Changing Tire Size in GOOD OLE CALLY

happycamperbrat · June 18, 2010, 02:11:32 PM

I am wanting to change my tires out. I have contacted every tire dealer in this area. I just got off the phone with one of them who tells me they cant change the tire size from a 12R22.5 to an 11R 22.5 or 24.5 without the DMV putting a new weight plate on the bus?

?? They said they are required by law to look at the weight plate and they cannot change tires even if the bus weighs less, has the seats out, the bus is registered as a motorhome, etc. The DMV did not do this when they changed the classification from commercial..........

Sean · June 18, 2010, 04:11:31 PM

I think they are full of it. I would guess they simply do not want the liability of making the change. I am pretty familiar with the CVC and I have never seen any such provision. Can they give you a cite for which code and what section?

I suggest you call a couple other shops.

That said, I also would not recommend making the wheel change. It's a lot of money for almost no benefit, and you will give up ride quality as well. As far as changing to 11R22.5, you will need to weigh the coach wheel-by-wheel to make sure you could go to the lower capacity tire, and you will give up ground clearance and top speed with the smaller tire, again for little benefit, perhaps $30 per tire.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

fe2_o3 · June 18, 2010, 04:26:49 PM

Have you asked the DMV yet?..Cable

Sean · June 18, 2010, 04:47:39 PM

Quote from: fe2_o3 on June 18, 2010, 04:26:49 PM
Have you asked the DMV yet?..Cable

Ha ha ha... that's a good one!

Seriously, almost no one at the DMV in California will know the answer to this question, because it is not something they ever deal with. I've probably spent a hundred hours there over the years, and even getting someone who knows how to change title to a house car can be a challenge.

The folks who really know this sort of thing in CA are the commercial enforcement folks at the CHP, but even then, once it is a house car, it is out of the commercial domain.

Look, every vehicle has a placard which lists the allowable GVW and GAW based on a certain size tire on a specific wheel, or maybe two or three combinations. Yet any one of a thousand tire shops will gladly swap those 16" steel jobs that came on your Ford Expedition for 22" or 24" monsters that are so far off the placard, no one in his right mind would drive on them. Yet you see them everywhere.

Personally, I'd like to see the law more explicit about not changing these sorts of safety-related items from the original engineer's specs. Although I don't want to go so far as, say, Germany, where if your car came with Michelins, that's all you can ever put on it. But, sorry to say, it just does not happen. California does not require you to stick with OEM wheels or tires on a private vehicle. If you want to put 24" wheels on a coach that came with 22.5", no one will stop you. But, of course, any specific shop can refuse to do this work.

FWIW.

-Sean
http://OurOdyssey.BlogSpot.com

fe2_o3 · June 18, 2010, 04:52:37 PM

Going to Rickreall? Oregon has tire stores too...Cable

DaveG · June 18, 2010, 05:13:42 PM

Find another tire shop (I know, it's already been said but it needs saying again)

Bring it to Redding and I will take care of it for you if you'd like

happycamperbrat · June 18, 2010, 06:03:35 PM

I want to change the tires because I am running BEAUTIFUL 12R22.5s that are 10 years old. I want to change them before going to Oregon. I know I waited too long, but I never dreamed I would have this kind of problem. The reason I want the 11r22.5 or 11r24.5 is because I live in a tiny little town and there are only 2 other vehicles in this town that run 12r22.5s and that is the 2 firetrucks at the fire department. However there are LOTS of 18 wheelers in this area and I can get the 1100s pretty easy whereas they have to order the 12r22.5s and getting decent used 12r22.5s is out of the question. But I can buy 2 new 1100s for the front and get good used ones for the 4 in the back. The 2 new ones in the front (any size) are around 1200.00 to 1500.00 balanced and installed. I am going to start calling out of town (Bakersfield) tomorrow.

Oh, and Sean....... My bus goes 72 now so I dont mind it backin off a few mph. And my bus is nearly completely stripped from the inside and I have not decided on a definiate floor plan yet so the way I see it is that I am free at this point to do whatever I want as far as the weight distribution and I what I want is to be able to go to the tire dealer here on a whim and get a used or new tire on the same day.

Dreamscape · June 18, 2010, 06:59:22 PM

If you can wait, go to Les Schwab in Oregon. I think they even have some stores off I-5 in northern California. There prices are pretty good from what I have been told.

http://www.lesschwab.com/

RTS/Daytona · June 18, 2010, 08:24:10 PM

Teresa

My advise to you is - Find a tire place that does LOTS of TRUCK Tires - and get 6 GOOD USED TIRES (of the size you want) - that have at least 1/2 tread left - but with dates that are only a few years old.

Suppose the USED tires you find are 3 years old - I would guess that you will NEVER in the next 7 years put enough miles on those tires to wear out the remaining tread !!

Then keep those ties covered from the sun - spray them once a year with 303 protectant - Never / ever use Armorall - put the money you save into your interior and enjoy your RTS

Pete RTS/Daytona (been there - done that)

happycamperbrat · June 18, 2010, 10:54:56 PM

Thanks for the advice Pete! Bakersfield is just a HUGE truck stop (the biggest town I ever saw for trucks) so Im pretty sure I can find something over there. I have to go thru it to get to the coast to pick up the rest of my crew anyway. Im just real disappointed that I cant get tires in this town because of pr

cks.

JohnEd · June 18, 2010, 10:56:18 PM

Teresa,

Thank you for the info on 303. If I ever heard of that stuff I have forgotten about the event. I use all that you apply as dressing. I will get a gallon of the 303 next chance.

In the 60's when Michellin was taking hold, it was noted that "those French tires" were checking badly in Southern California. The Mich. shop said to DISREGARD the checking as it was cosmetic. Those original Mich ran 40 to 60 K miles. Every set I purchase was on the car when I sold it and I had them on there for years. It is this bus group where I learned that tires have an expiration date and a life span and that checking mattered. Been an auto enthusiast since my teens so I am not all that sheltered but this forum has been a real awakening. Can I be alone on this?

Remember when there was no 303 and the old school guys said "tires crack" and that's that. Soap and water served them as well as it did for years. Well the truth is "good enuf is the ENEMY of BETTER" Always has been and always will be. Still, old school and experience have been my salvation more times than I can count. Kenny Rogers' "gambler", I guess, is the answer.

Thanks again,

John

happycamperbrat · June 18, 2010, 11:13:45 PM

Haha John!! Although I would love to take credit for being a know it all on tires........... EVERYTHING I have learned about them came from a handful of people working individually with me (Pete is one of them) and from 3 boards (this is one). I dont really know what 303 is, but I am assuming it will be at a truck stop or auto store or tire shop and I will be looking for it

JohnEd · June 19, 2010, 12:36:24 AM

Quote from: happycamperbrat on June 18, 2010, 11:13:45 PM
Haha John!! Although I would love to take credit for being a know it all on tires........... EVERYTHING I have learned about them came from a handful of people working individually with me (Pete is one of them) and from 3 boards (this is one). I don't really know what 303 is, but I am assuming it will be at a truck stop or auto store or tire shop and I will be looking for it

Me too Bro, Me too! In my case it was more than a handful. Probably cause I am harder to get thru to.

See you soo I hope.

John

Dreamscape · June 19, 2010, 04:40:20 AM

This is great news! I was trying to remember what that stuff is called and you guys nailed it! I did read that some Wal Marts carry it, but not all.

Here's a link to their site.

Here's a link http://www.303products.com/

Don Fairchild · June 20, 2010, 04:26:13 PM

Happy:

you could try BC Ray over buy Brucies truck stop off of Hwy 58 at 661-366-0400 or country tire and wheel off of 99 on golden state out by freightliner. 661-3910887. I bought Firestones from ctw last year before my trip east and they did right by me. I like the ride.

on another note I was out by mojave a couple weeks and tried to get over to the flex off of hwy.58 but there was a drug rade going on and they had the road closed down. If it is the one I thimk it is it is a flex VL100, If i have my #'s correct.

hope this helps

Don

P.S have a safe trip to wherever you are going and back.