with our itinerary at that time and for us, the safety overruled the tax savings... This is why it makes sense for people to really plan ahead when making a big tire purchase and not leave these things to the last minute! even the research alone can take time, then tire discount programs, then state sales tax savings! It's worth doing your homework for sure!
Thanks for the feedback. We had multiple pro tire folks mention that they didn't think the original equipment on these RVs were much good. Sidewalls cracked very soon for age. Heavier tire, but we were super happy with those new tires the rest of the time we had them. -M
Based on the weight of your rig, do you have to run such a high pressure in your tires? I've found many RV'rs run with too much pressure. I'd be interested if your fuel economy improves, stays the same, or drops, due to the smaller diameter, and increased width. I don't know if you are FMCA members, but they have a tire discount tire program. Thanks for sharing your experience. Ted & Lee Ann
Hello Ted. Yes we are FMCA members and looked into the tire discount program, and at the time, we could have gotten discounts on Michellins, but we chose these tires anyway as we liked them better. I did check required air pressures betore purchasing and for the weight we carry, the optimal pressure in these tires is between 95 and 100psi. Better to be slightly over than under to compensate for un-even weight distribution. I have experimented with tire pressures a lot over the years, and it is surprising what a difference it makes in the feel.
Marc, I thought you were FMCA Members. I haven't scaled our rig loaded, yet, so I have not adjusted our pressures. Your coach will always be heavier than ours. Ours is gas powered, and only 31' long, with 22.5 rims. Thanks for sharing your experience. Would you recommend rotating tires, and if so, how often? Every oil change?
We have heard of them, and seen them, but would not be interested in installing them. We have known people who are happy with their purchase, but I think they are expensive, and if not installed correctly, they can actually CAUSE a failure. Having a Tire Pressure Monitor that continually checks pressure and temperature are an excellent preventative measure and we highly recommend them as one of the first items any RVer should buy. One of our biggest regrets was not having one sooner. We have more information about tire pressure monitors in this related blog post and video. Here is a link. rvlove.com/2019/08/01/review-tst-507-tpms-tire-pressure-monitoring-system-tpms-with-color-monitor/
You were smart replacing those tires. The risk of a blow out is just too dramatic and could be extremely costly. Any weather-checking and they should be gone. That is what I believe.
Spray aerospace protectant 303 inside and outside the tire before install and 1 year after use and the tire will last 15-20 years. My grandfather has sworn by this stuff and too this day his classic car tires look brand new 16years later. He doesn't drive his car much it's more of a show peice
LOL. Thanks for the laugh Peter. Nope, we won't be increasing the asking price, but imagine that newer tires would make our coach more appealing to a buyer, than a comparable coach with tires that need replacing when the time comes to sell and change coach.
Not clear on what you are asking - what we like, would consider, drives better??? Well you know they come with both (40' is non tag and 42/45 models are tag) - Tag obviously drives better, more planted, but there are trade-offs with the longer coach... so it really depends on what is the nature of your question...? For example, a tag will always feel more planted, drive better, while a 40' non tag would be shorter, more nimble and better for boondocking as the tag won't act as an anchor. But all this (tag vs non tag drivability/features) is regardless of coach manufacturer. I've driven both and like both for different reasons. All comes down to individual needs, preferences and values... as you know we always focus on in the courses/school - there is no one "best coach" out there.. only the best for you and YOUR needs/preferences, what will fit that best. By the way, we are surprised we haven't seen you on the LIVE CALLS with Q&A? Lots of opportunity to join us and engage, ask questions there as well over the phone... join us next time?
Always agree with "right choice for you" observation. Erik of Livinlite when asked about the Tag said "it does tend to get stuck" something I had not considered and not the "planted" you are describing. Most of the Pros for a tag you described. Some of the cons: Less storage space, more tires to buy, more axels equals higher road tolls, another system (the tag) to maintain /fail, longer length, fewer available campsites, a 40 floorpan may function identical and more efficiently than a tag 43-45 floorpan. I have not been able to hit your live broadcast times but have listened to every one.
Marc, we have a new 2018 Newmar so we won't be doing tires for a few years. We have Michelin XR-V. I am a stickler at checking tire pressure. We live at 9,400 ft so we change elevation a lot during trips. Right now, since we have now done a full weigh, we are running max pressure but will be getting the full weighing treatment at the Newmar Rally in June. Love watching you guys. We are having Sumo Springs added after watching your video and others. Hope to see you on the road one day.
Tim Monroe - my tires are max 110 psi. Michelin ZR-Z 255R22.5 G. The maximum pressure is recommended if you don't know weight. 110 is the max pressure cold. I typically see 115-118 running on my TPMS. After weighing, it should be able to be decreased to around 100 psi.
Thanks. Sorry I do not like Bridgstones tires that were OEM on my GM SUV. Ran rough as heck and lots of road noise. I do not like to run smaller diameter tire than OEM, larger maybe. I read lots of user reviews for wear and road noise. Best if you are going to change tire sizes is to compare other sizes with a calculator. tiresize.com/calculator/ Allows you to play with different sizes and compare ratios and the vehicle speedometer vs. actual speed with different sized tires.
Our rig has different size between the front and back so rotating front to back doesn't work. Duel tires and tag in the back. Changing tire height from the OEM will also cause the speedometer to be off. I retired from the tire industry after 31+ years and would say the tires you had were not covered when parked. UV rays can kill RV tires and, when you figure the cost of replacing them, covers are a cheap investment. Tire scrubbing is a driver issue.
Hi Roy, yes we're pretty sure the cracking and scrubbing came from Owner #1 as owner #2 kept the coach in temperature controlled storage and was meticulous and we have always used tire covers and Marc is a very careful driver.... That is one of the risks you take when buying a used (and less expensive) coach - you never know the entire history of how it's been taken care of, hence why we chose to update our tires sooner rather than later. Thanks for sharing your experience here with us!
Roy, I've seen a lot of your post and since you were in the tire business for so long I would value your opinion. Our 38' 03 Newmar DSDP has Michelin XZA2 275 70R 22.5 date code 2011(5 weeks older than Marx's and Julie's, yikes. Very minimal cracking but we're ready to replace them but I'm seeing on some of the forums people complaining about their 4 and 5 year old Michelins with a lot of sidewall cracking. Our coach had been garaged since right after we got it in 2016 and we always use tire covers and 303 protectant. Considering different brands possibly. HanKook, Falken, Toyo. We're Fmca members but I think the savings amounts to only about the cost of the FET(32.00 per tire). What with Covid 19 and all, some tires are out of stock or so it seems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hope you are doing well.
Wow! pricey tires! It's been a while, but my tires were expensive for my diesel pusher, but paid around $425 each and sold my used tires to the truckers that were there for $100 ea. Bottom line, nothing is cheap on an RV. Oh Marc, they should have moved all the wheel weights to the inside of the rim.
We totally agree. Perhaps our biggest regret was not getting a TPMS sooner. Check out this video we did about our TPMS system here. th-cam.com/video/Ct53cSJZ5EE/w-d-xo.html -M
We are just diligent about making sure pressures match manually, and use metal stems. Don't like having the airlines connecting the two as it is another potential failure point. Tire shop pros we talked too said that many failures they see are in valve extensions and other external tire air lines.
Marc, I did a tire size comparison at this website: tiresize.com/comparison/ Your new tires are -0.8% in circumference from the factory tires. So when your speedometer reads 50 MPH you will actually be going 49.6 MPH. Not a big deal. I did note that your new tires are 0.3" wider than the factory tires. What did this do to the Dual Spacing? meaning the space between the dual tires on the rear axle? there needs to be space for air flow and to make sure objects don't get caught between the tires. Another thing you did was to increase your coach's un-sprung mass,so regrettably you actually made your coach's suspension less reactive to road issues. 15 Lbs per tire so that is 30 Lbs at each dual location. Great tip on checking the valve stems and tire pressures before leaving the tire dealership!!!!! I have to try to remember that! I need a calibrated tire pressure gauge. Keep the GREAT technical videos coming!!!!!
Thanks for sharing the tire comparison website. I remember doing the comparison when doing my original research and seeing it was super close. We still have over 2.5" of space between our rear duals, but glad you mentioned that because not everyone would think to ensure they are not getting them too close, which of course could lead to overheating. Yep, feel of the tires and suspension changed with the additional un-sprung weight but definitely improved the feel from the driver seat on our coach. Yep, important to calibrate your gauge, and also be careful with it so it doesn't get damaged which would then impact accuracy.
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett where did you measure that 2.5 inches at? Hopefully at the bottom of the tires where they are the closest because that's where they're bulging out.
Wow. ... I can't believe they let you leave with such a large difference in tire pressure around your coach. That in itself is not professional I wouldn't to go there myself, and the tire air stems as well that's kind of common sense to me to make sure they're aligned the right way. There's people who take pride in their work and those people who don't like guess. Great video though I just didn't like that shops performance.
Yes, it was late in the day, and I think they were trying to get out of there. Was a bit dis-appointed in that. But at least they took care of it right away when I pointed it out. -M
Nice new shoes, Marc! 😀 Keeping the topic of tire safety front and center is so important. One of the most significant things you mentioned was that you don't know the entire history of your tires because you're not the original owner of your rig. We bought our RV new, and safely got a full ten years out of our first set of tires because we were the original owners and personally knew every detail of their life. They had never been run under- or over-pressure, never been curbed, always been covered to protect them from the sun during anything longer than a very brief stay, never parked for extended periods on asphalt, grass or dirt without barriers in place, always kept protected with Aerospace 303, and been professionally inspected annually after they reached five years. They also showed virtually no signs of cracking. And most importantly, the manufacturer (Michelin) specifically states that they can be run for up to ten years from the manufacture date (that's the only one that matters, as the life-clock begins ticking the moment they come off the assembly line) as long as they are well cared-for throughout their life, and inspected annually after a certain age. Of course each tire brand, size and application is different, and some manufacturers call for retirement after 5, 6 or 7 years (trailer tires typically have to be replaced more often than large motorhome tires).
One last note. You mentioned that you "like to run your tires at 100 PSI." Keep in mind that what you did with your old tires may not be what's required for the new ones, even on the same RV. And the fronts almost certainly should not be run at the same pressure as the rear duals. The two pieces of information that dictate tire pressure are 1) The weight carried by each tire (corner weights), and 2) The inflation chart in the tire owner's manual, or on the manufacturer's website, which is very specific to every brand, size and model tire.
We run 110 PSI in each of our front tires and 85 lbs in each of our rear tires. That's because the Michelin tire chart calls for those pressures for our specific tires based on the weight each one carries, including a calculation for tires used in dual applications. Front tires on a motorhome usually require higher pressure because they carry more weight (only one at each corner, rather than two sharing the load side by side).
Thanks for the overview of tire replacement. Hope you get some use out of them before trading in your rig on that Enterga you were test driving yesterday! LOL
You guys should be teaching a course in tire care and safety .....then again I think you just did..
Thanks so much Guy! Good to see you here. 😀 We've made several videos on various aspects of tire care and replacement, and we've got more planned.
As always, brilliant response and excellent insights. As you say, knowing the tire history and taking such meticulous care of them (as you do) makes all the difference in longevity. Thanks so much for taking the time to share such an in-depth reply as this information will no doubt be enormously helpful to anyone reading the comments. And as you said, keeping the topic of tire safety front and center is so important. Thanks as always for all that you do... you are such an incredible and much-appreciated resource of quality, trusted information for the entire RVing community. Oh - and we have 11,000 miles on the tires already... who knows when we will finally upgrade to a diesel pusher... one day soon we hope, yes an Entegra would be nice, doesn't hurt to dream, right? We like driving all the different sizes, chassis, brands to get a feel for all of them when we can. For us, RV shopping and test driving is FUN. :)
I just upgraded my front tires on my 40 foot diesel pusher it came with 275/70/22.5 on aluminum wheels 22.5 x7.5 wide I purchased new aluminum wheels, 9 inches wide, flat face like what you see on Prevost and I upgraded the tires to 305/70/22.5 wow what a difference in the handling well worth the money and it looks sexy them bigger tires really fill in the wheel well
Sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing.
Whew over $530 a tire is a large hit. Good to know, this is definately something all RV'ers should plan for. Like you said we should be very aware of the age not just the tread. Good tires are the first and likely the most important safety feature on our rigs. Great video. Thumbs up, Lou.
Definitely, and yes the average cost was about $530 a tire but that included everything, disposing of the old, install, tax etc. Glad you found it useful :)
Wow, it's now 4 years old, and tire prices have skyrocketed, at least here in Canada. My Michelin's on our Class A DP are now 8 years old, and one front has some cracking showing, so I've ordered some new tires, and will be trying Toyo commercial grade tires this time, 16 ply and 'H' rated. I got a quote for Michelin's to start with, and just to change the two front tires, the quote was over $2,500! I believe the Toyo's will be less, as they haven't given me a quote, as they where unsure of what the shipping costs to bring them in was exactly. I also got a quote for Bridgestone's, and they where over $1,000. per tire. Now, these prices are 'installed' prices, with valves, balancing etc. My rear tires still look perfect, so I'll get another trip on them, but I wanted to get new front's, because of the sidewall cracks, even though they aren't excessive.
Great Video...we replaced our tire last year and at the same time I had balance rings installed on the front wheels and balance beads placed in the rear tires. Doing that along with the new tires and this pusher rides like it's floating on a calm lake. Thanks again for the info. Don
Awesome to hear Don - it can make the world of difference and improve your driving enjoyment too - not to mention additional safety. Cheers!
Our very first trip, in our very first motorhome.... our two back tyres blew out!! 😱😱 That was scary. Then a little later on the same trip our brakes burnt out as we were coming down a mountain in the Swiss Alps!! 🚐🚐 This summer we're heading to Norway.... let's hope we're better prepared. Tyres (or tires!) are important. Great video & advice. 👍👍
Oh boy - scary! Glad you are safe - thank you!
Smart!
It's better to buy a higher quality tire for safety than cheaper tire.
Your tire's are the first line of safety on the RV, that's why I say ( keep the rubber on the road ) safe travels.
Always Brian, hope you are doing great!
Good information. I was never happy with the width and high profile of the tires I have. It's good to know when I need to change them, there are options.
Good to know
Your valve stem extensions are ( V2B ) very good stems keep them in place very easy to use and a great extensions no leak if tighten properly
Yes we love them, makes it so much easier to check and adjust tire pressure! Well worth the small price we paid for them
I enjoy your videos Marc and Julie. Amazon sells some 303 UV tire protection for tires that will help with sun damage. You'll now have alittle more torque going up hills with the slightly smaller tires.
Thanks! Good tips , appreciate it!
Nice video Marc, For me (Ford Engineer) I have spent many hours in vehicle dynamics testing and with various tire manufactures, there are many great heavy truck and RV tire brands on the market today. I will stay with my Michelin's. Also very important to follow the Tire Manufactures (RV) air pressure settings per the axle weight of your rig.
Yes very true - thanks!
Another thing in the equation is the tire pressure gauge. I have been given freebees. To check them out, I make three checks on the same tire. I have had the indicated pressure change significantly among the three readings. It looks like you don't have a cheap one but have you checked it against a known accurate gauge?
Hi there yes ours is a quality gauge and we have checked it against another accurate gauge on a few occasions. Thanks for sharing - a good tip for others to see so they can have theirs tested too - we never use those freebies! You get what you pay for!
Doesn't look like you have a TPMS? Just wondering why?
Right about tires Marc! Tires, brakes. That's the ticket. Forget tread, it's tire age. Them rascals will blow OUT!!! BOOM.
So far, knock on wood, never had a problem with a blowout!
Marc, great video! Very helpful.... Thanks for sharing and bring us alone for the new shoes!!
Hi guys hope you are doing great! Thanks!
I Love my Bridgestones, By far a great tire.. Doug from Vegas
Godo onya Doug, yes they are a great tire. Very happy with them, cheers!
I just put new tires on our 2011 34TGA late last summer. I put on Toyo 245R75 22.5 tires. By going one size larger and one step lower in profile the diameter stays about the same. I don't know the 4 corner weights on you MH but on ours we need to carry 95lbs in the front and 85lbs in the duals. If you look on Bridgestones website they will tell you what air pressure you need to use for the weight of your MH. My tires cost about $2,200. I could have had Bridgestones for $2,800 and Michlens for $3,600'
Yikes - big price difference huh! Definitely pays (literally0 to do your research and shop around - and take advantage of tire discount programs too - we share some more on that here in our blog post rvlove.com/2018/02/22/replacing-rv-tires-for-improved-safety-and-performance/
Awesome videos guys. We are going to be looking to possibly replace our trailer's 2014 stock tires before we hit the road later this year. So definitely some good tips :) Thanks for sharing! - Shane
Great to hear Shaine, give yourself a good amount of time to research and shop around and look at tire discount options too so you can save a bit too - more info on that in our related blog post rvlove.com/2018/02/22/replacing-rv-tires-for-improved-safety-and-performance/ - cheers!
Hey, Bridgestone is a good tire, I ran them on my Freightliner semi tractor, but you should have kept the old ones and sold them to a small trucking company or owner operator. Being a former truck company owner, I use to buy them from RV owners all the time. I'd run them on my trailers at least until they're bald, 10 years old or flat. Mostly flat.. The tire shop probably will sell them one at a time on service calls and charge $150 each plus mounting and for the call. Anyway, great video, we all live and learn.. Bye..
HI there, yes we did ask the shop about being able to sell them and they said they can't, but of course what you shared doesn't surprise us, next time we will advertise on Craig's List - good suggestion thanks! And yes, we are very happy with the Bridgestones.
Currently have Goodyear G661 HSA tires that are high scrub tires. These are very rugged tires, but unfortunately for me they aren't made anymore and have been replaced by the Goodyear Endurance RSA. The Endurance RSA is supposed to have more resistance to curb impact and less rolling resistance than the prior G661 HSA I now have. My tires have production dates of 2911 so they are nearly the same age as the ones you just removed but they have no cracking or other signs of wear (they look new). The prior owner of my coach who installed them removed Michelins and told me he like the Goodyear G661's much better. Since they are the only tires I have know on my RV, I have no basis for comparison.
I have now narrowed me search down to either the Goodyear Endurance RSA or the Toyo M154, which seems to get very good reviews on the RV forums. The Toyo's are a little less expensive than the Goodyears and I recently installed a set on my car and am very pleased with them. My current plan is to replace them after our spring trip when I have more time to get it done since my tires will have hit the seven year age limit that most seem to recommend that they be replaced. The biggest issue I have run into is the tire dealers won't ensure the tires won't have older production dates stating they have to take whatever the warehouse sends so in the end I have no control over getting old tires (production date) when they arrive.
Did your installer have tires on site that allowed you to verify the date code prior to installation? Also, curious if you used the dually valves in the rear for better access to the inner valve stem. Also would like to know what you did for balancing? It appeared that you had weights so they were spin balanced as opposed to balance beads, powder or the Centrimatics discs.
Thanks for sharing your extra information Bob. sorry for the delay in responding. Yes, our dealer had the tires in stock so I could see the date codes in advance of making the purchase. We had existing valve extensions, but I have since talked to some other tire experts that are opposed to using them as those braided lines have been the cause of many of the blowouts they have seen in their shops. Preferring instead to use regular metal valve stems mounted at careful angles that will still allow you to check them from the outside dual position by inserting your tire pressure gauge through one of the holes of the exterior wheel. Nice install with increased safety. Of course having a TPMS system is a great safety measure too. Yes, they did spin balancing instead of balance beads, but I have heard good things about internally mounted balancers. I don't have any first hand experience with that method.
good move thay were abut to blow
im potting toyo on 245 75 22,5
i hade michelin 235 80 22.5 thay were starting to crack to
Michelin are now to blow out
Thank you
Just learned from my tire shop the other month is that OEM tires are not of the same quality as their direct replacements. Ford places the order to Michelin but specs the tires to a slightly lower grade to save some money. So if you buy an exact same tire from Michelin, it will be a better tire than the OEM.
Very interesting thought. Thanks for sharing.
Many fulltimers head to Oregon for tires....no sales tax. Safe Travels.
Yep it makes sense - Oregon just wasn't workable with our itinerary at that time and for us, the safety overruled the tax savings... This is why it makes sense for people to really plan ahead when making a big tire purchase and not leave these things to the last minute! even the research alone can take time, then tire discount programs, then state sales tax savings! It's worth doing your homework for sure!
Good tip Ray! That's exactly where we replaced over $8,000 worth of tires on our rig!
Oh... and we joined FMCA first, just for the discount!
Yes between FMCA and no sales tax you may save enough to purchase a TPMS:)
:)
Thanks Mark, super important 👍🏻🇦🇺
Ties are VERY important, thanks Craig!
A reasonably, intelligent commentary but without the technical info to back it up. What did the experts tell you? Why?
Thanks for the feedback. We had multiple pro tire folks mention that they didn't think the original equipment on these RVs were much good. Sidewalls cracked very soon for age. Heavier tire, but we were super happy with those new tires the rest of the time we had them. -M
Do you need to have your speedometer adjusted now that the tires are a different size?
Changing tire size can affect the accuracy of the speedometer. Have you noticed any difference?
The change on these was minimal, so no, didn't notice any substantial change to the speedometer accuracy.
Smart...cracking alone should be replaced!!!new tires should be coated with 303 protectant along with cover same.....
We like using 303 protectant too. I know we did a video about that too, but can't remember which one off hand. Very aligned with us. -M
Thx
Based on the weight of your rig, do you have to run such a high pressure in your tires? I've found many RV'rs run with too much pressure. I'd be interested if your fuel economy improves, stays the same, or drops, due to the smaller diameter, and increased width. I don't know if you are FMCA members, but they have a tire discount tire program. Thanks for sharing your experience. Ted & Lee Ann
Hello Ted. Yes we are FMCA members and looked into the tire discount program, and at the time, we could have gotten discounts on Michellins, but we chose these tires anyway as we liked them better. I did check required air pressures betore purchasing and for the weight we carry, the optimal pressure in these tires is between 95 and 100psi. Better to be slightly over than under to compensate for un-even weight distribution. I have experimented with tire pressures a lot over the years, and it is surprising what a difference it makes in the feel.
Marc, I thought you were FMCA Members. I haven't scaled our rig loaded, yet, so I have not adjusted our pressures. Your coach will always be heavier than ours. Ours is gas powered, and only 31' long, with 22.5 rims. Thanks for sharing your experience. Would you recommend rotating tires, and if so, how often? Every oil change?
What do you think of retro brand?
We have heard of them, and seen them, but would not be interested in installing them. We have known people who are happy with their purchase, but I think they are expensive, and if not installed correctly, they can actually CAUSE a failure. Having a Tire Pressure Monitor that continually checks pressure and temperature are an excellent preventative measure and we highly recommend them as one of the first items any RVer should buy. One of our biggest regrets was not having one sooner. We have more information about tire pressure monitors in this related blog post and video. Here is a link. rvlove.com/2019/08/01/review-tst-507-tpms-tire-pressure-monitoring-system-tpms-with-color-monitor/
Soo, now that it’s been awhile , did you like those tires?
Yes. We were super happy with those for the rest of the time we owned that coach. -M
What did you do with the spare? Different size could cause problems if needed.
We don't have s spare
You were smart replacing those tires. The risk of a blow out is just too dramatic and could be extremely costly. Any weather-checking and they should be gone. That is what I believe.
Thank you, agreed. Better safe than sorry.
Another Great video thanks , was wondering did you get any discount on the tires from any groups your with ?
No we didn't on the Bridgestones.
G'day Marc, I am schedule to change out TIMROVER for some new shoes in April and I was wondering did you and Julie change out the spare as well?
Hi Tim - no - because we don't have a spare! LOL
What tire guy replaced your stems and left them like that the stem always faces into the hole of the rim 🧐
I guess the guy who did our tires. We remedied later. -M
Spray aerospace protectant 303 inside and outside the tire before install and 1 year after use and the tire will last 15-20 years. My grandfather has sworn by this stuff and too this day his classic car tires look brand new 16years later. He doesn't drive his car much it's more of a show peice
Aerospace 303 is an excellent product. We, and many others we respect all are big fans. Cool that your grandfather has had such success with it. -M
Marc does this mean you will increase your asking price by $3200 when you switch to your new diesel pusher?
LOL. Thanks for the laugh Peter. Nope, we won't be increasing the asking price, but imagine that newer tires would make our coach more appealing to a buyer, than a comparable coach with tires that need replacing when the time comes to sell and change coach.
Entegra, Tag or No Tag?
Not clear on what you are asking - what we like, would consider, drives better??? Well you know they come with both (40' is non tag and 42/45 models are tag) - Tag obviously drives better, more planted, but there are trade-offs with the longer coach... so it really depends on what is the nature of your question...? For example, a tag will always feel more planted, drive better, while a 40' non tag would be shorter, more nimble and better for boondocking as the tag won't act as an anchor. But all this (tag vs non tag drivability/features) is regardless of coach manufacturer. I've driven both and like both for different reasons. All comes down to individual needs, preferences and values... as you know we always focus on in the courses/school - there is no one "best coach" out there.. only the best for you and YOUR needs/preferences, what will fit that best. By the way, we are surprised we haven't seen you on the LIVE CALLS with Q&A? Lots of opportunity to join us and engage, ask questions there as well over the phone... join us next time?
Always agree with "right choice for you" observation. Erik of Livinlite when asked about the Tag said "it does tend to get stuck" something I had not considered and not the "planted" you are describing. Most of the Pros for a tag you described. Some of the cons: Less storage space, more tires to buy, more axels equals higher road tolls, another system (the tag) to maintain /fail, longer length, fewer available campsites, a 40 floorpan may function identical and more efficiently than a tag 43-45 floorpan. I have not been able to hit your live broadcast times but have listened to every one.
Marc, we have a new 2018 Newmar so we won't be doing tires for a few years. We have Michelin XR-V. I am a stickler at checking tire pressure. We live at 9,400 ft so we change elevation a lot during trips. Right now, since we have now done a full weigh, we are running max pressure but will be getting the full weighing treatment at the Newmar Rally in June.
Love watching you guys. We are having Sumo Springs added after watching your video and others. Hope to see you on the road one day.
Tim Monroe - my tires are max 110 psi. Michelin ZR-Z 255R22.5 G. The maximum pressure is recommended if you don't know weight. 110 is the max pressure cold. I typically see 115-118 running on my TPMS. After weighing, it should be able to be decreased to around 100 psi.
Tim Monroe - Thanks for the concern. I plan a quick weigh when we start our next trip in April.
Great thanks for sharing guys and enjoy your rig - sounds beautiful. And yes the Sumo Springs made a huge difference to, love em. See you out there!
Also recommend gettting the 4 corners weighed at Smart Weigh (by Escapees) of similar - good to have that info!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks. Sorry I do not like Bridgstones tires that were OEM on my GM SUV. Ran rough as heck and lots of road noise. I do not like to run smaller diameter tire than OEM, larger maybe. I read lots of user reviews for wear and road noise. Best if you are going to change tire sizes is to compare other sizes with a calculator. tiresize.com/calculator/
Allows you to play with different sizes and compare ratios and the vehicle speedometer vs. actual speed with different sized tires.
Thanks for feedback. I actually did use tire size calculators before making this switch. They were very close in diameter.
Our rig has different size between the front and back so rotating front to back doesn't work. Duel tires and tag in the back. Changing tire height from the OEM will also cause the speedometer to be off. I retired from the tire industry after 31+ years and would say the tires you had were not covered when parked. UV rays can kill RV tires and, when you figure the cost of replacing them, covers are a cheap investment. Tire scrubbing is a driver issue.
Hi Roy, yes we're pretty sure the cracking and scrubbing came from Owner #1 as owner #2 kept the coach in temperature controlled storage and was meticulous and we have always used tire covers and Marc is a very careful driver.... That is one of the risks you take when buying a used (and less expensive) coach - you never know the entire history of how it's been taken care of, hence why we chose to update our tires sooner rather than later. Thanks for sharing your experience here with us!
Roy, I've seen a lot of your post and since you were in the tire business for so long I would value your opinion. Our 38' 03 Newmar DSDP has Michelin XZA2 275 70R 22.5 date code 2011(5 weeks older than Marx's and Julie's, yikes. Very minimal cracking but we're ready to replace them but I'm seeing on some of the forums people complaining about their 4 and 5 year old Michelins with a lot of sidewall cracking. Our coach had been garaged since right after we got it in 2016 and we always use tire covers and 303 protectant. Considering different brands possibly. HanKook, Falken, Toyo. We're Fmca members but I think the savings amounts to only about the cost of the FET(32.00 per tire). What with Covid 19 and all, some tires are out of stock or so it seems. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Hope you are doing well.
Wow! pricey tires! It's been a while, but my tires were expensive for my diesel pusher, but paid around $425 each and sold my used tires to the truckers that were there for $100 ea. Bottom line, nothing is cheap on an RV. Oh Marc, they should have moved all the wheel weights to the inside of the rim.
Oh, I used Michelins on my coach.
Thanks Joe! Yes we paid a premium for sure but love em.
They are good too, we just felt the B's were a better fit for our coach/needs.
More important u must have a TPMS....tire pressure monitor
We totally agree. Perhaps our biggest regret was not getting a TPMS sooner. Check out this video we did about our TPMS system here. th-cam.com/video/Ct53cSJZ5EE/w-d-xo.html
-M
you tire equalization system on the rear cant believe you dont
We are just diligent about making sure pressures match manually, and use metal stems. Don't like having the airlines connecting the two as it is another potential failure point. Tire shop pros we talked too said that many failures they see are in valve extensions and other external tire air lines.
Marc,
I did a tire size comparison at this website: tiresize.com/comparison/
Your new tires are -0.8% in circumference from the factory tires. So when your speedometer reads 50 MPH you will actually be going 49.6 MPH. Not a big deal.
I did note that your new tires are 0.3" wider than the factory tires. What did this do to the Dual Spacing? meaning the space between the dual tires on the rear axle? there needs to be space for air flow and to make sure objects don't get caught between the tires.
Another thing you did was to increase your coach's un-sprung mass,so regrettably you actually made your coach's suspension less reactive to road issues. 15 Lbs per tire so that is 30 Lbs at each dual location.
Great tip on checking the valve stems and tire pressures before leaving the tire dealership!!!!! I have to try to remember that!
I need a calibrated tire pressure gauge.
Keep the GREAT technical videos coming!!!!!
Thanks for sharing the tire comparison website. I remember doing the comparison when doing my original research and seeing it was super close. We still have over 2.5" of space between our rear duals, but glad you mentioned that because not everyone would think to ensure they are not getting them too close, which of course could lead to overheating. Yep, feel of the tires and suspension changed with the additional un-sprung weight but definitely improved the feel from the driver seat on our coach. Yep, important to calibrate your gauge, and also be careful with it so it doesn't get damaged which would then impact accuracy.
RVLove | Marc & Julie Bennett where did you measure that 2.5 inches at? Hopefully at the bottom of the tires where they are the closest because that's where they're bulging out.
Ply 14 or ply 16
Sorry. Can't remember, no longer have that RV. But were super happy with those tires. -M
Wow. ... I can't believe they let you leave with such a large difference in tire pressure around your coach.
That in itself is not professional I wouldn't to go there myself, and the tire air stems as well that's kind of common sense to me to make sure they're aligned the right way.
There's people who take pride in their work and those people who don't like guess.
Great video though I just didn't like that shops performance.
Thank you. Glad you liked the video. Agreed, wasn't overly impressed with attention to detail from the shop. -M
Sounds like they weren't very conscientious about their quality of work..
Yes, it was late in the day, and I think they were trying to get out of there. Was a bit dis-appointed in that. But at least they took care of it right away when I pointed it out. -M
your tires are over 7 years old, not 5. Good call replacing them.
The date code was 2011 and we replaced them in 2016 - this video was filmed 18 months ago at time of replacement when they were 5 years old
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I’m standing on the side of the road with a flat tire, looking for some info on how to get the tire off and you’re wasting my time with this trash.